The 49th edition of the Solo Guy Cotten sets sail this Monday Nearly 40 Figaro Bénéteau 3 are expected to participate in the 2025 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship —one the ultimate test for offshore sailing which is part of 2025 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship comprises two days of inshore races on Monday and Tuesday before the main offshore leg begins on Wednesday at 2:30pm (French time) Among the sailors to watch closely is Irish skipper Tom Dolan who is ready to kick off his season with both ambition and determination Tom will be approaching the race with humility and a drive to keep learning — reminding us that Every little detail matters,” says Tom Dolan who has lived in Concarneau for the past twelve years “This race means a lot — it’s right here in my adopted hometown and it’s also a chance to pay tribute to Guy Cotten I’m coming in with one clear goal: to defend my title for the Solitaire du Figaro and this race is a key step on the way to doing this in 2025.” A focused winter to fine-tune every detail Tom took a big step this winter by joining the Pôle Finistère Course au Large — France’s elite offshore training centre “I’ve been sailing a lot double-handed with Gildas Mahé It’s all about shaving off the tiny margins — it is the small details that can end up making a big difference,” he explains The tuning of sails is down to millimetres intense training sessions alongside some of the best sailors on the circuit — everything has been lined up to start the season strong “It’s been a really productive winter — a good mix of long offshore training and close-contact racing I’m feeling more ready than ever heading into this Solo Guy Cotten Race programme.” the Solo Guy Cotten is also the only event before the Solitaire du Figaro where the full fleet races together “Some skippers will do the Transat Paprec afterwards this is a proper full-on clash — physically and mentally — and it’ll give us a solid feel for where everyone is at.” “The goal is to stay humble and keep the same mindset I had in the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro I won the Solitaire du Figaro last year — but that was last year the forecast looks to be a mix of unstable and shifting northeasterlies — a fun and tactical playground “It’ll be all about picking the right shifts — but that’s ideal We’ve spent nearly the whole winter training in just those conditions,” smiles Tom The coastal courses kick off at 11am (French time) on Monday You can track the offshore race by this tracker Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription Sign up to receive awesome content in your inbox We don’t spam!Read our privacy policy for more info We keep your data private and don't spam. Read our full Privacy Policy © Copyright © 2005-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Live Sail Die Limited The views and opinions expressed on this web site are soley those of the original authors and other contributors These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of official sailing agencies Live Sail Die is a recognised member of the NZ Marine Industry Association.Live Sail Die drone pilots are CAA Part 102 Certificated 18 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Bourg en Bresse Peronnas vs Concarneau on Fri Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match The current head to head record for the teams are Bourg en Bresse Peronnas 3 win(s) Have scored 8 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between Bourg en Bresse Peronnas and Concarneau on Fri 18 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?Bourg en Bresse Peronnas vs Concarneau on Fri 18 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT ended in a 0–0 tie.InsightsHave scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches Bourg en Bresse Peronnas is playing home against Concarneau on Fri admin45463Aug 9 The 17th edition of the Transat Paprec will set sail from Concarneau on 20 April 2025 has today published the notice of race detailing the rules for participating in the 17th edition of the historic event which will once again set sail from Concarneau (Finistère) on 20 April 2025 at 13:02 Transat Paprec 2025 registrations open for the only transatlantic race in mixed doubles and on equal terms which will reach Saint-Barthélemy (French Antilles) via a waypoint in La Palma (Canary Islands The notice of race for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec has been published The start will be given from Concarneau on April 20 with an ‘early birds’ rate until September 23 Promoting access to offshore racing for women sailors also has the mission of promoting access to offshore racing for women since it became mixed last year under the impetus of OC Sport Pen Duick and the Paprec group "I did my first offshore race last year I had been sailing for ten years on Maxi Yachts and I really wanted to get into the industry both in terms of finding sponsors and training until this incredible Atlantic crossing in a race Doing this race with him gave me the confidence to build my own Mini project “I am now preparing for the next edition of the Mini Transat which will take place in 2025,” says Alicia de Pfyffer a Swiss sailor who took part in the 2023 edition of the Transat Paprec with Edouard Golbery (Race for Science – Verder) committed while remaining accessible to new Figaro sailors will remain unchanged for its 17th edition On the menu for the mixed duos: 3,890 