Sevenstar Yacht Transport drops anchor in La Rochelle
The Dutch cargo ship transport company Sevenstar Yacht Transport opens a third office in France, after Monaco and Lorient. Located in La Rochelle, on the nautical plateau, the new agency is placed under the direction of Elodie Le Blevennec. Previously commercial for Neel Trimarans, she also has a professional background in boat rental and charter companies. "There is a real interest in having a local contact. We're a small community that rubs shoulders in La Rochelle with the operators and the préparateurs" underlines the young woman, who will be working in collaboration with Matthieu Le Bihan in Lorient. The latter adds: "The port of La Pallice has played an essential role in our expansion, as it meets the logistical needs of the industry: La Rochelle is a strategic location for the development of our operations, as it is located at the heart of the supply chain"
Loading boats as close as possible to the builders
The opening of the new office follows a trend and an expectation of shipyards and rental companies for a local service. "Before, we used to have 4 to 5 loads a year in La Rochelle, this year there have been 15. We've done a few punch operations linked to the Covid-19 but there's a trend. In the past, we used to propose departures from Southampton, but fewer and fewer shipyards were inclined to convoy their vessels to England or Antwerp to load them onto cargo ships. There is a desire to do as few engine hours as possible and to keep the boat as close as possible to the conditions when she leaves the factory. They also appreciate seeing the boat loaded and making sure it is safe," explains Elodie Le Blevennec.
The development of cargo ship transport does not only affect distant destinations. "Before the Atlantic cargo ships for the Mediterranean hardly existed. On the next ship, 5 to 7 ships are planned, especially for large charterers", says the new head of Sevenstar Yacht Transport La Rochelle.
