Aker Yards France SA

Shipyards

Aker Yards France SA was a significant player in the shipbuilding industry, particularly known for its focus on building large and sophisticated vessels like cruise ships and ferries. Aker Yards was originally part of the larger Aker Yards group, which was a Norwegian-based international shipyard group with numerous facilities across Europe.

Key points about Aker Yards France SA:

History and Ownership: Aker Yards France's history ties back to the broader Aker Yards group, which originated from a merger of several older shipbuilding entities. It also included yards that were previously part of the Alstom group. The French operations were primarily based in two main shipyards: Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire and the yard in Lorient.

Acquisition by STX Europe: In 2008, the South Korean company STX Corporation acquired a significant share in Aker Yards, leading to the rebranding of the European shipyards under the STX Europe name. Consequently, Aker Yards France became part of STX France.

Specialization and Projects: Aker Yards France (later STX France) specialized in the construction of large, complex vessels, particularly cruise ships. The Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard in Saint-Nazaire is renowned for producing some of the world's largest and most sophisticated cruise ships.

Renaming to Chantiers de l'Atlantique: After several financial and ownership changes, including a period under the ownership of the South Korean STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, the French state intervened to stabilize the shipyard. In 2018, following a prolonged period of uncertainty, the shipyards were rebranded back to their historical name, Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

Current Status: As of now, Chantiers de l'Atlantique continues to operate as one of the leading shipyards in Europe, particularly in the cruise ship market. The yard has a significant number of orders from major cruise lines and continues its reputation for engineering excellence and innovation in shipbuilding.

In summary, Aker Yards France SA has undergone various transitions, influenced by global market dynamics and ownership changes. However, the legacy of the company continues under the name Chantiers de l'Atlantique, with a strong presence in the high-value segment of the shipbuilding industry.

Ships

AZAMARA JOURNEY

Passenger Ship | Flag: Malta | Port: VALLETTA

AZAMARA QUEST

Passenger Ship | Flag: Malta | Port: VALLETTA

BERGE HELENE

Oil Production and Storage Unit | Flag: Bermuda | Port: HAMILTON

BLACK EAGLE

Container Ship | Flag: United States | Port: BALTIMORE, MD

Maritime News

Opinion: The U.S. Ships for America Act … In a Corked Bottle

2 hours ago

As a result of a major White House office wake-up call or Executive Order 14269 determining it is time to start building ships again, Washington DC announced America’s maritime industry has been “dangerously declining” and with that decline we have allowed China to become the dominant force in global shipbuilding. Hard to believe that for nearly 65 years we have overlooked how Japan first got ahead of us or the fact that Korea took the lead not soon after Japan. All that progress was ignored prior to anyone worrying about China. What may look like a Rip Van Winkle moment may actually be a four-alarm fire raised by current geopolitical events and our declining Naval power.The U.S.

BW Opal FPSO Vessel set for Work off Australia

7 hours ago

Seatrium delivered the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), BW Opal, to BW Offshore."We would like to express our appreciation to BW Offshore for entrusting Seatrium with their projects over the years," said Marlin Khiew, EVP, Energy (Americas), Seatrium. "The successful completion and delivery of BW Opal marks our 18th FPSO for BW Offshore."Seatrium’s scope of work included installation and integration works of topside modules, deck equipment and the turret mooring system, as well as completion and commissioning support for BW Offshore.

China (again) Flexes Naval Muscle

9 hours ago

China has flexed its muscles this month by sending an unusually large number of naval and coast guard vessels through a swathe of East Asian waters, according to security documents and officials, in moves that have unnerved regional capitals.Since early May, China deployed fleets larger than usual, including navy, coast guard and other ships near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas, according to three regional security officials and documents of regional military activities reviewed by Reuters.On May 21 and May 27, for instance, China deployed nearly 60 and more than 70 ships, respectively, around three-quarters of them naval, the documents show.

Woodside to run North West Shelf LNG Plant to 2070

14 hours ago

Australia conditionally approved on Wednesday a request by Woodside Energy to extend until 2070 the life of its North West Shelf gas plant, following a six-year review dogged by delays, appeals and backlash from green groups.The facility on the Burrup peninsula in Western Australia is the country's oldest and largest liquefied natural gas plant and a key supplier to Asian markets, but concerns that its emissions could imperil ancient rock art held up a decision.In a statement, Environment Minister Murray Watt said the approval of project extension was subject to strict conditions, "particularly relating to the impact of air emissions levels.

As Vessel Sinks Off India, Race is on to Contain Oil Spill

yesterday

Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala are racing to contain an oil spill in the Arabian Sea after the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA3 sank over the weekend, releasing fuel and more than 100 cargo containers into the water.The vessel was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it capsized approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kerala coast on Saturday. All 24 crew members were safely rescued, according to local officials. The cause of the incident has not yet been disclosed.The Kerala chief minister’s office confirmed Sunday that the entire ship is now submerged.