DCNS exhibiting at Euromaritime 2015 European Maritime Economy Trade Show.

The DCNS stand features two offshore patrol vessels by Kership. KERSHIP is a joint company founded in 2013 by PIRIOU and DCNS, two experts in marine engineering, shipbuilding, maintenance, and services. This partnership relies on their complementary skills and expertise: PIRIOU, 50 years of expertise in civil shipbuilding, and DCNS, a world leader in naval defence markets.

- OPV 50: The OPV 50 is KERSHIP’s answer to law enforcement operations at sea with increased flexibility, high endurance, good sea-keeping behaviour and robust construction. The OPV 50 is the ideal solution to ensure coastal and EEZ waters surveillance. The OPV 50 is a robust, compact and cost effective vessel able to fulfill civilian and military missions, including humanitarian assistance, pollution response, surveillance and sea control, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy. It has already been selected by the Gabon Navy.

- OPV 90: Operated by the French Navy, the OPV 90 is KERSHIP’s answer for customers requesting a new generation versatile OPV. Based on KERSHIP’s expertise in shipbuilding and system integration, it is designed to fulfill both military and civilian missions in the EEZ waters ranging from coastal safety and security to law enforcement at sea and environmental protection. The OPV 90 offers unrivalled performance for deployable assets (e.g. unmanned vehicles), coordination with shore based centers and other naval assets, and permanence with high sea capability.

DCNS is also showcasing its I2C solution: The I2C programme, which started in October 2010 for a duration of 4 years with European Union support, is an innovative system designed and developed by DCNS and its partners. I2C detects and identifies in real time illegal and criminal activities conducted at sea. The system analyses vessel trajectories and activities dynamically, interrogates databases and automatically raises alerts according to established rules in consultation with the operational authorities.

At Euromaritime 2015, DCNS is showcasing its renewable marine energy solutions:

- Tidal Turbines: In the same way as wind turbines convert wind energy, tidal turbines, which operate underwater, convert the energy of marine currents into electricity. These currents, which are linked to the tides, are predictable and particularly strong on certain sites. DCNS aims to play a leading role on the worldwide tidal turbine market and acquired in 2013 OpenHydro, the sector’s leader for technology and market share. This Irish company has developed innovative, fully-submerged tidal-turbine technologies, designed to be installed on the sea bed, which allows the production of competitively priced electricity. DCNS and its subsidiary are working on several pilot farm projects in France and around the world. In France, a first farm, realized in partnership with EDF, will be installed in Paimpol-Bréhat (France) in 2015. Several other projects are under development around the world in Canada, the US, Ireland, Scotland and the Channel Islands.

- Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) is based on the principle of exploiting the temperature gradient in tropical seas between the surface seawater (around 25°C) and the waters at depth (around 5°C at about 1,000 metres). This temperature gradient allows the continuous production of electricity. In the medium term, OTEC will help to respond to the growing need for electricity in regions located in the tropics and ensure their future energy independence. This innovative solution is effectively a green alternative to so-called “fossil” fuels (gas, coal), which are still used extensively on isolated sites that are not connected to continental power networks. DCNS is now able to offer two complementary turnkey ocean thermal energy conversion solutions: one floating offshore solution that allows the production of 16 MW, and a land-based solution with a capacity of 7 MW. The Group is developing a floating OTEC power plant in Martinique, in the frame of the NEMO project (New Energy for Martinique and Overseas), which obtained a European grant in July 2014.