Home > The maritime sectors > Shipbuilding and repairShipbuilding and repair
The French shipbuilding and repair industry employs around 40,000 people and is ranked 6th in the world and 2nd in Europe in the global civil and military market France’s success in this field is due to the adaptability of its human resources, their capacity for innovation (an area in which the French naval industry is in the vanguard) and business efficiency. Unlike Asian shipyards, French shipyards are experts at building the most complex units (high value added): liners and other passenger ships, destroyers and power projection ships, support vessels, submarines; and their know-how can also be applied in offshore activities especially marine renewable energy. French shipyards and equipment suppliers are capable of producing all types of sophisticated vessels up to 400 m in length . Shipyards build metal structures (hulls) then incorporate in them systems often built elsewhere. This is the task of a systems integrator. The task of building a ship is therefore essentially one of managing the construction of a system in which subsystems are integrated. The joint contractors, equipment suppliers and service providers involved are mainly located on the coast but also throughout France. The leaders in shipbuilding :
DCNS believes that the sea is this planet’s future. DCNS is inventing high-tech solutions to sustainably secure and develop its potential. DCNS is a world leader in naval defence and an innovative player in energy. The group’s success as an advanced technology company with global reach is built on meeting customer needs by deploying exceptional know-how and unique industrial resources. DCNS designs, builds and supports submarines and surface combatants. It also proposes services for naval shipyards and bases. Last but not least, DCNS offers a range of solutions in civil nuclear engineering and marine renewable energy. DCNS is committed to sustainable development and was one of the first defence contractors to win group-wide certification to ISO 14001. In recognition of the success achieved by its DCNS Develops Talent knowledge sharing programme, DCNS was awarded the National award for corporate citizenship under the patronage of the Speaker of the French Senate. The group employs 13,000 people and generates annual revenues of € 2.6 billion.
STX France, together with its subsidiaries is growing on the markets connected to offshore energies such as oil and gas energies and marine renewable energies. Foundations and steel structures, offshore substations, installation and maintenance vessels, energy production structures and systems, offshore living quarters are part of our projects and domains of studies. Lastly, with its Services department, STX France of fers also a complete ser vice range for maintenance and refitting activities on civilian or navy ships under operation. Two STX France’s subsidiaries complete its range of services: • STX France Cabins specialises in the design, fabrication and turnkey delivery of prefabricated housing modules for ships, and offshore and terrestrial equipment. • STX France Solutions offers its engineering services on terrestrial and offshore structures as well as on the shipbuilding ones, especially with its Brazilian subsidiary.
CMN has a very varied production range and expertise. The Cherbourg shipyard in particular has the capability to build: • a full range of modern navy vessels (fast attack craft, surveillance craft, launches, corvettes, patrol boats and fast interceptors). More than 300 ships including 100 missile patrol boats have been built and are now in service in some fifteen navies, • motor yachts (from 25 to 73 m), • luxury sailing yachts (single hull or catamaran) or racing yachts (Géodis, 60 feet), • small cruise vessels (100 -150 passengers).
Sales of 151 million Euros in 2011, • 384 ships built, • 8 companies, located in France (5), Mauritius, Poland, Nigeria and Vietnam, • 1,000 people in the world. Half a century of experience and continued growth mean that PIRIOU is a specialist in shipbuilding and ship repair for medium-sized ships with high added value. Thanks to high-performance engineering, combined with the worldwide locations of industrial sites, PIRIOU can provide with complete and customised solutions, from the design to the construction of ships, up to the operational maintenance during operation. PIRIOU delivered 384 ships since 1965 to 26 countries, whether designed for the artisanal or industrial fishing industry, for passenger or cargo transport, as tugs or offshore oil service boats, dredgers or for scientific research, for State activity at sea or for river navigation, for rescue at sea or anti-pollution work. Each ship is unique because PIRIOU take account of the constraints imposed by the sea to design and deliver a perfectly adapted work tool.
Ship repair and maintenance :
ARNO Dunkerque is the only operator for ship repair and conversion in the harbour of Dunkirk (3rd French harbour). The resources are basically the following: Permanent ‘in house’ highly qualified labour and staff of 160. A significant industrial environment of capacity and specialty subcontractors. 70% of ARNO Dunkerque shipyard’s activity is international. ARNO Dunkerque is certified ISO 9001 :2008 and certified GTT for membrane LNG carriers.
Cegelec is a company of VINCI, an international group with a turnover of 36 billion Euros and a staff of 190,000. Having offices in some thirty countries, Cegelec designs, installs and maintains systems and sub-systems in industry, infrastructure and the service sector. Strenghtened by its unique international presence and its wide range of skills, the Cegelec group is active in the maritime sector, focusing mainly on: multi-technical works aboard submarines; protection of critical infrastructures, on land, at sea or on board; overall maintenance of port and naval facilities; operational maintenance of patrol boats, surveillance frigates, light transport ships...