nautical miles between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy with a single course mark (29°00’00 N & 017°52’00 W) at La Palma to leave to starboard A waypoint that will force the sailors to head a little south in order to encourage the participation of novice or inexperienced crews the route being less committed than a more northerly route with a single waypoint that will force the competitors to make a strategic choice: go around it to take a more northerly route and stay close to the orthodromic route (the direct route) or head very south along the coast of Africa before turning right in the hope of hitting a stronger trade wind,” explains Francis Le Goff will once again host the start of the race as has been the case every two years since 2006 Resolutely turned towards the open sea and accustomed to major sailing events has seen many sailors cut their teeth in its magnificent bay between the ramparts of the walled city and the Glénan archipelago "It is with great impatience that we await the Transat Paprec 2025 Concarneau is proud to support OC Sport Pen Duick in the construction of this offshore race anchored in the Concarneau maritime landscape since 2006 This event launches the tourist season every two years and brings a scent of adventure to the City while onlookers visit the village and enjoy the entertainment on offer the Figaro crews finalize their last adjustments to be ready to do battle The departure from Concarneau Bay is always a very strong moment for sailing enthusiasts and lovers of great shows,” says Marc Bigot And as has been the tradition since the first edition of the race will celebrate the sailors in a warm and festive atmosphere specific to Saint-Barths An opportunity for everyone to discover or rediscover this little corner of paradise bathed in crystal clear waters whose fauna and flora are matched only by its postcard-perfect white sand beaches Saint-Barthélemy has always been proud to host a unique race which has always known how to reinvent itself while being a true talent revealer the Transat Paprec has succeeded in becoming the first 100% mixed double-handed transatlantic race Saint-Barthélemy will once again be ready to properly welcome these sailors for whom the seafarers who are the inhabitants of the island have the greatest respect," says Xavier Lédée President of the Territorial Council - Saint-Barthélemy the skippers will moor in the port of Gustavia where the race arrival village will be located The publication of the notice of race marks the opening of registrations for the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec An ‘early birds’ rate is offered to competitors registering before September 23 The deadline for registration requests to benefit from preferential pricing conditions is December 31 Inscriptions : https://forms.monday.com/forms/69f2c91970887e79134792843fa6ce61?r=use1 Avis de Course : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dx8aIX3Wt1K4wE4LC15redZKWzhGqhiF « The Transat Paprec perfectly embodies the values that Paprec holds dear: surpassing oneself equal opportunities and respect for the environment Paprec's arrival as Title Partner for the 2023 edition has enabled the format of this race to evolve making it the first double-handed transatlantic race for both men and women Our aim is to give more women access to the highest level of ocean racing Our commitment to sailing is more than just a sponsorship; it's a way of contributing to a sustainable and equitable ecosystem while reinforcing our own DNA as competitors The first Transat Paprec saw some exceptional performances and a remarkable fighting spirit from the participants I'm very proud to see that four of the first six finishers in this edition had already sailed under the Paprec colours This confirms the important role played by our company in the field of excellence that is sailing I encourage the sailors to embark on this unique adventure to take up the challenge of crossing the Atlantic in a double-handed event and to demonstrate once again the high standard of this competition Join the ranks of an experience that combines high-level competition with essential human values.» « ​​The publication of the Notice of Race marks the start of the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec this transatlantic race has become a firm fixture in French and international ocean racing enabling several generations of sailors to cut their teeth in double-handed racing on a one-design boat we will be renewing the gender diversity initiative introduced in 2023 in response to the social and sporting challenges of today and tomorrow We are convinced that the sporting line-up will reflect the dynamism of the Figaro BENETEAU Class and of ocean racing as well as young French and foreign skippers to take part in this statutory race on the circuit Paprec and the Fédération Française de Voile will be celebrating the 17th edition of the Transat Paprec The only double-handed transatlantic race on the circuit which became 100% mixed in 2023 under the impetus of its title partner it offers talented sailors a course of 3,890 nautical miles between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy 11 Figaro Beneteau 3s will be lining up at the start The Figaro Beneteau Class is at the disposal of crews and training centres to encourage as many boats as possible to take part in this magnificent event which is part of the French Elite Ocean Racing Championship Which sailors will succeed Loïs Berrehar and Charlotte Yven the title holders aboard the Figaro Beneteau 3 Skipper Macif Join us on 20 April 2025 to follow this great adventure A beach in Brittany is closed after hundreds of sea eels washed up on the shore with sea sports and walks along the beach prohibited until further notice The beach at Concarneau in Finistere has been closed since Sunday, August 25, due to “a significant number of “stranded conger eels washed up” on the sand, said France Bleu Breizh Izel The number is thought to be around 200.  