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In 1887, Leopoldo Rodriquez established a small repair yard in the city of Messina, located on the Eastern tip of Sicily. This yard prospered despite the effects of two significant events: An earthquake in 1908 that destroyed the city and killed half the population followed by the outbreak of World War I. Leopoldo's son Carlo was responsible for expanding Rodriquez's business activities at the onset of World War II. It was then that Rodriquez began repairing railroad cars for the Italian railroad companies that proved to be a lucrative and successful venture. 
It was during World War II that Carlo Rodriquez became aware and extremely interested in the hydrofoil concept that the Germans had studied but not expanded upon. Shortly after the conclusion of the war, a German naval architect Mr. F. Lobau was hired in Messina to further the hydrofoil concept and to develop a commercially viable version. The hard efforts by Mr. Lobau paid off in 1956 with the successful launch and sea-trials of the world's first commercial fast ferry "Freccia del Sole".  “Freccia del Sole” the first commercial Hydrofoil ever built This revolutionary vessel
was quickly followed by the improved PT20 and PT50 class hydrofoils.
This period saw a significant advancement in passenger comfort and vessel motion with the advent of the fully stabilized hydrofoil. The RH 160 model used an electronic control system to control the trim tabs and stabilization system that allowed these vessels to sail in even rougher seas but with increased comfort.
Other significant events within Rodriquez
include:
This period has also been a strategic time for Rodriquez. At the forefront of technology and innovation, Rodriquez decided to enter the large yacht market in 2001. A contract was signed immediately for the construction of a 72 m Exploration type motor yacht.
This contract was follow-up with the launch of a complete range of designs for aluminium yachts, referred to as the Rodriquez Yachts Custom Series from 35 m to 70 m, in collaboration with the well known Italian designer Francesco Paszkowski. Based on these designs, a contract for a Custom Series 38 M was soon signed. Also with the acquisition of Intermarine (see below) Rodriquez Yachts has enlarged their product range to include composite yachts. Conam At the beginning of 2002 the Naples based pleasure craft builder Conam was acquired. Conam, established in Pozzuoli (Naples) in 1980, specializes in the production of 14 to 24 meter long fiberglass pleasure boats. Conam has built more than 300 boats in 22 years. The shipyard occupies 4,000 square meters of covered space and employees 30 individuals. Rodriquez purchased Conam because they are a dynamic and innovative company and a typical example of Italian entrepreneurialism. With enormous style and technological potential that, combined with a global sales and marketing structure, they are poised to become a market leader.
Being a part of Rodriquez, Conam can now benefit
from the rationalization of production methods and combined use
of various group yards that will shortly double annual production.
Intermarine Following their diversification strategy,
Rodriquez Cantieri Navali acquired in September 2002 the Intermarine
shipyard, based in Sarzana on the north west coast of Italy.
To date, Intermarine has designed and
built, directly or through licenses granted to its partners, 38
minehunters in seven variants for the Navies of :
After the acquisition of Intermarine, Rodriquez made some very important strategic changes to the commercial and production departments. The merger of the technologies of Rodriquez and Intermarine has allowed Rodriquez to add to her product range the Intermarine fiberglass mega yachts meanwhile Intermarine has now added to its traditional FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) product range the complete aluminium special craft range of Rodriquez. Both companies in their long history have heavily invested in technological research devoted to the best development and exploitation of materials (FRP and aluminium) along with hull optimization and stability systems reaching the cutting edge of marine technology. The joining of the two companies and the 4 large production facilities allows Intermarine to have with a very flexible production system and a large product portfolio that includes: · · Aluminium Fast Patrol Boats (from 20 m) · · FRP Fast Patrol Boats (from 16 m) · · Aluminium FRP Fast Crew Boats (from 20 m) · · FRP Fast Crew Boats (from 16 m) · · FRP Hydro-oceanographic Ships · · FRP Mine Countermeasure Vessels. · · Other tailor made naval vessels 
Since May 2004 Rodriquez belongs to IMMSI, a big italian industrial group listed at Milan stock exchange, which further strengths the position of the yard as well as provide for the development of Rodriquez. After more than 100 years Rodriquez Cantieri Navali S.p.A. has become one of the leading international shipyards whose diverse product range is based on advanced technological solutions. Today, Rodriquez designs and builds boats from 14 to 150 meters long, in fibreglass, carbonfibre, aluminium and steel for the commercial, military, pleasure and yacht sectors. Rodriquez Cantieri Navali S.p.A. controls: Intermarine, Conam, Rodriquez Engineering, Rodriquez Yachts, Rodriquez Marine System, Rodriquez Logtec, Rodriquez Infrastrutture, Rodriquez Cantieri Navali do Brasil. 
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