One of the major projects at the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre was completed on Thursday 17th October 2024, after several months of work.
In 2002, the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre built a dry dock 130m long and 27m wide, capable of accommodating ships of the maximum size allowed by the port’s access channel, 115m. For several years now, teams from Carenco, operator of the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre, have been working with the Brittany Region to replace the dry dock door. Following on from the acquisition of the sling lift, this major investment is helping to maintain a high-performance infrastructure that is unique in Brittany, for shipowners and port users alike.
Features of the new dry dock door
The new dry dock door arrived in May, prefabricated at the Aire de Réparation Navale (Ship Repair Area) and made up of four parts. It can now be handled using the strap lift, making it easier to maintain. The new door has also been raised by 50cm to anticipate rising water levels, storms and other potential consequences of global warming. In addition, a footbridge will be installed on the left bank of the river to improve safety and ensure a smoother flow of traffic.
Six months of work, supported by the solidarity of local teams
After 6 months of work, the construction of the new dry dock door at the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre is part of an exemplary sustainable development and CSR approach. The project involved teams from Carenco and a number of local partners: specialist manufacturers Matière, Entrepose and Médiaco, welding and painting teams from SPI, and divers from SOS Plongée.
The old door, which was removed on October 1rst, will be recycled by NAVALEO, demonstrating the commitment of the Port and its partners to sustainable resource management. This eco-responsible approach reflects a constant concern to minimise the environmental footprint, as part of a continuous improvement process implemented by the Carenco teams, while meeting economic and social imperatives.
The huge door of the dry dock is in place
Towed by the sea, the new gate was installed at high tide on Thursday 17th October. Weighing 200 tonnes and measuring 30m long, 11m high and 4m wide, the structure has been specially designed to resist corrosion for around fifty years. This durability was made possible by investments made by the former concession holder, the CCI, with the creation of the ARN (Ship Repair Area) and the strap lift.
This major project is the culmination of a major project for the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre in 2024, its users, citizens, shipowners and shipyards, who come from all over France to carry out maintenance work on their vessels. The installation of the new dry dock door will be followed by a phase of adjustment and testing, lasting an estimated one to two weeks.
The renovation of the dry dock door at the Port of Concarneau – Shipbuilding and Ship Repair centre marks a crucial step for the future of ship repair in the region. This essential tool is being redesigned with improvements designed to meet future climatic challenges and ensure greater safety and fluidity of operations. The new, precision-assembled door is a symbol of the port’s enduring commitment to the maritime industry. This €3.8m investment, 90% of which is supported by the Brittany Region, which owns the port, guarantees not only a modernised infrastructure but also a promising future for the reception and maintenance of ships for decades to come.