The mairie of Concarneau has issued a decree temporarily banning “water sports walking and all other leisure activities” on the beach The phenomenon has also recently happened on beaches in Fouesnant Local mairies have been forced to close the beaches and launch rapid clean-up operations.  “We bring a machine to transport them, we use forks and shovels, and we take them to an abattoir,” said François Besombes, deputy mayor in charge of sustainable development in Concarneau, to France Bleu Breizh Izel We are in the process of expanding our team of cleaners,” he said the mayors are not sure what is causing the phenomenon which has been observed since Saturday,” said mayor of Bénodet The mairie team in Concarneau has contacted the commune’s Muséum d'histoire naturel to “better understand the causes of this phenomenon One researcher said there could be several different explanations for the incidents.  and can weigh up to 100 kilos,” said Samuel Iglesias senior lecturer at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle He said that he could rule out dumping by fishermen as the “volume of stranded eels is too large and widely spread”; post-reproduction death as the “species tends to reproduce offshore and there are no larvae” and the washed up eels are not in their “post-spawning form” is that the eels are a victim of anoxia (the dropping of oxygen levels in the water) a phenomenon caused by the proliferation of micro-algae.  Read also: Toxic microalgae warning: French hotspots, symptoms and how to treat  we have a lot of brown water on the coast,” said Mr Iglesias “Some of them can create toxins and cause mortality Other species of sea life were also reported dead on Monday pointing even more strongly to “intoxication or anoxia Copper-based internet is being phased out even on remote islands the small island off the far west of the region highlighting the ongoing battle over the buildings' heritage in France The sea trials successful beginning represents a key milestone in the first European MCM programme led by the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium formed by Naval Group and Exail where the operators are kept out of the minefield thanks to a toolbox of unmanned systems operating autonomously inside it under the overall control and carrying support of a mothership crew outside the danger area the consortium where Exail is the alliance between ECA Group and iXblue is supplying twelve MCMVs and around a hundred drones integrated inside the toolbox that will equip the vessels the first ship of the programme intended for the Belgian Navy is expected to continue sea trials for a delivery scheduled in summer 2025 in Zeebrugge while the following platforms and unmanned systems packages will be staggered until 2030 the Vlissingen for the Royal Netherlands and the Tournai for the Belgian Navy were launched respectively in October 2023 and June 2024 being visible at Concarneau in different stage of outfitting the Scheveningen is planned to be launched in December 2024 while a total of seven ships are under construction and assembly at Concarneau and Lanester The solution represents a complete paradigm shift in the way mine warfare is conducted as the ship and the controlling operators remain at a distance from the danger zone It also means that the speed with which the mined area can be dealt with is ten times faster than with the conventional means While Naval Group acts as overall architect and prime contractor being responsible for the design of the ships and the testing and commissioning of the mission system (combat and MCM systems) The package under delivery includes twelve MCMV platforms with a length and beam of respectively 82.6 and 17 metres and a full load displacement of 2,800 tonnes capable to reach a maximum speed of 15.3 knots with a range of over 3,500 nautical miles and accommodation for 63 people acting as motherships with controllers employing a ‘toolbox’ of unmanned surface (USV) underwater (UUV) and air (UAV) vehicles from outside the minefield As the first 3rd generation MCM system with an open architecture enabling third parties assets integration and interoperability being capable to be deployed from a ship or from shore the Exail UMIS toolbox not only includes a set of various unmanned systems but also a software suite for mission preparation and supervision Each mothership is equipped with the Exail UMISOFT MCM mission package and with the Naval Group Multi-Drone Mission System (MDMS) for unmanned mission planning all integrated with Naval Group SETIS-C combat management system the latter managing a combat system including a Thales NS50 air/surface multifunction radar Terma Scanter 6000 navigation/surface/air surveillance Chess Dynamics Sea Eagle EO/IR fire control systems a BAE Systems Bofors 40 Mk 4 40 mm main gun and FN Herstal Sea defender 12.7 mm remote weapon stations Each platform is equipped with two side stations each one able to launch and