Chantiers de l'Atlantique

Chantiers de l'Atlantique, formerly known as STX Europe and Alstom Marine, is a French shipbuilding company located in Saint-Nazaire, France. The company has a long history of building various types of ships, including cruise ships, naval ships, and offshore platforms, for clients such as Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and the French Navy. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has also collaborated with other major shipbuilding companies, including Fincantieri, Meyer Werft, and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, on various projects, such as the construction of the Queen Mary 2 and the Freedom-class cruise ships.

● History

Chantiers de l'Atlantique was founded in 1955 as a result of the merger of several smaller shipbuilding companies, including Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire and Chantiers de Penhoët, with the support of the French government and companies like Renault and Thomson-CSF. Over the years, the company has undergone several transformations, including a merger with Alstom in 1988, which led to the creation of Alstom Marine. In 2006, the company was acquired by STX Europe, a subsidiary of the STX Corporation, and was renamed STX France. In 2018, the company was acquired by the French government and Naval Group, and was renamed Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The company has worked with various notable companies, including Airbus, Thales Group, and DCNS, on projects such as the construction of the Charles de Gaulle (R91) and the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship.

● Products and Services

Chantiers de l'Atlantique offers a wide range of products and services, including the design and construction of cruise ships, naval ships, and offshore platforms. The company has built several notable ships, including the Queen Mary 2, the Oasis-class cruise ships, and the Freedom-class cruise ships, for clients such as Carnival Corporation & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and the French Navy. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has also provided services such as ship repair and maintenance, as well as the construction of ship components, such as propellers and rudders, for companies like Wärtsilä and Rolls-Royce Holdings. The company has collaborated with other major companies, including Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, and Det Norske Veritas, on various projects, such as the construction of the Ile de France and the Normandie (M641).

● Shipyard Facilities

Chantiers de l'Atlantique has a large shipyard facility located in Saint-Nazaire, France, which covers an area of over 150 hectares. The shipyard is equipped with several large dry docks, including the Bassin C dry dock, which is one of the largest in the world, and has a capacity to build ships up to 400 meters in length. The shipyard also has several smaller dry docks and workshops, as well as a large workforce of skilled engineers and technicians, who have worked on projects such as the construction of the Charles de Gaulle (R91), the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, and the Queen Mary 2. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has also invested in various research and development facilities, including a large wind tunnel and a hydrodynamic testing facility, which are used to test and develop new ship designs, in collaboration with companies like Dassault Systèmes and Siemens.

● Notable Projects

Chantiers de l'Atlantique has worked on several notable projects over the years, including the construction of the Queen Mary 2, the Oasis-class cruise ships, and the Freedom-class cruise ships. The company has also built several naval ships, including the Charles de Gaulle (R91), the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, and the FREMM multipurpose frigate. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has also worked on several offshore platform projects, including the construction of the Girassol and the Dalia (oil platform), for clients such as Total S.A. and ExxonMobil. The company has collaborated with other major companies, including TechnipFMC, Saipem, and Subsea 7, on various projects, such as the construction of the P-51 (frigate) and the Karel Doorman-class frigate.

● Company Structure and Ownership

Chantiers de l'Atlantique is a private company owned by Naval Group (65.97%) and the French government (33.59%). The company is led by a board of directors, which includes representatives from Naval Group and the French government, as well as several independent directors, such as Laurent Castaing and Hervé Guillou. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has a large workforce of over 2,000 employees, including engineers, technicians, and shipyard workers, who have worked on projects such as the construction of the Ile de France and the Normandie (M641). The company has also established partnerships with several other companies, including Airbus, Thales Group, and DCNS, to work on various projects, such as the construction of the Charles de Gaulle (R91) and the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship. Chantiers de l'Atlantique has also collaborated with companies like Bureau Veritas, Lloyd's Register, and Det Norske Veritas, on various projects, such as the construction of the Queen Mary 2 and the Oasis-class cruise ships.

Category:Shipbuilding companies of France