France News

Spectre, the ninth James Bond-inspired yacht commissioned by John Staluppi, has been launched by Benetti in Italy.A company press release said that after “Quantum of Solace” and “Diamonds Are Forever”, “Spectre” is the third yacht launched by Benetti for talented New York businessman John Staluppi.M/Y “Spectre” is a 69-meter Full Custom Mega Yacht with a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure on five decks. The name pays tribute once again to James Bond, while the hull by…

Following the path of oil prices, consolidation also follows myriad financial crises. What happens next isn’t altogether clear, but the long, deep trough for offshore energy may finally be in our choppy wake.In mid 2017, financial turnaround and financial repairs specialist Alix Partners made a bold statement regarding the beleaguered Offshore Service Vessel (OSV) marketplace. In a July 2017 report, following an analysis of 44 participants in the business, the restructuring team wrote: “The industry faces grave financial pressure…

France's CMA CGM, one of the world's largest container-shipping lines, remains interested in seeking acquisitions despite bringing to an end its interest in German peer Hapag-Lloyd, its chief executive said on Thursday."The shipping sector is consolidating further and if there are opportunities the CMA CGM group ... is able to be in the running for a new deal," Rodolphe Saade told Reuters on the sidelines of a ship launch ceremony at the northern French port of Le Havre.Regarding Hapag-Lloyd…

French shipping group CMA CGM inaugurated its new flagship vessel 20,600 TEU-containership CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupery in Le Havre, France.Two French ministers, Bruno Lemaire (Economy) and Elisabeth Borne (Transport) were present for the event.Delivered last January 26 by Philippine shipyard Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Philippines of Subic Bay, the vessel is one of the largest container ships in the world. At 400-meters long by 59-meter wide, the vessel has the capacity to carry 20…

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract to heighten four ZPMC ship-to-shore (STS) cranes operated by Generale de Manutention Portuaire (GMP), a joint venture between DP World and Terminal Link (CMA-CGM), located in the port of Le Havre.The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 second quarter order intake, and the project is scheduled to commence in the 3rd quarter of 2018.Guy Sansone, Technical Director, GMP: "The decision to partner with Kalmar was placed mainly because of their proven track record and the technical expertise of their dedicated crane upgrades team.

Digital technology developed in Norway will help improve recovery from the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea.Equinor has awarded Alcatel Submarine Networks a contract for permanent reservoir monitoring (PRM), which in turn has signed a letter of intent with Nexans Norway AS for delivery of subsea cable.“PRM is a central element of the digital strategy for Johan Castberg and will be an important tool in improving the Johan Castberg recovery rate,” says Johan Castberg project director Knut Gjertsen.The technology is developed in Norway…

Nearly $5 million in grant funding awarded this week will help enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York and Connecticut, and support the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island.On Wednesday, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced $4,872,000 in grants for six projects through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, works with public and private stakeholders to support the expanded use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion…

Finland is a traditional marine tech hub, with almost 90 company members in the Finnish Maritime Industries association. While the country has a storied maritime history across many sectors, based on geographic locale, it’s Arctic and ice marine technology is second to none, and it’s hoping the U.S. Coast Guard is taking notice.The Finnish maritime industry is hoping to get involved in developing the new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard polar icebreaker program. Ulla Lainio…

Matthieu de Tugny, COO, BV on the biggest challenge in autonomous shippingThe regulatory environment, from the IMO, IACS to the flag level, is very sensitive, because you’re talking about people, too. In the 1970s was when we developed the first automation notations for unmanned machinery spaces, the first issue we had was with the trade unions, as it was removing people from the machinery spaces. It’s a flag state issue, it’s a port state issue … to be honest before we talk about autonomous ships we should talk about smart ships…

The Mediterranean rescue ship Aquarius arrived at Valletta harbour in Malta on Wednesday to disembark 141 migrants, ending a five-day tug-of-war between European Union countries which had seen the vessel banned from docking in several ports.The ship, run by the Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders (MSF), was allowed in after France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain agreed on Tuesday to take in the migrants.(Reporting by Chris Scicluna Editing by Sarah White and Matthew Mpoke Bigg)

Fresh from a European tour that has taken her to the shores of Malta, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, Damen’s new RSD Tug 2513 Innovation has taken part in towing tests in the Port of Felixstowe, U.K. The intention of the tests was to allow the Innovation to undertake a number of tows, in various positions, in a controlled and safe manner, gradually building up until she took on a powered indirect on ultra large container vessel (ULCC) the OOCL Hong Kong…

Eolfi , a French developer specialised in floating wind projects, has appointed Vincent Fromont as Chief Executive Officer. Vincent Fromont, 47, is a senior onshore/offshore oil and gas executive with more than 20 years of experience in the industry.Vincent has various business and operational senior leadership roles, working for market’s leaders such as JGC, Subsea 7 and TechnipFMC, both in France and abroad. Vincent holds a Master’s degree of Technologies and Management from Ecole Centrale de Paris…

40 years ago, on September 13th, 1978, Jacques R. Saadé launched the first maritime line between Marseilles and Beirut, with only one ship and 4 employees. The day marked the beginning of an extraordinary humane and entrepreneurial adventure, said a press release.According to the statement, 40 years later, CMA CGM has become a recognized world leader, with 34,000 employees and a presence in more than 160 countries. History: It is amid the Lebanese war that Jacques R. Saadé decided to settle in Marseilles to protect his family.

