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French Coast News

03 Nov 2022

Prysmian Adds Barbarossa I Cable Layer to Its Fleet. Wins IMR Work in France

Barbarossa I - ©Prysmian

Italian subsea cable firm Prysmian Group said Thursday it has added a new vessel - Barbarossa I - to its fleet."After the debut of the state-of-the-art 170-meter Leonardo da Vinci [vessel] in August 2021, Prysmian Group’s fleet would seem to be complete. But with the addition of Barbarossa I, Prysmian Group becomes the first company in the sector that can provide the full range of submarine cable-laying solutions from the shallowest coastal waters in Northern Europe to the profoundest depths of the Mediterranean Sea.

12 Jul 2022

Danfoss to Power France's New Hybrid-electric Buoy-laying Vessel

(Image: Danfoss)

Danfoss Power Solutions’ Editron division will power a new hybrid-electric buoy-laying vessel for the Armement des Phares et Balises, the French government’s department responsible for signaling dangers and marking shipping routes along the French coast. The vessel will be used to maintain and replace navigational buoys around the island of Corsica.In 2019, the French Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Sea committed to a series of measures aiming to decarbonize its marine industry. One of those measures is the decarbonization of vessel propulsion and onboard energy.

09 Sep 2021

UK to Turn Migrant Boats Back to France

Illustration only - Credit:  giannis/AdobeStock

Britain has approved plans to turn away boats illegally carrying migrants to its shores, deepening a rift with France over how to deal with a surge of people risking their lives by trying to cross the Channel in small dinghies.Hundreds of small boats have attempted the journey from France to England this year, across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.Border officials will be trained to force boats away from British waters but will deploy the new tactic only when they deem it safe…

06 May 2021

UK Sends Navy Boats to Jersey After France Threatens Blockade

Britain is sending two navy patrol boats to the British Channel Island of Jersey after France suggested it could cut power supplies to the island if its fishermen are not granted full access to U.K. fishing waters under post-Brexit trading terms.Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged his "unwavering support" for the island after he spoke with Jersey officials about the prospect of the French blockade.Johnson "stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions," a spokesperson for Johnson said. "As a precautionary measure the U.K.

08 Apr 2020

Philippine Coast Guard's New Flagship Arrives in Manila

BRP Gabriela Silang (Photo: OCEA)

The Philippine Coast Guard's new offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang arrived in Manila ready for service on Tuesday after several weeks of convoying and a first operational mission.Built by OCEA, the 84-meter type OCEA OPV 270 vessel left the French shipyard at the end of December with Philippine Coast Guard crew on board, for an arrival in the Philippines initially scheduled for January.The flagship of the Philippine Coast Guard fleet, shortly after leaving the French coast…

29 Dec 2019

French CG Rescue 31 Migrants

French coastguards rescued 31 migrants trying to cross the English Channel overnight after the engine of one small boat cut out and the other dinghy began to take in water, local authorities in France said on Sunday.Border and coast guards in Britain and France have recently intercepted several attempted crossings, including on Dec. 26 when 49 suspected migrants were escorted to British shores after a rescue and search operation.In the early hours of Sunday, French coast guards picked up 11 migrants, including two young children, in one boat off the coast near the port city of Calais.Another 20, including a pregnant woman, were later rescued by the same patrol boat further along the French coast near Dunkirk, the local authorities said in a statement.

03 Sep 2019

2 Workers Die on Board Greek Ship in Bangladesh

NGO Shipbreaking Platform said that accident at the shipbreaking beach of Chattogram, Bangladesh killed two and severely injured thirteen. The accident occurred in the afternoon of Saturday 31 August at Ziri Subedar shipbreaking yard. During scrapping operations on the ship CSL VIRGINIA a heavy cable collapsed, hitting several workers at once. Aminul Islam, 35 years old, and Tushar Chakma, 27 years old, lost their lives.Thirteen workers  suffered severe injuries and were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. Following the accident, local authorities ordered the temporary closure of the yard. Investigations are ongoing.The container ship CSL VIRGINIA was beached in Bangladesh in February 2019.