recover a 12.3 metres Inspector 125 USV Fitted with obstacle and avoidance systems including the Exail FLS-5 forward looking sonar the shock-resistant and composite materiel-made Inspector 125 USVs are fitted with an antiroll system and a complete suite to operate autonomously and connected with the mothership with a high carrying capacity The specialized and cyber secured by design MCMVs are also equipped with UMS Skeldar V-200 UAVs They can carry a radio relay to increase the communication range with an EO/IR turret the latter alternatively replaced by a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) system each mother ship carries two Inspector 125 USVs one force protection payload and one mine sweeping suite According to the consortium representative, the Inspector 125 qualification trials of the first and second series vehicle are on-going, alongside the MIDS, A18-M and T18-M systems trials. The Belgian Navy personnel training has started in early September 2024 while factory acceptance tests of the 3rd batch of drones will begin in November 2024. Operational qualification of the drones will follow the trials of the Naval Group motherships in Q1 and Q2 2025, the delivery of the first set of drones, C2 and transportation containers being planned for Q3 2025. Photos courtesy Naval Group, ECA Group, L. Peruzzi Indo Defence – Jakarta – 11-14 June DSEI – London – 9-12 September PARTNER – Belgrade – 23-26 September Seafuture – La Spezia – 29 Sept.-2 October AUSA – Washington D.C. – 13-15 October ADEX – Seoul – 29 October-2 November Dubai Air Show – Dubai – 17-21 November Milipol Paris – Paris – 18-21 Novenber Expodefensa – Bogotá – 1-3 December Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 04 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Concarneau won 1–0 over Dijon on Fri The current head to head record for the teams are Dijon 1 win(s) Have kept the most clean sheets in the competition (12) Have scored 9 goals in their last 5 matches Haven't kept a clean sheet in 8 matches Who won between Dijon and Concarneau on Fri 04 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?Concarneau won 1–0 over Dijon on Fri 04 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 6 goals in their last 5 matches Dijon is playing home against Concarneau on Fri The 20-year-old full-back (2004 generation) is on loan for one season without an option to buy to US Concarneau, a club in the French National League (third division). 11 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Concarneau vs Boulogne on Fri The current head to head record for the teams are Concarneau 3 win(s) Who won between Concarneau and Boulogne on Fri 11 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT?Concarneau vs Boulogne on Fri 11 Apr 2025 17:30:00 GMT ended in a 1–1 tie.InsightsHave scored 7 goals in their last 5 matches Concarneau is playing home against Boulogne on Fri 28 Feb 2025 18:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Rouen won 4–3 over Concarneau on Fri The current head to head record for the teams are Rouen 0 win(s) Have scored 4 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between Rouen and Concarneau on Fri 28 Feb 2025 18:30:00 GMT?Rouen won 4–3 over Concarneau on Fri 28 Feb 2025 18:30:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 4 goals in their last 5 matches Rouen is playing home against Concarneau on Fri 31 Jan 2025 18:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Concarneau won 2–0 over Aubagne on Fri The current head to head record for the teams are Aubagne 0 win(s) Steven Nsimba is the competition's top scorer (13) Have scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches Haven't kept a clean sheet in 12 matches Who won between Aubagne and Concarneau on Fri 31 Jan 2025 18:30:00 GMT?Concarneau won 2–0 over Aubagne on Fri 31 Jan 2025 18:30:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 13 goals in their last 5 matches Aubagne is playing home against Concarneau on Fri Have scored 10 goals in their last 5 matches Concarneau is playing home against Le Mans on Fri a towage operator that serves clients in the ports of Brest and Roscoff on the Brittany peninsula in north-western France Constructed at the Vietnam facilities of French shipbuilder the Piriou Group Le Moros was custom-designed to be capable of both harbour towing and pushing Although it was designed primarily to be operated in coastal and harbour waters the new tug can also perform towing of other vessels in the deeper offshore waters off the coast of Brittany – an area that also encompasses some parts of the Bay of Biscay – should the need arise The compact tug's main deck provides ample space for housing all crew accommodation spaces in compliance to Maritime Labour Convention 2006 rules A pair of diesel engines that each produce 440 kW drive nozzle-housed propellers via shaftlines to give Le Moros a service speed of just above 10 knots and a bollard pull of 15 tonnes making the tug capable of towing a broad range of vessels of up to 115 metres in length Because of the environmental regulations being enforced in the tug's area of operations the builder opted to install main engines that are compliant to IMO Tier III regulations covering NOx emissions The design of the tug emphasised operational flexibility to allow harbour towing to be performed from either the rear or alongside though pushing and deep-sea towing may be done only from the rear Manoeuvrability is enhanced by the installation of a bow