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

Seafarer Abandonment in 2025 Poised to Pass 2024 Record

3 hours ago

By May this year, 158 cases of vessel abandonment had been recorded, up from 119 at the same point in 2024.These cases represent more than 1,501 seafarers who have reached out to the ITF for assistance, many of whom were left unpaid, without food, water or access to ports, often for months at a time.“Abandonment is a growing, systemic problem,” said Stephen Cotton, ITF General Secretary. “Behind every number is a human being who has been failed by the industry and the governments responsible for regulating it. The fact that we're on track to break last year’s appalling record is a sign that urgent reform is needed.

TUI Cruises Launches Fincantieri-Built Dual-Fuel Cruise Ship

9 hours ago

Fincantieri and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, have launched Mein Shiff Flow, a dual-fuel cruise ship newbuild.A sister ship to Mein Schiff Relax, delivered in February 2025, the new unit is scheduled to enter service in mid-2026.With approximately 160,000 gross tons, Mein Schiff Flow is based on a first-in-class project developed by Fincantieri enhancing the modernity and sustainability characteristics that TUI Cruises, a company with one of the most advanced fleets from an ecological point of view.

Largest Japanese Cruise Ship Completes Its First Marine LNG Bunkering

yesterday

ASUKA III, said to be the largest Japanese-flagged cruise ship, has completed its first marine LNG bunkering by FueLNG Private at Singapore Cruise Centre.The bunkering milestone also marks Shell LNG's first supply to an LNG-powered cruise ship in the region, according to Singapore Cruise Centre.Asuka III is owned by NYK Cruises, a company of the Japanese shipping group NYK. The 52,200 GT newbuild is 230 meters long and 29.8 meters wide, with space for 744 passengers.„We look forward to many more such operations to come as the industry transitions towards cleaner fuels.

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

2 days 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

2 days 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.