14 May 2019

French Frigate Sonars Get an Upgrade

Photo: RTsys/French Navy

Since summer 2017, four vessels equipped with analog sonars have been upgraded using RTsys AS3i technology (Analog Surface Ship Sonar Improvement), which digitalized and improved the processing of signals rendered by sensors.Brittany-based company RTSYS does not only deals with AUV, subsea recorders and buoys, but can also display a full range of sonar systems such as handheld devices for divers or sonar retrofit. The latter of which led the French SME to lately offer in summer…

23 Dec 2015

It’s Time to End the MARPOL Merry-go-round

Clay Maitland

Hardly a month goes by when another illegal maritime dumping violation is reported. Most violations, prosecuted in the United States, are based on false or fraudulent entries in the oil record book of a foreign-flag ship. Often, evidence of a “magic pipe” installation is found upon inspection in a United States port. While not all such reported cases are successfully prosecuted, most are, with the help of a whistleblower aboard the ship. The steady stream of such violations is convincing evidence that prosecution alone is not an effective deterrent.

22 Mar 2015

French Coast Braced for Giant Tide

Towns on France's North Atlantic coast braced for their first giant tide of the millennium on Saturday as the full moon and this week's solar eclipse combined to create an ocean surge not seen since 1997. At the picturesque Mont Saint Michel island where some of the biggest tides in the world occur, visitors gathered to watch the tide disappear out of sight, exposing areas of beach and rock visible only every 18 years. The next peak tide is not due until 2033. France's National Hydrographic Service was expecting to measure more than 14 metres (15.3 yards) between low and high water around the famous Abbey-topped rock off France's north-west coast. Average tides in the area measure 8.7 metres.

05 Nov 2013

Today in U.S. Naval History: November 5

USS Wake Island (CVE-65). Courtesy Aryeh Wetherhorn, U.S. Navy photo.

Today in U.S. 1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, L.Cdr. Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, Fla. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored disassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled.

26 Sep 2013

Neoen Marine Joins Offshore France Wind Consortium

GDF SUEZ and EDP Renewables have been joined by French coastal region experts Neoen Marine to tender for a new offshore wind farm development, and at the same time to contribute to the development of offshore wind energy in France and the structuring of an industrial sector. The tender relates to the installation of 1,000 MW of wind turbines off the French coast near Le Tréport (Haute-Normandie – 500 MW) and the islands of Yeu and Noirmoutier (Pays de la Loire – 500 MW) by 2020. The offers will be assessed by the French government based on technical, financial, industrial, social and environmental criteria. Neoen Marine will provide the consortium with its recognized experience as a developer in the Yeu-Noirmoutier region and its local knowledge…

11 Sep 2013

GE to Supply Avio Aero with Gas Turbine for French Frigate

LM2500+G4 (Photo: GE)

GE Marine has received an order to supply one LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbine to Avio Aero of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbine will power the French Navy’s ninth FREMM frigate. Through Avio Aero, at least 18 LM2500+G4 gas turbines will provide propulsion for the Italian-French FREMM program, which includes six ships for the Italian Navy, 11 ships for the French Navy, and one ship for the Royal Moroccan Navy. Other international navies are considering the FREMM frigate for use in their fleets.

23 May 2013

Overboard Sailor Rescued off French Coast

A British man has been rescued after falling overboard from a yacht off the coast of Ushant in France. Brixham Coastguard received a 999 call just after 3 p.m. this afternoon reporting that one of the two people on board the yacht had been washed overboard by a large wave. The French search and rescue authorities coordinated the rescue, with Brixham Coastguard assisting by keeping in regular contact with the man still on board the yacht and the French authorities. A search involving a French lifeboat, two search and rescue helicopters, a fixed-wing aircraft, along with two Navy ships, one from France and another from Germany, that both happened to be in the area at the time.

05 Apr 2012

EDF Will Win French Offshore Wind Projects: CEO

Electricite de France SA will win government contracts to build wind farms off the French coast, Chief Executive Officer Henri Proglio said during a press meeting in Paris, Bloomberg reports. The French government is scheduled to pick the winners of the off-shore wind farm contracts this week, Industry Minister Eric Besson said yesterday. France’s energy regulator recommended EDF, as well as Alstom SA and Denmark’s Dong Energy A/S to build four of the five planned offshore wind farms, Les Echos reported on March 31. EDF was very aggressive on the price, the newspaper said (Bloomberg).