thruster to enable more precise navigation in close quarters or during berthing/unberthing The new tug was handed over to SCL in late September 2021 and has since begun operating under a towage concession that was awarded to the company earlier this year by CARENCO the state-appointed enterprise that manages the Port of Concarneau in Brittany The vessel is currently operating alongside the earlier SCL tugs Elorn and Portzic in providing harbour and offshore towage support and berthing/unberthing services for the many vessels that sail in and out of Concarneau with the introduction of a third tug in its current active fleet two tugs are now available to serve clients at the port 24 hours a day See more stories from this month's Tug and Salvage Week here. Ahead of the race start scheduled for Sunday 30th April at 1302hrs local time the Transat Paprec race village was officially opened to the public this Friday evening in Concarneau The opening showcased the 11 pairs of ‘mixed-doubles’ male-female teams who will compete on this Figaro Beneteau 3 race 3890 nautical miles from Concarneau across the Atlantic to Saint Barth’s The inauguration was attended by all the institutional and private partners which are supporting the 16th edition of a famous Transatlantic race as it transitions to mixed gender crews for the first time The extensive race village is on the Quai Carnot opposite the Ville Close where the boats will be at the centre of festivities until the race starts one week on Sunday The free-of-charge race village celebrates watersports in the region and celebrates diversity and inclusion And as if to offer a perfect welcome to crews organisers and visitors the spring sunshine shone General Manager OC Sport Pen Duick; Sébastien Petithuguenin Managing Director of Paprec; Pierre Pouliquen sports and community life of Brittany Region; Marc Bigot President of the Western Brittany Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIMBO) and Olivier Bellec President of Concarneau Cornouaille Agglomeration (CCA) After the traditional ribbon cutting at 6:00 p.m. all the private and institutional partners of the race and their guests visited the pontoons and strolled around the displays and stands in the race village an area historically involved in offshore racing The City of Concarneau has hosted this Transatlantic race every two years since 2006 and does so again The pretty waterfront is an ideal spot for visitors to take their time seeing the fleet and enjoying the village ahead of next weekend’s start of the course to the Caribbean via a mark off La Palma (Canary Islands the new title Partner of the Transat Paprec Committed to sailing for over 20 years the Paprec group joined OC Sport Pen Duick on La Solitaire du Figaro solo offshore racing’s pinnacle annual race last year Now as Title Partner their objective is to to make this 100% mixed double-handed transatlantic event a real springboard for women who want to go on to race at the highest level we took a further step in the world of sailing when our group became the Main Partner of La Solitaire du Figaro We have developed this historic transatlantic race into a new format the Transat Paprec raced on the same boats as before Managing Director of recycling giants Paprec “We have a pioneering mindset in our fundamental DNA 30 years before just about everyone else we saw the importance of recycling So too early on we recognised the importance of women having a full We have put systems in place to promote diversity and equal opportunity so that each woman can progress to their full potential within the company We have also put in place systems to allow women with high potential to access management positions What is done within the company can be transposed into sport One thing is clear: in offshore racing events A glass ceiling exists for women where there is still some difficulty getting into the Figaro So what can be done to give them the place they deserve We thought that by co-creating a mixed event we could inspire women who maybe had previously said “it’s not for me” The Transat Paprec looks to prompt a real change in the perception in the place of women in the broadest sense And we want to convey this message in ocean racing which echoes so many of the current issues of our society We want this race will be a long-term initiative Sports Sponsorship and Sponsorship at Paprec: “We are very happy to be here in Concarneau for the inauguration of the village of this first Transat Paprec We especially thank the elected officials of the city and all the partners for making this edition possible This race contributes to making the ideas of equality happen Men and women of conviction were needed to lead this project And that this race starts from Concarneau also makes a lot of sense for the Petithuguenin family because we have a very strong personal attachment to the sea and to Brittany This area is exemplary and innovative in terms of waste management and we are very proud to have set up many of our recycling and waste recovery plants there and in green energy sports and community life of the Brittany Region: “The Brittany Region is proud to support the first 100% mixed double-handed transatlantic race Gender equality in ocean racing is important and the Region took up this issue in 2019 by creating “Océane” the first professional system in the discipline to offer support exclusively dedicated to women to reach the top of their sport and inspire a generation of young sailors