At. & Ch. de la Manche

Shipyards

Ateliers et Chantiers de la Manche (ACM) was a French shipbuilding company, historically significant for its contributions to naval and commercial maritime industries. Established in the late 19th century, ACM became known for constructing a variety of vessels, including military ships, merchant ships, and specialized engineering projects.

Key Historical Points:

Founding and Location: The company was founded in the 1890s in the city of Dieppe, located in the Normandy region on the northern coast of France. This strategic geographic position gave ACM access to the English Channel, facilitating its shipbuilding operations.
Types of Vessels: ACM was involved in building various types of vessels throughout its operational years. This included navy frigates, cargo ships, and passenger ferries. The diversity of their projects enabled them to adapt to changing demands and maintain relevance in the competitive shipbuilding industry.
Military Contribution: During both World Wars, ACM played a crucial role in supplying the French Navy with essential warships, thereby contributing significantly to the country's maritime defense capabilities. Their shipyards were often extremely busy during these periods, reflecting the heightened demand for military vessels.
Post-war Expansion: After World War II, ACM transitioned towards building more commercial and industrial ships. The post-war economic boom saw an increased need for cargo ships, and ACM adapted to meet this demand.
Modernization and Decline: Like many traditional shipbuilding companies in Europe, ACM faced challenges in the latter half of the 20th century. Competition from other global shipbuilders, particularly those in Asia, and changing economic conditions led to periods of modernization and restructuring. Ultimately, however, ACM, like many of its peers, struggled to remain competitive.
Legacy: Although ACM is no longer operational today, it left a lasting legacy through its contributions to maritime engineering and the numerous vessels it built over the course of its existence. Many of these ships served in significant historical events and helped develop the maritime industry in France and beyond.

The closing of ACM marked the end of an era for the French shipbuilding industry, but its historical impact remains a point of reference for maritime historians and enthusiasts.

Ships

OCEAN SWAN

Supply Vessel | Flag: United Kingdom | Port: ABERDEEN

Maritime News

Greek Shipyards Revitalized

3 hours ago

The rhythmic clang of hammers and the bright flashes of welding torches filled the air at Skaramangas Shipyard near Athens last month, as workers busily repaired the bow of a large tanker. Nearby, other vessels awaited their turn in the dry dock—an unmistakable sign of renewed activity at the once-idle shipyard.Just a year ago, Skaramangas stood empty, a stark reminder of Greece’s prolonged debt crisis from 2009 to 2018. Following decades of inconsistent government ownership and uncertainty, the shipyard had languished. But today, it is experiencing a revival.“Now there is life here again,” said Theodoros Evagelou, a worker sandblasting and painting ships.

Evergreen Places $3.2B Order for 11 LNG Dual-Fuel Container Ships

13 hours ago

Taiwanese container shipping firm Evergreen Marine Corporation has ordered 11 new LNG dual-fuel container ships from South Korean and Chinese shipyards, whose combined worth is up to $3.2 billion.On February 12, Evergreen disclosed two orders for 11 container ships, each with a 24,000 TEU capacity.The company placed an order to South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean for six vessels, and to CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China for the remaining five vessels.Evergreen will pay between $265 million and $295 million per unit, totaling up to approximately $1.77 billion for six vessels to be built at Hanwha Ocean and around $1.47 billion for five containerships at GSI.

MEGA MACHINES: Manson Prepares to Add “The Bionic Man” of Dredge Vessels

yesterday

Manson Construction has long been a pillar of the U.S. maritime industry, rooted in a tradition of U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and U.S.-operated vessels. The company was founded in 1905 by Peter Manson, when he dug up a jar of gold coins [because he didn’t trust the banks] and purchased a winch, a winch that was then put on a barge and that became Manson's first pile driver. With barge-mounted pile driver, Manson Construction embarked on its journey into marine construction and eventually dredging, a journey which continues today as it has become a dominant player today in the U.S. maritime market, playing a crucial role in building and maintaining the nation’s maritime infrastructure.

MSC Baltic III Grounded, Crew Safe

2 days ago

Canada’s Marine Communications and Traffic Services received a MAYDAY on Saturday from the MSC Baltic III as it ran aground located approximately 12 nautical miles outside the entrance to Bay of Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.The vessel reported a loss of power, and unable to secure an anchor in the adverse conditions, grounded in Wild Cove west of Lark Harbour. All 20 crew have been airlifted to safety.Weather in the area continues to be a factor as work is underway to assess the situation and determine the next steps. Canadian Coast Guard crews and Eastern Canada Response Corporation representatives are establishing a staging area in Lark Harbour.

US Drops Website Wording on Taiwan Independence

2 days ago

The U.S. State Department has removed a statement on its website that it does not support Taiwan independence, among changes that the island's government praised on Sunday as supporting Taiwan.The fact sheet on Taiwan retains Washington's opposition to unilateral change from either Taiwan or from China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own.But as well as dropping the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence", the page has added a reference to Taiwan's cooperation with a Pentagon technology and semiconductor development project and says the U.S. will support Taiwan's membership in international organisations "where applicable".