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Castoldi, a pioneer of the waterjet propulsion system since the early 1960s, debuts in the limousine segment with the Jet Tender 34 Limo by Nauta Design. It is a 10.5-meter-long modular tender designed for a fleet of extra-luxury cruise ships being built in Italy. With the hull mold already completed, delivery of the first unit is expected by the end of 2025. The project will be presented at the Monaco Yacht Show from September 24-27, 2025.
Jet Tender 34 Limo was created to meet specific needs: it was designed exclusively for a fleet of extra-luxury cruise ships currently under construction in Italy. Each ship will carry four Castoldi Jet Tender 34 Limo to transfer guests ashore in style, as well as two Jet Tender 28 SVs dedicated to luggage transport and operational support.
With fully configurable interiors, large panoramic windows and boarding gates forward, amidships and aft, Jet Tender 34 Limo ensures a refined on-board experience. At 10.5 meters long, 2.8 meters wide and with a dry weight of 5,800 kg, it can accommodate 12 passengers plus 2 crew members.
On board is Castoldi’s patented hydrojet propulsion system, which has been tested since the 1960s and adopted in civilian, military, and commercial settings. Coupled with ACES electronic control, it provides maneuverability, safety and high performance, up to 35 knots. With the ability to quickly reverse the flow of water, the waterjet offers precise maneuvers for both ship approach and shore landing.
The collaboration with Nauta Design brings to the project the experience of a Milan-based firm renowned worldwide for yacht design.“We were excited to push the boundaries of what is considered possible in tender design,” says Guido Valtorta, director of Nauta.“Typically, limousine tenders are customized for large yachts, but this project allowed us to combine bespoke luxury with the efficiency of semi-serial production.”
Jet Tender 34 Limo is designed with long-term versatility as a priority. The customizable platform can evolve to fit different configurations, including Open Limo and Support Vessel versions.“The modular nature of the design allows us to offer tailored solutions efficiently,” explains Giacomo Castoldi, the company’s CEO.“We have created something that can evolve according to the needs of each individual customer.”
Castoldi ‘s history began in the early 1960s when the company worked to develop a revolutionary hydrojet propulsion system. In 1962, a small series of hundreds of small-scale hydrojet units were produced and distributed along the Ticino River near the company’s plant to allow continuous monitoring by Castoldi engineers. The real leap came in February 1969 when the first mass-produced Castoldi waterjet unit, the Jet 05 model , was displayed for the first time at the Genoa Boat Show and put on the market.
Castoldi’s technological excellence finds confirmation in the most prestigious competitions. In 1970, a limited production of the Jet 05 first appeared in the 400-kilometer Pavia-Venice powerboat race. The 270-hp Castoldi runabout arrives first in Venice while maintaining an average speed of 58.5 knots, winning first prize in its category and beating all traditional scafoils.
From 1971 to 1972, this 7.5-meter aluminum boat, equipped with a standard production hydrojet unit, won all Italian offshore races in the C2 class. In 1974, the 200-nautical-mile Santa Margherita-Montecarlo-Santa Margherita offshore race was won by an ENFIELD 37 traveling at an average speed of 57.2 knots, propelled by a special Castoldi Jet 06 counter-rotating dual-stage unit coupled to two 600-hp engines. It is the first long-distance offshore race in the history of powerboating to be won by a boat with a propulsion system other than a propeller.
Today more than 40,000 Castoldi hydrojet units operate worldwide. Their users include the Guardia di Finanza, the Navy, the Carabinieri and the Spanish Coast Guard.
The first Jet Tender unit (called JT 18 PRO) was launched in 1998, a precursor to the entire current range. In the 1990s, Castoldi also produced the first ever two-seater jet ski, beginning exports worldwide.
With Castoldi Jet Tender 34 Limo, the shipyard, for the first time in its more than 60-year history, enters the limousine tender segment with an innovative approach that blends semi-serial production and bespoke elegance.“This project represents a new chapter for Castoldi, expanding our offering to new markets while maintaining the commitment to innovation, quality and luxury for which we are known,” says Giacomo Castoldi.“We needed the perfect design partner for this project and Nauta was the obvious choice.”
James Barbaro
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