the Region participates in the race with the two Brittany-CMB Region boats: “Performance” by Gaston Morvan / Anne-Claire Le Berre and “Océane” by Chloé Le Bars / Hugo Dhallenne .” President of Groupe Télégramme: “A wind of diversity and modernity blew on the Figaro circuit thanks to the impetus of its Title Partner Paprec Since 2006 that the Telegram Group has owned the double-handed transatlantic race and we have seen it evolve innovate and ensure it remains relevant and current.” president of the Figaro Beneteau Class: “On April 30 22 sailors from the Figaro Beneteau Class will cross the starting line of the Transat Paprec The Figaro Beneteau 3 was designed to cross the Atlantic fast and we know that the crews will fight until the last miles to win this event included in the 2023 French Elite Offshore Racing Championship Home » France Joins Belgium and the Netherlands for Mine Warfare Motherships France, Belgium and the Netherlands originally inked a letter of intent to cooperate in the mine warfare domain during Euronaval 2022 The mothership design of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program will be used as a basic design for the French Navy’s “Bâtiments de guerre des mines” (BGDM) program the three defense ministers commented the agreement in the following way: we are signing a partnership for the development and construction of future mine warfare vessels for the French Navy To renew our anti-mine capability and strengthen our European strategic autonomy.” France is joining the Belgian-Dutch anti-mine naval development program. Welcome! Cooperation in this domain remains crucial to guarantee safe shipping routes and more European strategic autonomy. Our operational cooperation and interoperability will benefit from it. pic.twitter.com/bAGoIzre2w Today, 🇫🇷 signed to join the Dutch-Belgian project to replace our mine countermeasures vessels. The joint development of these innovative ships is an example for the future of European defence cooperation. The war in 🇺🇦 underlines the importance of this maritime capability. pic.twitter.com/ekS4MWeILB To shed more light on what exactly was agreed Naval News contacted the French defense procurement agency (DGA) Belgium and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in the field of mine-counter measure (MCM) capabilities and vessels “This cooperation aims to promote synergies and mutual benefits relating to national MCM capabilities to improve the effectiveness of the respective programs and to strengthen interoperability between the different systems and reaffirms the desire of the three nations to continue their cooperation history in the field of mine warfare” Asked by Naval News if the French Navy’s BGDM vessels will be identical to the Belgian and Dutch ships of the rMCM program “The Memorandum of Understanding will allow France to benefit from the design of ships produced within the framework of the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program The future French mine warfare vessels (BGDM) will be based on this design in order to maximize commonality between the vessels of the 3 nations will integrate the adaptations necessary for the reception and the implementation of specific French systems mine countermeasure module produced as part of the Franco-British cooperation MMCM (set of surface drones and underwater drones the prototype of which has been the subject of experiments by the French navy since 2022)” The DGA added that French BGDMs will be ordered as part of stage 2 of the SLAM-F/MMCM program, the launch of which is planned for production in 2024, for first deliveries from 2028. Naval News previously reported that the first BGDM vessel was expected to be ordered by the DGA by the end of the year It now appears that the vessel will be ordered in 2024 according to the recently released draft finance bill Naval News understands that the main difference between the vessels will be the “toolbox handling system”: While the rMCM program relies systems mostly designed and produced (in Belgium) by French company Exail (formerly ECA Group) the French vessels will deploy unmanned systems designed and produced by French company Thales as part of the SLAMF program the UUVs are different and the ROV are different One of the focus area is the launch and recovery system (LARS): While the mast of Exail’s Inspector 125 USV can fold down the Halcyon USV by Thales and L3Harris (formerly known as ASV Ltd) feature a fixed mast Thales is currently working adapting the mast to that the USV may fit in both the LARS and mothership Naval Group confirmed to Naval News that they have already adapted the LARS so that it may accommodate the Halcyon USV Naval News also contacted the Belgian DGMR (Directorate General Material Resources) for comments “Belgium welcomes the cooperation between BEL/NLD and FRA.The MoU confirms the long-standing cooperation between NLD and FRA in the field of MCM (CMT) with the rMCM programme giving a new impetus to this cooperation.” Asked if France joining the program will change anything for Beligum as rMCM program lead Lievens said: “Given that France is setting up its own programme with Naval Group the impact on our contract is limited.” We also contacted the Dutch Command Materiel and IT agency (COMMIT formerly known as DMO) but they didn’t get back to us Naval Group reffered to their communication on social media at the time of the MoU announcement: “Naval Group welcomes the signing of the tripartite agreement