Chantiers of the Atlantic is a Shipyard established with Saint-Nazaire, in France. This building site forms integral part of the French maritime inheritance. It is one of the largest shipyards of Europe. On the current site, there were several different shipyards during the history.

Until March 2006, the unit is called Chantiers of the Atlantic, and belongs to Alstom of which it constitutes the marine branch with the building site ALSTOM Leroux Naval .

Today, Alstom sold 75% their shares in the Building sites of the Atlantic at a company of naval construction Norwegian, Aker Yards. Since June 1st, 2006, the site names Aker Yards.

Localization

This shipyard is located at Saint-Nazaire in the estuary of the Loire. It is built mainly on grounds gained on water. It is in a zone which still corresponds to the river, but the Atlantic Ocean very near guarantees a height of sufficient water, with high tide, to leave very large boats.

Means of production

For the construction of the boats, the building site works on its site with its own means, but also outside the building site, with the installations of the wearing of Saint-Nazaire.

Installations of the building sites

The building sites use today a form of construction and a form of armenent.

The form of construction is approximately 1200 meters long on 60 meters broad. This form has various depths, depending on the progress report of the ships. Thus, one can find there to three ships, simultaneously, in assembly.

The shape of armament is by its size one of largest of the world.

Installations of the port

For the careenage of the boats, before their delivery, the building site uses mainly the Forme Joubert.

History

The history of the Building sites begins with industrialization from naval in France, in the middle of the 19th century, whereas the Industrialization begins in France. Dice the beginning, the Building sites are related to the Paquebot S. At the time Saint-Nazaire is indicated terminus for the South America, by the law of July 18th 1840, confirmed by 3 decrees in 1857, 1858 and 1861. The postal Line of the Antilles and Mexico by the Transatlantic General Compagnie east creates. At the time know-how misses to build modern ships, i.e. with the vapor and metal hull, is completely non-existent in France. CGT, obliged by Napoleon III to ensure the line for April 1862, buys in England 4 steamers. The line is launched on April 14th, 1862, towards Fort-de-France. To be able to buy steamers in France, CGT then will develop a building site with nearest, i.e. Saint-Nazaire.

Difficult beginnings

Know-how is imported of England, which launches in 1857 the Great Eastern, a ship in metal hull of 230 meters. A Scot, John Scott, is discharged building site of Greenock to bring his techniques. He makes build holds with Penhoët, and built 4 ships with 15 English foremen, and a labor recruited in Brière. The building site receives the financial support of the brothers Pereire. April 24th 1864, the first ship of the Chantiers Scott is launched. It is about the steamer Impératrice Eugenie , 108 meters length. But the euphoria is of short duration. In 1866, the building site, which engage 1800 people, fact bankruptcy. 13 years later, the Transatlantic General Compagnie rebuilds the Building site. The following year, in 1882, the Workshops and Chantiers of the Loire , a Nantes company, is installed on the same spot .

Large tankers

The construction of tankers was an important activity in the history of the Building sites of the Atlantic.

After the construction of the France , the Building sites of the Atlantic modernized their production equipment to answer waitings of the oil market, in particular. Until the construction of the France , the Building sites of the Atlantic built the boats on an oblique slope, once the hull and the finished superstructures, the boat was launched. That means that it slipped on the ground and joined the sea. Then, the completion was carried out with quay.

With the passing of years the tankers became increasingly large and this method of construction was not appropriate any more.

In 197? , a great form of construction is built. This form always exists. It is approximately 1200 m long on 60 broad.

This form allowed the construction of the four larger tankers the world: Batillus , Bellamya , Pierre Guillaumat , Meadow . Approximately 500.000 tons of oil each one.

The race with the gigantism of the tankers is related to the historical context. Indeed, at the beginning of the Années 1970 the Suez Canal is blocked by the problems with the the Middle East. The tankers must thus make the turn of the Africa while passing by the Cape of Good Hope.

Another form was built with the Building sites of the Atlantic: the basin C. This Basin was initially planned for the construction of tanker of: 1000000 of tons. But the reopening of the Suez Canal made fall through the construction of such units. Being given their size, they could never have crossed Suez Canal.

This basin is useful today for the completion of the boats.

Passenger ships of the Years 1980 - 1990

Of 1984 with 2006 the site belonged to Alstom. It belongs since to Aker Yards.

Built ships

The complete listing is available in the article Liste of the ships built to the Building sites of the Atlantic . Among most famous, one can quote:

The Building sites of the Atlantic currently build Paquebot S, Méthanier S, frigates, and oceanographical ships.

Successive presidents

  • Rene Fould: President of the Building site and Atelier of Saint-Nazaire 1945-1955

  • Paul Petitjean: President of the Workshops and Chantiers of the Loire 1945-1955
  • Rene Fould: President of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1955-1960
  • Jean Pinczon: President of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1961-1970
  • Jean Cahen-El Salvador: President of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1971-1974
  • Pierre Loygues: President of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1975-1976 then of Alstom the Atlantic 1977-1978
  • Roger Schulz: President d' Alsthom the Atlantic 1979-1981
  • Rene Glance: Managing director of the Building sites of the Atlantic (division naval constructions of Alstom the Atlantic) 1982-1984
  • Jean-Pierre Desgeorges: President d' Alsthom the Atlantic 1982-1989
  • Alain Grill: Managing director of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1984-1989, general President-director of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1989-1994
  • Jean-Christmas d' Acremont: general President-director of the Building sites of the Atlantic 1994-1997
  • Patrick Boissier: general President-director of the Building sites of the Atlantic October 1997 - 2006, and managing director of the sector Alstom Marine 1998-2006
  • Jacques Hardelay: Managing director Akeryards France since 2006

Turnover

The branch lost 103 million euros at the time of 2004, for a turnover of 630 million euros, reduced of more than half in three years. Nevertheless since 2005, the construction and the ordering of several steamers for the company Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) , to approximately 500 million euros part and the purchase of the Building sites by the group Aker Yards offers growth prospects real from the financial point of view as from the point of view of employment to Saint-Nazaire and in its area.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Official site
  • Visit of the Building sites proposed by the tourist bureau
  • French Shipyards during the Second world war

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