The shipyard offers a broad range of services for any vessel type, including LNG tankers, oil tankers, semi-submersibles, shuttle tankers, FPSO’s, offshore construction vessels, jack-up rigs, ro-ro vessels and ferries. The highly skilled workforce is particularly well-known for its LNG tanker expertise.
Civil and naval shipyards, repair yards and their equipment suppliers are represented by a recognised professional body :
GICAN is the professional group representing the French naval and maritime industry. GICAN members are involved in naval defence, maritime security, safety and environment, and commercial shipbuilding. As a result, the organization is supported by the French Ministry of Defence, the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, and the French General Secretary of the Sea. 160 companies are members of GICAN. They include not only key prime contractors, system integrators and equipment providers but also Small and Medium Industries (SMI) involved in naval, cruise or mercantile shipbuilding and ship repair. The group as a whole has a 6 billion euro turnover and is responsible for more than 40,000 jobs GICAN brings together the skills of all of its members. It is responsible for their promotion in France and abroad, their strategic positioning within Europe, and recognition of the high technology which characterizes the industry. GICAN represents the naval sector in public and international bodies. GICAN is also partner of the Euronaval and Euromaritime exhibitions.
Subcontractors and equipment suppliers:
AAA Marine engages in all subcontract work and offers management packages for ships, yachts and sailing boats, and supplies parts for them. Work is carried out by its independent teams at customers’ yards in France and abroad or in their factories.
The association Bretagne Pole Naval gathers 98 members of the naval and marine energy / offshore wind industries. These industries of excellence represent more than 12,000 jobs in the Brittany Region. The companies represent a "complete chain of expertise and skills" in the areas of naval industry and MRE as well as in the offshore oil and gas industry. The group brings together shipyards, project managers, engineering companies, equipment suppliers and all associated services. Bretagne Pole Naval aims to expand business activity and enhance the industrial infrastructure of the regional ports: Develop synergies and partnerships between businesses. • Develop skills. Ensure support and advice to businesses in the fields of employment and training. • Contribute to the renovation and adaptation of industrial port infrastructure. • Promote sites, businesses and their products / services. • Relate companies and contractors. Through its work, the cluster Bretagne Pole Naval presents in France and around the world a global offer at the forefront of new technologies and innovation.
CIRANOE, Holding company of Jean-Pierre Le Goff, is acting in the Maritime field through two subsidiaries: 1-MAURIC, very well known Naval Architect and Engineering Office, 2-SIBIRIL Technologies, naval shipyard specialized in 12m to 20m meter long composite professionnal boats, with prestigious references such as SNSM and Harbour Pilots.
GE acquired Power Conversion (then known as Converteam) in September 2011. GE Energy’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electric transformation of the world’s energy infrastructure. Designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies that evolve today’s industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future. Power Conversion serves specialized sectors such as energy, marine, industry and all related services. In the marine sector, Power Conversion supplies advanced technologies in power generation and distribution, electric propulsion, power management, vessel automation, dynamic positioning and control systems to offshore, merchant and naval marine markets. www.ge-energy.com/electrifyingchange
For more than twenty years, d2m has been a leading French company, acting as naval architect for merchant or defence vessels, and also for marine engineering, service to ship owners and designer for marine renewable energy systems. This fully independent company provides assistance to ship operators, oil & gas companies and engineering and offshore companies throughout their new build or conversion investment projects. d2m group employs about 90 engineers. In 2011, its turnover amounts 11 million euros, regularly increasing: d2m provides engineering studies or construction supervisions to many major international customers through its affiliates and partners.
DGA Hydrodynamics is the Test and Evaluation Center of the DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) specialised in naval hydrodynamics and hydroacoustics, and in the evaluation of the behaviour of the ship structure on waves and of submarine trajectories. DGA Hydrodynamics designs also propellers for submarines, surface ships or other bodies, evaluates them and qualifies their designs. The centre uses numerical and high performance model test facilities (B600 and GTH), often unique considering their capabilities. DGA Hydrodynamics carries out ship instrumentations for sea trials measurements and for in service monitoring.
The three main fields of expertise are: • membrane containment systems for maritime LNG transportation, • land storage for LNG, • cryogenic subsea pipeline for LNG. GTT provides its Licensees with technologies suppor ted by patents and approved by classification societies. GTT supplies design and engineering services for all its applications, in particular cargo containment system, cargo handling system and LNG storage tanks. GTT systems are used in over 300 vessels and 30 land storage tanks today.