between France Belgium and the Netherlands giving concrete expression to their cooperation in the field of mine warfare The signing of this agreement allows France to use the design of the rMCM ships developed by Naval Group within the framework of the Belgian-Dutch program.” Regarding the Belgian-Dutch rMCM program, Naval Group will host the launch ceremony for HNLNS Vlissingen (M 840) next week in Concarneau. The keel laying for this ship took place on 14 June 2023 at the Kership shipyard in Lanester near Lorient The vessel was technically launched there in September 2023 and towed to the Piriou shipyard in Concarneau for outfitting HNLNS Vlissingen is set to join the Dutch fleet in the first half of 2025 The first ship of the rMCM program (and the first ship of the class for Belgium), BNS Oostende (M 940) was launched in March this year Next it will go to the Naval Group shipyard in Lorient for combat systems outfitting and then it will be commissioned with the Belgian Navy in 2024 France’s Mine Warfare Force today consists in The UK-France Maritime Mine Counter Measures (MMCM/SLAMF) program will bring autonomous mine hunting capability to the two respective Fleets. It will renew most of the equipment of the French Navy and bring next generation mine warfare capabilities. A first prototype was delivered in November 2021 by Thales Each of the “unmanned systems” mentioned above represents a mine warfare module consisting of: consisting of 4 mine countermeasure modules It will be implemented from land for coastal deterrence support Full operational capacity should be reached by 2026-2031 including the delivery of the BGDMs (expected from 2028) which will allow the implementation of the modules from the sea and in external operations Naval News brings you news coverage of the latest naval defense shows & events We are also reporting on naval technology from all over the world This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Offshore Patrol Vessel is able to stay at sea for more than three weeks to reach a speed of 20 knots and to accommodate a helicopter in its hangar Operated by a reduced crew of forty members she is also able to accommodate extra passengers Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" it is for a very different reason that its name is familiar in Japan It is in this small town in Brittany that the Japanese Makurazaki factory named after the city of the same name south of Kyushu set up a branch to produce dried bonito or katsuobushi and one of the primary ingredients in traditional Japanese cuisine when the space opened following almost two years of work during which the organisation of the factory was carefully considered and the product tested countless times ‘It was the result of a real team effort’ ‘Two craftsmen specialised in cutting and smoking-drying and another in woodchip smoking came until summer 2018 to train workers in production for 2-3 weeks every month and a half The real challenge was to create katsuobushi according to Japanese standards while adapting it to a modern context’ the French Makurazaki factory employed six people and mainly produced arabushi katsuobushi: unfermented tuna fillets with a fermented surface following smoking and drying horse mackerel (ajibushi) and mackerel (sababushi) There is also a shipping line in Concarneau fishing for skipjack tuna in the Indian Ocean according to very strict specifications is then chartered to the Breton port before being cut into fillets and cooked ‘Most of the operations such as cutting Next come the stages of smoking with wood chips and drying however; the Japanese manufacturing secrets are closely guarded All that remains to do is mature and package the dried fish shavings The fish then makes its way into the hands of the greatest Breton and Parisian chefs, like Julien Lemarié, head of the Michelin starred restaurant Ima in Rennes ‘We use it mainly to make our dashis (broth We cannot quite replicate the taste as it is in Japan especially because the bonito is not fermented It therefore has a hint of Breton identity that we appreciate’ says the chef who spent five years in Japan and who is always seeking to add a little foreign twist to his local cuisine ‘It is important for us to work with local people particularly to our feedback to improve the quality of their product again and again’ who currently serves bonito as an infusion with kombu and galanga One of the greatest achievements for Gwenaël Perhirin and his team is the fact that Makurazaki supplies Eiryo Kudo who served his katsuobushi when the new Japanese emperor was visiting the city ‘It seems that he enjoyed his meal’ A twinning project between Makurazaki and Concarneau is also planned Gwenael Perhirin and the Makurazaki factory team surely never dreamt of such success Sustainable Farming and Flavorful Harvests on Awaji Island Celebrating Nature Through Cuisine in ‘Wild Herbs’ Immersing in Japanese Cuisine Across the Seasons with Mirukashi Salon Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos The series 'Hysteric Ten' by photographer Sawatari Hajime revisits one of the most sulphurous relationships in Japanese art Nagisa Oshima made Sada Abe the heroine of his film defying the codes of 'pinku eiga' that make men the focus of attention This rice soup seasoned with miso is served by a monk to Ashitaka one of the heroes in Hayao Miyazaki's film we interviewed its founder and chief representative Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.