Qatar signed the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) on Portal State Control during its participation in the 21st Port State Control Committee Meeting held last week in Australia, where a delegation from Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications took part.“Qatar’s membership in the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding will take Qatar’s maritime transport sector from local arena to the international one, leading the region in portal state control field,” said Dr.

France-based GTT said it has received a new order notification from a Korean shipyard for the tank design of a new 174,000 m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, to be built on behalf of a European shipowner.The LNG tanks of the vessel will be equipped with the Mark III Flex containment system developed by GTT. The vessel's delivery is expected during the second half of 2020.

High-level officials and decision-makers from maritime and port authorities around the world are undergoing intense training in port management and operational efficiency at the annual Advanced Course on Port Operations and Management based in Le Havre, France (10 September to 12 October).The opening of the course coincided with Le Havre's celebration of World Maritime Day and its theme: International Maritime Organization (IMO) 70 Our heritage – better shipping for a better future.IMO's Chris Trelawny delivered the opening address and lectured on the role of IMO…

France's BIO-UV Group has successfully installed and commissioned its Bio-Sea ballast water treatment system (BWTS) in CMA CGM's new flagship, the 400 m long, 20,600 TEU CMA CGM Antoine De Saint Exupéry.The vessel, one of the largest containerships to be built by Hanjin Heavy Industries' yard in the Philippines, and the largest to fly the French flag, was christened in Le Havre earlier this month by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, and the Minister in charge of Transport…

A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Friday it would spin off its offshore drilling operation and list it in Copenhagen next year, the latest move by the Danish shipping company to focus entirely on transport and logistics.Maersk, which cut its full-year profit outlook this month, sold Maersk Oil to French oil major Total last year in a $7.5 billion deal as part of a restructuring under Soren Skou, who became chief executive in 2016.Skou used to head Maersk's container business and is a…

The first warship to be built in Egypt was launched during a ceremony on September 6, 2018 in Alexandria. The Port-Said Gowind corvette was constructed by Alexandria Shipyard through an industrial cooperation with France’s Naval Group.The new warship will contribute to increase the Egyptian Navy Power alongside the first ever delivered Gowind corvette, El-fateh, which is already already deployed by the Egyptian Navy. The newest corvette is the fifth ship designed by Naval Group to be operated by the Egyptian Navy…

Coral Leader, a Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) owned by NYK supported the rescue operation of five people including two children onboard yacht. The yacht was in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, just off Corsica.The operation was conducted by French Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) on August 26 (local time) off the coast of France. The vessel Coral Leader is managed by Wallem Shipmanagement LimitedWhile Coral Leader was sailing from the port of Livorno, Italy, to the port of Tarragona…

Avantida, an INTTRA company, announced that CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd, two of the world’s largest liner shipping companies, are offering reUse container management services in Mexico. reUse is a container triangulation service for transporters made available on Avantida’s online platform. It is the first time that this service is offered in Mexico, and for Avantida it is their first step into the North American market.This is how reUse works: once an import container has been unloaded it must be taken back to the port or assigned depot.

SeaKing completed extensive upgrade work on three shortsea ferries operated by DFDS Seaways of Denmark.The four-week project took place at Damen Dunkerque Shipyard in France involving MS Dunkerque Seaways, MS Dover Seaways and MS Delft Seaways.SeaKing Electrical managing director Dave Gillam said a 10-man team of engineering specialists were sent to complete the job.“Work consisted of electrical upgrades to improve entertainment reception to 80 cabins and fitting of VDSs (Variable Speed Drives) to car deck vent fans,” he said. “A total of 16 VDSs were fitted on decks 3, 5 and 10 on each ship.

Thieves have been fined nearly £250,000 after being caught by the Royal Navy plundering a World War I shipwreck.The crew of HMS Severn in 2016 found the Dutch-registered salvage ship Friendship lifting £90,000 of steel and copper stripped from the wreck of the SS Harrovian, 80 miles southwest of the Scilly Isles.The British steamer was heading from New York to Le Havre in France carrying various metals for the Allied war – including more than 1,000 tons of copper bars, worth around…