The new 'France' Cruise Ship | Didier Spade | 260m | 2012-2015

[Jex7844]

'FRANCE'

___________________

Expected construction site: Saint-Nazaire
Architect & Shipowner: Didier Spade
Construction due to start: 2013
Capacity: 698 passengers
Delivery: 2015
Cost: 350m €
Crew : 500

A new ship 'France' reborn

The France which became the Norway knew an un paralalled destiny which elicited both deep emotion and rancor. Many sought to save it by transforming it into a hotel, a casino… but would it have actually been saved ?

Today it is gone. However, The France’s legend remains intact and it will always be remembered in our memories, in our hearts as a fabulous paquebot.

And now, like a seed planted, the “nose” of the France (the BOW) came back to Paris. This last piece was able to be saved from demolition and installed at the Port de Grenelle.

From that seed, a new ship is beginning to grow.

The time has come to offer France a new jewel of the sea, an exceptional ship that is modern, different and in the same lineage of refined luxury of those ancient cruise liners of yore.

The new cruiseliner France will be the ambassador of the « French exception », a messenger of the « French touch ».

Official website ---> HERE

Former 'France' (1960-2009)

[Axelferis]

wow!!

[Alseimik]

That is a futuristic and beautiful design! I'm really impressed that they're going so far in the design, it's kinda ground breaking, I love it! Might even start saving up for a trip

[gincan]

Probably the ugliest ship in the history of shipbuilding

But then again, they have the current world record holder in ugliness with the Norwegian Epic, now they can add to the fleet of super ugly ships built in France.

[el palmesano]

beautiful !!!

[Jex7844]

Originally Posted by gincan

Probably the ugliest ship in the history of shipbuilding

But then again, they have the current world record holder in ugliness with the Norwegian Epic, now they can add to the fleet of super ugly ships built in France.

Your opinion is very subjective & does not reflect everyone's. The 'Chantiers de l'Atlantique' of Saint-Nazaire are reputated worldwide for having built some of the world's most famous & iconic cruises ships (The 1st 'France', The 'Normandie', 'The Queen Mary 2', 'The Sovereign of the Seas' , the series of 'MSC' (Musica/Fantasia/Splendida ..'), The series of 'Millenium'/'Summit'/'Constellation' & so forth...)

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_d...l%27Atlantique (List)

The new 'France' will be the most recognizable/modern/eco-friendly liner in the world, the best ambassador of the French Touch..., & a great symbol of renaissance of the former iconic 'France', which had unfortunately ended up in small pieces...

---------------------------------------------------

EDIT: 2 Januray 2013

STX France to build biggest-ever cruise ship in Saint-Nazaire

STX Group, the country’s fourth-largest shipbuilder, said yesterday it has won a deal to make the world’s largest cruise ship.

It said STX France, its European unit, will construct the 225,000-ton vessel under the deal with Royal Caribbean Cruise, the world’s second-largest cruise operator.

STX France will finish building the cruise ship by mid-2016, the group said. The vessel, measuring 65 meters (71 yards) wide by 361 meters long, will be the world’s largest cruise ship with the capacity to accommodate 6,360 passengers and 2,100 crew members, according to the group.

The deal includes an option to build another cruise ship later on.

The group did not reveal any financial terms for the contract, but market watchers say the group is probably charging either the same as, or less than, what it billed its clients for two previous cruise ships.

Both liners were of the same size and were delivered to Royal Caribbean in 2009 and 2010 for 900 million euros ($1.2 billion) each.

Industry insiders say as the cruise industry is expanding from North America to Asia, orders will keep coming in.

According to Cruise Line International Association, the number of cruise ship passengers jumped 10.2 percent to 16.3 million in 2011. Asian and European passengers increased by an average 26.6 percent, it added.

“We were able to clinch the deal in recognition of the excellent quality of our previous two cruise ships,” a spokesperson for the group said. “The latest deal indicates that the global cruise ship market is beginning to recover."

@ Gincan...

[kaifensong]

Once upon a time, a sailor with his fellows sailed on the beautiful blue sea. Suddenly the sky turned dark,
wedding dresses2012 a fierce gale sprang up and waves of the sea got terribly high. lace wedding dress All the people on the ship were in great panic and the captain thought their voyage might offend the deity of this place， simple wedding dresses so after a short discussion, mermaid wedding dresses they decide to threw the most handsome sailor into the sea to sacrifice to the deity.

[Cov Boy]

Looks hideous!

[hseugut]

Awesome ! But do you really know if it is gonna be built ?

[Jex7844]

I've just created a petition to back this beautiful project, if you like it, please sign it & spread the word around you guys!

HERE

Thank you!

[Bartholomew101]

Spectacular!

[Jex7844]

[thun]

Well, the idea to use shapes of contemporary megayachts (the "A" by Philippe Starck pop into my mind in particular) for a 260m hull somewhere along the process went weirdly wrong. Spectacular yes, beautiful certainly not.

[SleepyPenguin]

Looks really awesome and the top part is very different than the other cruise ships.

[dubart]

IMO, it looks like a submarine...

[danVan]

Ugly is an understatement.

[Jex7844]

Mock-up

Didier Spade & his 'baby'







Photos by Gérard Gumuchian

[UnHavrais]

Beautifull ! Great design...
It will look like at least not these immense floating buildings!

I hope that Le Havre will be its port of registry, how three precedent France!

[mbox]

Its a great and unique design i find , i love the way this Vessel looks...of course for some people which aren't open to new Designs they may just call it ugly . But prettiness or ugliness is still something very individual and what one likes the other may dislike. Anyways i like it.
So here are some of my points of interest. Stability, this Vessel is built rather high around the Funnels ...it makes the unique look too , but isn't this affecting stability on rough sea ? It is likely that under the waterline there are stabilizers anyways still i am wondering.
Another thing i noticed .... there are no lifeboats on the video or images anywhere . According to the SOLAS they will have to have them anyways ...but where would they be located? Anybody got info on that?

Yeah and to point out, the other poster here mentioned that 'Chantiers de l'Atlantique' at Saint-Nazaire builds all the ugly vessels.... Shipbuilder mainly builds those ships which are ordered , the design may actually not even come from the Shipbuilder , but very often from a Designer that maybe an independent operation altogether. I have personally worked on one of the smaller Vessels which was built by 'Chantiers de l'Atlantique' at Saint-Nazaire and it is a very beautiful and well built vessel that still Cruises the Southsea....

Looking forward to see the first pictures from the Construction of the new France in Saint Nazaire :-)

mbox

[strandeed]

that is bloody awful