Floating structures

The activities of KÉSZ Group related to water infrastructure and nautical equipment are carried out by our two key companies, MAHART Tiszayacht Ltd. and MAHARD Hajózási és Vízépítő Ltd. Both companies play a prominent role in the development of domestic hydraulic engineering and floating structures, ranging from ship repair to complex hydraulic engineering projects. Decades of experience, state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled professionals ensure that our partners receive the highest quality services.

Our strategic partner in the manufacture and installation of floating equipment is MAHART Tiszayacht Ltd., which started operations in Szeged in January 1996, in the former MAHART Ship Repair Shipyard, which dates back to 1890. The plant established in connection with the regulation of the Tisza and its tributaries is extremely unique: it is the only Hungarian ship repair plant in continuous operation since the 19th century, which has been operating with a continuously improved machinery and equipment fleet ever since. Today, the site has a permanent team of almost 30 people.

MAHART-Tiszayacht Ltd. operates on an area of more than 15 000 m2 in a plant equipped with the necessary technology and production equipment. The on-site slipway (i.e. the slipway used for launching, lowering and building boats) allows the lifting and launching of long and heavy floating crafts. The onshore equipment of the plant allows the manufacture and repair of these devices. Barges, boats, ferries, complete harbour and flood protection pontoons, jetties or access bridges are manufactured, converted and repaired according to individual requirements. They also manufacture and repair aluminium and steel boat hulls to order, on the basis of plans or samples, and assist in the preparation of plans for waterborne equipment and in obtaining permits. Also on the basis of individual orders, they undertake the construction of hobby houses with a lightweight structure and a small footprint, from design to construction, on cylindrical or box floating bodies. The special feature of these is that the living areas can be extended with a sauna or even a sunken pool.

In recent years, while maintaining their previous activities, they have also entered the marina construction market, which now accounts for half of their total activity. They have also expanded their portfolio to include joinery, producing wooden decking for ships and marinas. Thanks to their wide range of activities and partnerships, they are able to carry out complex projects without the need for subcontractors - they are at their customers' disposal from design, through production and installation, to commissioning.

MAHARD Hajózási és Vízépítő Ltd. is one of Hungary's leading hydraulic engineering companies, which implements complex hydraulic engineering projects in various water areas of the country. Its activities include river transport, river bed material extraction, river bed regulation and environmental rehabilitation works. They have extensive experience in river bank construction, hydraulic engineering and specialised waterway solutions. The hydraulic engineering fleet they operate is one of the most complex in the region, enabling them to carry out specialist engineering works such as bridge construction, river dredging and river regulation.

Many tasks can only be carried out using the company's specialised floating machines, which can create unique platforms on the water, even stabilising them using hydraulic piles. They are present with their boats on the Danube, Tisza and Lake Balaton, but can also install mobile units on other water surfaces. The team of nearly 40 people includes boat drivers, floating machine operators, heavy machinery operators, engineers and sailors to ensure efficient and professional work. The company has a transport capacity of almost 10 000 tonnes, which allows it to carry out large-scale projects.

MAHARD Ltd. has been involved in several large-scale projects in recent years. These include river control works, construction of hydraulic structures, habitat rehabilitation works and dredging. In the case of the ’Hableány’ shipwreck, they provided the special floating platform from which the rescue teams worked. They also played a significant role in the harbour construction and bank reinforcement works on Lakes Velence and Fertő, as well as in the Balaton area. They built the substructure of the giant diving platform for the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships opposite the Parliament. They provide a continuous on-call cooling water supply for the Paks nuclear power plant in case of low water levels in the Danube. Undoubtedly, one of their biggest references is the salvage of the Szőke Tisza shipwreck, where they developed a unique technological procedure to salvage the wreck. This project was not only a technical feat, but also of historical and cultural importance.