Shipbuilding

The historic shipbuilding expertise of Saint-Nazaire and Nantes is now strengthened by cutting-edge technological capabilities in both design and production.

With an impressive order book—six giant cruise ships and three optional orders scheduled for delivery by 2026 for Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises—the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and its subcontractors are heading towards clear horizons. This success recognises the know-how and expertise of the Nantes Saint-Nazaire naval industry, rooted in its commercial history when ships transported timber and steel. But it also presents an ongoing challenge in constantly advancing technological innovation, sustaining employment, and providing high-quality training. The shipbuilding industry in Nantes and Saint-Nazaire continues to generate significant job creation. Another key player in military shipbuilding, DCNS, supplies submarines for the Royal Australian Navy from Saint-Nazaire.

Key figures

Innovation as a hallmark

Shipbuilding here is fully equipped to meet the industry’s challenges. As a global leader, it offers unparalleled experience alongside a unique capacity for innovation and design that sets it apart. These strengths enable Chantiers de l’Atlantique to meet and even anticipate the highest customer expectations. Their ships incorporate eco-friendly features, advanced cabin designs blending connectivity and aesthetics, innovative onboard facilities, and high-performance propulsion systems. As the leading shipbuilder in France, Chantiers de l’Atlantique and its partners continually work to lower the cost of prototype vessels and reduce production costs of sister ships. One standout example is the “Silenseas”, a next-generation sailing cargo cruise ship designed for travellers eager to minimise their ecological footprint.

Technocampus Océan: A state-of-the-art facility

In Nantes, shipbuilding companies benefit from some of the most advanced innovation infrastructures. The Technocampus Océan is an exceptional research and development hub in France, offering 18,000 m² of workshops and offices, hosting over 300 researchers focused on metal processes and offshore structures. Major industrial groups collaborate here with SMEs, top engineering schools, and universities.

Shipyards playing as a team with Neopolia

At the heart of this success lies a key advantage: the sector’s collective approach.
Grouped within the Neopolia cluster, around 40 shipbuilding companies join forces to identify new markets and develop tailored solutions. Together, they spearhead innovative shipbuilding projects, like the maintenance vessel designed for offshore wind farms, built to service the turbines at France’s first offshore wind farm near Saint-Nazaire. They also collaborated to win the “Loire Princesse” contract for CroisiEurope, a German river cruise operator, building a low-draft river cruise ship adapted for both shallow waters and low bridges, enabling entry into the river cruise market.