France: PIRIOU Inks Contract for Construction of 76m Exploration Vessel

PIRIOU has recently signed a contract for the construction of an exploration ship 76 metres in length that it will deliver in 36 months to a European shipowner. The ship will be built in Concarneau CHANTIERS PIRIOU, the group’s French shipbuilding branch. It is a first and a real challenge for the French shipbuilding company.

The ship will be:

• an “ICE IC” class vessel
• a “CLEANSHIP”class vessel
• a “PASSENGER SHIP” class vessel

The environmentally friendly ship will combine a complex technical platform with an extremely high level of comfort.

This transoceanic exploration ship is designed to carry out prolonged, long distance voyages in extreme temperatures (-20°C/+50°C)) both at sea, and in rivers and Large Lakes with a high degree of reliability in all conditions encountered.

This exploration ship is intended mainly for engineers, scientists or technicians on long-distance missions and is destined to become a research ship furthering our knowledge of the oceans. During stopovers it will be transformed into a place for discussion designed to support and stimulate the work of researchers from all over the world. It will also be a place used to raise questions relating to the future of our planet aimed at increasing awareness of environmental issues in the general public and in young people.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, June 27, 2012; Image: piriou