04 Nov 2011

This Day in Navy History - November 3-6

1853 - USS Constitution seizes suspected slaver H. N. Gambrill. 1931 - Dirigible USS Los Angeles makes 10 hour flight out of NAS Lakehurst, NJ, carrying 207 persons, establishing a new record for the number of passengers carried into the air by a single craft. 1943 - Battleship Oklahoma, sunk at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, is refloated. 1956 - USS Cambria (APA-36) removes 24 members of United Nations Truce Commission team from the Gaza Strip. 1956 - USS Chilton (APA-38), USS Thuban (AKA-19), and USS Fort Snelling (LSD-30) evacuate more than 1,500 U.S. and foreign nationals from Egypt and Israel because of the fighting. 1961 - After Hurricane Hattie…

05 Nov 2010

This Day in U.S. Naval History – November 5

1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, LCDR Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, FL. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored disassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled. Then the submarine submerged allowing the plane to float free and take off. 1944 - TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins 2 days of carrier strikes on Luzon, Philippines. 1945 - Ensign Jake C. West (VF-41) makes first jet landing on board a carrier, USS Wake Island (CVE-65) .

04 Nov 2009

This Day in Naval History – Nov. 5

1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, LCDR Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, FL. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored disassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled. Then the submarine submerged allowing the plane to float free and take off. 1944 - TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins 2 days of carrier strikes on Luzon, Philippines. 1945 - Ensign Jake C. West (VF-41) makes first jet landing on board a carrier, USS Wake Island (CVE-65).

05 Nov 2008

This Day in Naval History – Nov. 5

1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, LCDR Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, FL. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored disassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled. Then the submarine submerged allowing the plane to float free and take off. 1944 - TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins 2 days of carrier strikes on Luzon, Philippines. 1945 - Ensign Jake C. West (VF-41) makes first jet landing on board a carrier, USS Wake Island (CVE-65).

14 May 2004

Tricolor Wreck Removal Resumes

The wreck removal of the ‘Tricolor’, the vehicle carrier that was lost in December 2002 20 miles off the French coast in the English Channel, will resume May 15. The vessel was cut into nine sections, four of which remain on the seabed. The remaining sections will be lifted and transported to Zeebrugge in the months to come. All the cutting work on the vessel finished last year before the operation was halted in November due to adverse weather conditions. The 1987-built ‘Tricolor’ was lost following a collision with the container ship Kariba. The ‘Tricolor’ was en route to Southampton from Antwerp, laden with nearly 3,000 luxury cars. It also carried some 2,000 tons of bunker oil. The vessel suffered severe damage and she went down in less than half an hour.

03 Oct 2000

EU Calls For Single-Hull Phase Out

European Union governments on Monday called for single-hull oil tankers to be phased out as part of their response to the Erika oil spill disaster. The EU wants to ban single-hull vessels like the Erika which ran aground off the northern French coast in December 1999 spilling some 8,000 tons of fuel oil into the sea to be banned at the latest by 2012. Transport ministers from the 15 EU countries agreed their common stance on Monday morning, in time to influence negotiations on the controversial ships at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) this week.

18 Dec 2000

Sunken Tanker in State of Corrosion

The Maltese-registered tanker Erika, which sank off the French coast a year ago releasing a huge oil slick, was in a state of more or less advanced corrosion, the official disaster report said. "The vessel would not have fallen apart if it had been as seaworthy as it was claimed to be by classification societies as late as 20 days before it broke up on December 12, 1999, the report said. There was excessive corrosion, beyond norms that are considered acceptable by classification societies and the sub-standard welding was noted on the ship. Erika broke in half in stormy seas, spewing up to 15,000 tons of oil onto the rocky shoreline of western France. The two sections of the ship lie on the seabed about 70 km (40 miles) offshore.

05 Nov 2007

This Day in Navy History

November 5: 1775 - Commodore Esek Hopkins appointed to Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy. 1915 - In AB-2 flying boat, LCDR Henry C. Mustin makes first underway catapult launch from a ship, USS North Carolina, at Pensacola Bay, FL. 1917 - German submarine torpedoes USS Alcedo off French coast. 1923 - Tests designed to prove the feasibility of launching a small seaplane from a submarine occur at Hampton Roads Naval Base. A Martin MS-1, stored disassembled in a tank on board USS S-1, was removed and assembled. Then the submarine submerged allowing the plane to float free and take off. 1944 - TF 38 (Vice Admiral John S. McCain) begins 2 days of carrier strikes on Luzon, Philippines. 1945 - Ensign Jake C.

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