Aimed at large cruise ships and other vessel types, Dry dock No 10 at Marseille is now fully operational following an upgrade.
Operated by Chantier Naval de Marseille (CNdM), dock No. 10 is is 465 m in length. To increase the yard’s efficiency, about €10 mill investments were made.
Work commenced with scheduled maintenance on an MSC cruise ship. This will be followed by work on two Costa ships at the end of November and beginning of December, respectively.
Among CNdM activities, special focus will be given to the optimisation of energy efficiency and environmental performances of cruise ships, in line with the new regulations and cruise lines investments strategies. This follows a significant milestone in the yard’s consolidation by Costa Crociere taking a 33.3% share in August, 2016.
“It is a great satisfaction for our company to see Forme (Dock) 10 finally fully operational, as we have always believed in the great potential of this facility. The availability of Forme 10 marks a turning point in the operations of Chantier Naval de Marseille, which now has all it takes to become the point of reference in the Mediterranean area for shiprepair, maintenance and conversion,” said Ferdinando Garrè, CEO of San Giorgio del Porto, parent company of CNdM and headquartered in Genoa, Italy.
“This was made possible thanks to a series of investments that aimed at expanding our business to new market segments and, subsequently, at increasing the efficiency of the shipyard with the best available technologies. In this respect, the partnership with Costa Crociere played a crucial role. Moreover, the investment will benefit both direct employment and the entire supply chain,” he said.
“The new opening of Dry Dock No 10 and the arrival of the first vessel is a major event for Chantier Naval de Marseille and for all its staff. With this new facility, Chantier Naval de Marseille can provide its customers not only with a new drydock for the busiest period (October to March), but also with a dock which, with its unique size, allows us to accommodate other type of vessels and to position ourselves in a high-potential business segment, such as LNG and offshore, to realise more complex projects,” said Jacques Hardelay Chantier Navale de Marseille CEO.
“This outcome is the result of the work of CNdM’s staff in close collaboration with the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille and a constant support of all the local stakeholders.”
“The port of Marseille Fos is the first French cruise port and plays a major role in the Mediterranean Sea. The size of the new ships requires drydocks of adequate measures and in proximity of their area of operation. Dry Dock No 10 responds to this need and opens new industrial perspectives to large scale shiprepair, offering new opportunities for the offshore sector, gas tankers, bulk carriers or container ships,” said Christine Cabau Woehrel, president of the Directory Port of Marseille Fos – CEO of Marseille Fos Port Authority.
“It is a new page for shiprepair in Marseille. We can now offer our customers, on the same premises, a complete port service, from commercial operations to major repair and refit activities, in a unique industrial pole in the Western Mediterranean.”
Works to restore dock No 10 started in mid-2013 and included the construction of a new floating concrete gate, the overhaul of the pumping system, the repair of the lifting facilities and the redesign of all networks.
Chantier Naval de Marseille operates three dry docks. Chantier Naval de Marseille became part of San Giorgio del Porto in 2010 and employs about 120 people, including naval architects, mechanical engineers and technicians.
