Home > The maritime sectors > Marine scientific researchMarine scientific research
France’s oceanographic research has been a pioneer in exploring the maritime spaces and ocean deeps for more than 20 years. Its expertise in this field and especially in deep sea exploration is recognised the world over. Ifremer is one of only three institutions in the world to have a deep sea vehicle, the Nautilus, which can operate at a depth of up to 6,000 metres. France also has international expertise in satellite oceanography (water temperature, currents, water colour and salinity), especially important for the study of climate and fish. To raise the profile of this French expertise internationally, in 2008 the leading French research bodies with marine assets for deep sea exploration (CNRS, IFREMER, IPEV and IRD) established the French Oceanographic Fleet TGRI (Very Large-scale Research Infrastructure). It integrates all marine assets belonging to these bodies: ocean going vessels, coastal vessels and station tenders, their related heavy equipment (submersibles, Victor 6000 ROV) and standard movable equipment (gliders, core samplers...). The TGRI Fleet is ranked among the best in the world with its range of vessels and vehicles giving access to all the world’s oceans except the polar seas. It amalgamates all French marine research resources belonging to the four founding bodies. In March 2011, another major step was taken in the process of integrating French marine research facilities with the formation of the French Oceanographic Fleet’s Joint Service Unit. This unit is tasked with integrated programming, economic forecasting, and defining and coordinating the fleet’s development plan and investment policies.
A central technical service with a national remit, the Centre d’Études Technique Maritimes et Fluviales (CETMEF) (Centre for Maritime and Fluvial Studies) is directly attached to the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Its 200 agents engage in three main activities: • research, development and innovation in hydraulics and applied sedimentology, • state-of-the-art engineering and technical expertise for ports, coasts and inland waterways, navigation security and telecommunications, the production of guides, manuals, study reports and software for the scientific community, • industrial technical management.
www.cetmef.developpement-durable.gouv.fr
• Marine Operation Department: underwater operations. Janus and Minibex vessels with dynamic positioning, Remora 2000 submarine, 3,000 and 8,500 feet ROVs, side-scan sonars, magnetometers, multibeam echosounders… • Extreme Environment Engineering Department: engineering, design, manufacture and maintenance of hyperbaric and hypobaric chambers and special apparatus including facilities for pressure testing equipment.
hydraulics and applied sedimentology, • state-of-the-art engineering and technical expertise for ports, coasts and inland waterways, navigation security and telecommunications, the production of guides, manuals, study reports and software for the scientific community, • industrial technical management. Corrodys is a technical center specialized in marine corrosion and biocorrosion. Its multidisciplinary organization brings together complementary specialists to assess and study corrosion. Services: • Field and/or lab assessments. • Qualification tests of biocides, inhibitors, materials: - standard or customized tests, - in reactor and/or flow loops (one of these continuously evaluates biocide treatments). • Metallographic, physicochemical and microbiological analyses. R&D: • Collaborative programs for studying the interface between material and biofilm.
The Laboratoire de Recherche en Hydrodynamique, Energétique et Environnement Atmosphérique of the Ecole Centrale de Nantes contributes to marine scientific research by developing tools mainly in conjunction with the company HydrOcea.
Discovering the Ocean with Ifremer: French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, Ifremer aims to improve knowledge of the seas and oceans, monitor and accumulate expertise of the marine environment, and support the development of the French maritime economy. Since its creation in 1984, the Institute has continuously expanded its areas of expertise, such as the development of oceanography. To its initial disciplinary fields (fisheries, geosciences, marine and submarine technologies, fish farming and coastal environment) operational oceanography has been added to monitor all the oceans of the world, and thus the future of our planet through climate change. Ifremer also conducts research in marine biodiversit y to discover and preserve our ecological heritage, in blue biotechnologies that offer new avenues of progress in the medical, cosmetics and food sectors, as well as in renewable energies of marine origin, which are recognized for their development potential in the generation of sustainable energy. Ifremer enables significant advances in knowledge and innovation to be achieved for the benefit of those involved with the sea at an international level and for the benefit of the general public.
Neotek provides and integrates a wide range of high-tech equipment in Marine and Positioning business offering a complete portfolio of leading edge products for data transmission, monitoring and analysis in the following areas: • Marine acoustics, • Oceanography, • Bathymetry, • Meteorology. Neotek’s value: • 25 years of involvement in this very branch of business, • Privileged and exclusive relationships with leading manufacturers, • An outstanding capacity to integrate high technology products (sensors, electronic systems…).
SHOM (Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service) has the task of ensuring the availability of accurate data on the marine, coastal and ocean physical environment, which it carries out by coordinating the collection, archiving and dissemination of information to meet public, military and civilian requirements cost effectively. 3 major missions: • national hydrographic service: General hydrography for the benefit of all seafarers; charts and nautical publications. • defence service: SHOM provides defence expertise and supports operational requirements in the maritime environment. • support for government maritime policies: operational oceanography; delimitation and maritime boundaries; management of tidal observatories; in cooperation with IGN, establishment of a high resolution littoral elevation and hydrodynamical model (Litto3D®),
The national Litto3D® programme, a joint project between SHOM and IGN (French National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information), is a seamless altimetric model to support coastal zone management. It forms the essential database for implementing government policy on the sea and coast: risk prevention, coastal protection, delimitation of maritime boundaries, land use planning,... Tromelin Island - Scattered Islands….
3 major missions: • national hydrographic service: General hydrography for the benefit of all seafarers; charts and nautical publications. • defence service: SHOM provides defence expertise and supports operational requirements in the maritime environment. • support for government maritime policies: operational oceanography; delimitation and maritime boundaries; management of tidal observatories; in cooperation with IGN, establishment of a high resolution littoral elevation and hydrodynamical model (Litto3D®), … SINAY specializes in technology research and innovation for marine environmental monitoring and especially the preservation of marine mammals. Areas of application are marine scientific obser vations, Marine Renewable Energy (MRE), offshore wind, farms and tidal turbines, underwater works (e.g. ports), Natura 2000 Marine Protected Areas, the fisheries sector, ecodesign of future ships, monitoring offshore oil drilling and military activities. Activities: • Engineering company specializing in scientific observations of fisheries and environmental impact assessments. • Marine Natura 2000 studies. Initial study of bird populations, marine mammals, fish, solid waste and ships. • Economic surveys and fishing fleet activities. • Services and innovative technologies to conduct underwater acoustics studies and measure the impact of human activities on the marine ecosystem. • Geophysical and geotechnical services. haut de page |
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