Honeywell Marine SAS offers full automated tank gauging solutions for cargo, ballast and service tanks incl. monitoring of temperature and inert gas. As a proven leader in the marine equipment industr y the company has the capabilit y to offer complete system engineering, equipment, installation, commissioning and support solutions anywhere in the world. Type of solutions: • cargo tanks level measurement systems, • safety, overfill and gas detection systems, • wide range of sensors for tank gauging and safety control.
The cluster "Nepolia Marine Solutions" groups together 40 companies from the Pays de la Loire region, specialised in shipbuilding and ship repair (aluminium and steel made) for their commercial development and the improvement of their performances. This cluster federates highly experienced companies mastering all the techniques necessary to the construction of any types of vessels between 20 and 60 meters. Neopolia Marine Solutions handles the whole network of skills, from the demand for expertise by specialists, respecting the constraints for timing, the overall management of projects, technical as well as financial… This cluster counts with the competence of a technical and commercial engineer. He takes steps to accompany the big ordering parties and, in that way, promotes the development of the companies members of NMS.
Historical actor in the design, implementation and operational maintenance of embedded equipment in land defence systems, Nexter Electronics implements a range of innovative, competitive and sustainable solutions developed for systems and on-board networks control.  www.nexter-group.fr/fr/filiales/nexter-electronics
The French subsidiary of international group Prüftechnik AG (world leader in the laser optical alignment industry), Prüftechnik France specialises in preventive maintenance and offers the following services: • shaft alignment and geometrical measurements by laser optical, • propeller shaft torque measurement, • online particle distribution counter monitoring wear debris in oil, • vibration analysis by portable systems or monitoring systems, • vibration analysis by telemonitoring.
which are also being deployed in the energy storage, transportation and telecommunication markets. Saft’s 4,000 employees present in 19 countries, its 16 manufacturing sites and extensive sales network all contribute to accelerating the group’s growth for the future.
SAMES Technologies: 50 years of know-how and innovations now provide an international reputation for performance and quality in the electrostatic spraying. SAMES has been the supplier of many world centers of nuclear physics, including the Brookhaven National Laboratory in USA SAMES develops solutions for robotic applications or thick fluid products for automotive, industrial, wind, oil, plastics and shipbuilding. SAMES provide these customers with complete solutions, from the pump to the system of product application and follow these customers worldwide.
Founded in 2004, Verhaaren Naval Architects is an independent naval architecture and ship design studio which focuses on projects of commercial vessels, naval vessels or yachts, from 20 m to more than 100 m, fast or slow. It also of fers consulting ser vices, project management, surveillance of construction and technical and regulatory follow up of a vessel or a fleet. It is also involved in hydrostatic and hydrodynamic research. Based in France, Verhaaren Naval Architects has developed its expertise from a long experience of design acquired in several shipyards, in France and abroad, thus guaranteeing the reliability of its projects. haut de page |
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DCNS
STX France SA is an industrial group owned at 66.6% by STX Europe (itself subsidiary of the Korean group STX Business Group) and at 33.4% by the French state. Both yards, located in Saint- Nazaire and Lorient, possess the expertise and industrial tool suitable for designing and building a wide range of ships such as passenger ships, special and service vessels, navy ships. Especially involved in Research and Development policies, STX France is in position to offer its clients, via its ECORIZON® programme, innovative technical solutions for more economic ships with a limited environmental footprint. 
Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie: pioneers in the fast vessel market. 
Damen Shiprepair Brest is a well-established repair yard with modern facilities. It has three graven dry-docks and sufficient repair berths. The biggest dry-dock measures 420 x 80 meters and is one of the biggest in Europe, allowing the yard to accommodate almost any ship in the world. 
GTT is an engineering company specialised in the fields of mechanics and thermodynamics with applications in the energy and shipping sector. 
Honeywell Marine is part of Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS) and is specialized in the production and sale of precision level measurement systems for marine applications, a market in which it has built a substantial share in recent years. It has a production and service facility in Bourges. Sales are handled and supported by a network of distributors and agents all around the world, together with teams of company’s specialists based in key countries for the marine industry. 
HydrOcean offers design support in the marine field, with the use of innovative numerical simulation tools capable of accurately simulating the most simple to the most complex hydrodynamic phenomena. Throughout a complete numerical tank HydrOcean proposes the evaluation and optimisation of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic performances and a trim optimisation service allowing the decrease of fuel consumption without any hull modification. HydrOcean’s expertise covers resistance, selfpropulsion, manoeuvring and seakeeping. 
Nexter Electronics, a Nexter group subsidiary, is expert in embedded electronic systems operating in harsh environment. 
Saft is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced technology batteries for industry. The group is the world’s leading manufacturer of nickel batteries and primary lithium batteries for the industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, civil and military electronics markets. Saft is the world leader in space and defence batteries with its Li-ion technologies 
