A Franco-American consortium for the La Ciotat boat lift
La Ciotat Shipyards, a semi-public company in charge of the area dedicated to yachts and large yachts in the port of Bouches du Rhône, unveiled on 7 November 2019 the contract holder for its new boat lift. Following a competitive dialogue procedure, the contract was awarded to a consortium comprising the French company Matière, a specialist in concrete and metal structures, and the American company Bardex, an expert in boat lift solutions.
Jean-Yves Saussol, CEO of La Ciotat Shipyards, welcomes this French choice. "The fact that half of the added value of the contract goes to a French manufacturer is a huge satisfaction. This shows that French industry, of which La Ciotat Shipyards wants to be one of the flagship ships, can offer high quality at acceptable prices."
A means of lifting XXL yachts
The new equipment will have capabilities that are rare in the boating world. It will be able to lift yachts with a maximum displacement of 4300 tonnes and a length of up to 105 metres. It will adopt the technology developed by Bardex combining the use of chains and hydraulic cylinders, which has been reliable for many years in the oil industry. The transfer of the boats to the shore will be done by means of double rails and a hydraulic system such as a "fluid bed" allowing longitudinal and transversal movements.
