From boats to offices by way of boatyards, these are the people whose work allow Navigazione Laghi’s services to run optimally
It’s much more than just a job. Those who work every day to ensure Navigazione Laghi’s services work so well are frequently inspired by a great love of what they do, either from childhood or more recently. These are people whose work is a mission for them and who do everything they can to make the service as efficient and people-centred as possible.
Mauro Montini – Lake Garda – Chief Operator, electronic sector – Start of employment: 1992
‘Well, since I was little I’ve always loved taking things apart, modifying them and putting them back together again, so when I finished electronics school, way back in 1990, I applied to Navigarda as an electrician and in 1992 I was hired on a permanent contract at the Peschiera del Garda shipyard workshop. I knew right away that it was the job for me. Since then I’ve always tried to put everything I have into the job and gradually rose up the ranks to Chief Operator. On a daily basis, together with my colleagues, I manage maintenance and repair work on our boats, fixed structures and jetties. It’s our job to ensure services are good and this means getting our boats working as well as possible to avoid service problems. Doing this means knowing how to tackle the problems which arise every day constructively, whatever their seriousness, knowing how to prioritise and trying to do the very best we can. Luckily the people working in my workshop are all well-trained and capable of working independently, so the chief operator’s job, in my case, is a matter of taking organisational decisions and providing technical support in the event that the team can’t. I’ve lived on the lake all my life. One of my best memories is when I was little and my dad, himself a Navigarda employee, now retired, took me on board and let me visit the vessels…’
Claudia Ferrari – Lake Como – Helmsperson – Start of emplyment: 1998
‘When I was little and they asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I used to say “what my dad does.” At the time he was chief helmsman. After school, at the age of 18, I embarked on my own career at Navigazione, first at the jetty in my town and then deckhand, ticket officer on board and, lastly, helmsperson. I’ve always sailed… my office? The lake, with its unique and always different nuances which I still love today. This is what makes me say that this is the job I wanted. A positive thing which I appreciate today is that there are more and more women. When I started it wasn’t like that. There were very few of us in an almost totally male world.’
Stefania Bottini – Lake Maggiore – Client Assistant – Start of employment: 2008
‘I started my career in Navigazione as a deckhand. It was a familiar world for me because my parents and grandfather had worked here. But at the same time it was all new. I remember those early days as a mixture of enthusiasm and curiosity. I wanted to learn and show that I deserved to be there. Over the years I’ve had a great deal of experience. I went from seasonal to fixed contract and also got the chance to be helmsman. For a short while now I’ve been client assistant, a job I like a lot because it gives me the chance to put everything I’ve learnt into practice and for direct contact with people. Looking back I can see how much progress I’ve made…’
Jacopo Corallo – Lake Maggiore – Technical office staff member – Start of employment: 2025
‘My first day in Navigazione was a mixture of emotions: anxiety about making a good impression, fear of doing something wrong, but also wanting to find out more about the opportunities and vibes a new job in a town can bring. Over time the habits, rhythms and certainties came… but those feelings come back, when I go to the lakes or when I’m on my first important project…’
