Chantiers de l'Atlantique
| Company type | Shipbuilding company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Predecessor | Ateliers et Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire Penhoët; Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire |
| Founded | 1955 (as Chantiers de l'Atlantique) |
| Fate | Ownership changes; nationalized by French government; reverted to original name |
| Headquarters | Saint-Nazaire , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Commercial ships, naval vessels, passenger liners, supertankers, LNG carriers, cruise ships, military ships |
| Owner | French government, Fincantieri (50%), French Naval Group (shares) |
Chantiers de l'Atlantique stands as a prominent shipbuilding facility situated in Saint-Nazaire, France, close to Nantes at the confluence of the Loire River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is recognized as one of the globe’s foremost shipyards, with expertise in constructing commercial ships, naval vessels, and passenger liners.
Initially operating under Alstom from 1976 as Alstom-Atlantique, it transitioned into a segment of Aker Yards when Aker ASA acquired Alstom Marine in 2006. By 2008, ownership shifted to South Korea’s STX Corporation, which rebranded it as STX Europe. After STX Corporation declared bankruptcy, the French government regained control and reinstated the original name.
History
The facility originated from Ateliers et Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire Penhoët, distinguished for building transatlantic liners such as France (1910), Île de France, and Normandie. In 1955, following a merger with Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire, it adopted the name Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The yard produced the 1961 ocean liner France before pivoting towards constructing large tankers like Batillus and Pierre Guillaumat, enabled by a newly built dry dock capable of accommodating vessels exceeding one million tonnes. This dock later supported the construction of Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.
From 1985 through 1998, the shipyard launched several innovative cruise ships for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (RCCL), including the pioneering mega cruise vessel Sovereign of the Seas (1987). Other significant ships delivered include Monarch of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, and Vision of the Seas. In 2003, it completed Crystal Serenity for Crystal Cruises alongside Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2. Tragically, during the building of Queen Mary 2, a fatal incident occurred when a gangway collapsed.
In 2006, Aker Yards took over Alstom’s Marine Division encompassing Chantiers de l'Atlantique. By 2008, South Korea's STX Corporation had gained majority ownership while the French government acquired a one-third share. Following STX Corporation’s bankruptcy in 2016, Fincantieri showed interest in purchasing the shipyard. In 2017, after nationalization and negotiations, Fincantieri secured a 50% stake; the remaining shares were held by French Naval Group and the French government. The yard then reverted to its historic designation.
During construction of the Celebrity Ascent in 2022, a new crane was introduced to replace machinery that had been in service since 1967.
Ships
Since its inception in the early twentieth century, Chantiers de l'Atlantique has produced numerous noteworthy passenger liners and cruise vessels. Key examples include:
- Early transatlantic liners such as France (1912), Paris (1921), Île de France (1927), and Normandie (1935).
- Post-war ships including Bretagne (1952) and the second-generation ocean liner France (1962).
- RCCL’s groundbreaking mega cruise ship Sovereign of the Seas (1987), along with several other Royal Caribbean vessels.
- More recent large cruise ships like Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (2004), MSC Cruises’ fleet additions including MSC Fantasia (2008) and MSC Grandiosa (2019), Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (2016) and Wonder of the Seas (2021), plus Celebrity Cruises’ new series featuring Celebrity Edge (2018) and Celebrity Apex (2020).
- Upcoming LNG-powered vessels such as Royal Caribbean’s planned Utopia of the Seas slated for 2024.
Additional Significant Vessels
The shipyard’s production history includes the construction of supertankers like the Batillus series during the late 1970s, LNG carriers such as Gastor and Nestor, as well as passenger-cargo hybrids. It has also delivered military ships, notably Russian amphibious assault vessels that were subsequently transferred to Egypt.
This diverse range of projects highlights Chantiers de l'Atlantique’s pivotal position within the international shipbuilding industry, spanning commercial, luxury cruise, and defense markets.
Upcoming Vessels on Order
| Ships Currently on Order | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship Name (As Built) | Expected Delivery | Client | Gross Tonnage | Status | Remarks |
| MSC World America | 2025 | MSC Cruises | 205,700 | Delivered | |
| Celebrity Xcel | 2025 | Celebrity Cruises | 140,600 | Ordered | |
| Luminara | 2025 | Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection | 37,000 | Ordered | |
| MSC World Asia | 2026 | MSC Cruises | 205,700 | Ordered | |
| Corinthian | 2026 | Orient Express | 30,000 | Ordered | |
| (Unnamed) | 2027 | Orient Express | 30,000 | Ordered | |
| MSC World Atlantic | 2027 | MSC Cruises | 205,700 | Ordered | |
| (Unnamed Oasis Class) | 2028 | Royal Caribbean International | 231,000 | Ordered | |