AWARDS 2024 | Best Small Training Vessel – La Korrigane – Ship-ST

This is an apparently simple but, in reality, quite complex small training and research vessel that has been designed for minimal environmental impact. She will operate on France’s Bay of Biscay coast where she will conduct natural history research while training seafarers and scientists.

With twin diesel engines providing hybrid power for her electric main engine, she can cruise at six knots for seven hours on batteries alone. That is the speed at which she will mostly operate although, if required, she can cruise at 10 knots on diesel power.

Her aluminium construction makes La Korrigane eminently recyclable. A most impressive design.

Matthieu Lamotte, Project Manager and naval architect at Ship-ST, said that the design approach adopted for La Korrigane focused on minimising the vessel's environmental impact.

"With this objective in mind, we adopted a collaborative approach with the shipowner," he told Baird Maritime. "Together, we conducted an in-depth analysis of the various energy and propulsion solutions compatible with the vessel’s operational constraints."

Lamotte said this enabled the shipowner to better understand the options to achieve a low-carbon objective, and so the latter was able to rethink the working method without compromising the efficiency of missions.

"Better still, they've found ways to conduct new types of operations!"

Lamotte remarked that building La Korrigane as a small vessel that incorporated a range of functions proved challenging.

"She is equipped with a tilting gantry, wrap winches, a davit, a thermo-salinograph and an ADCP sounder. The aft deck is modular and can also be used for missions with divers. She is also equipped with a wet laboratory for sample analysis."

The accommodation spaces have meanwhile been fitted with the necessary comforts ideal for spending several days at sea, and Lamotte emphasised that all this was achieved while keeping the necessary volume available to integrate the propulsion equipment and the batteries.

"Trends and regulations are evolving rapidly, particularly in relation to environmental impact and rules related to safety," said Lamotte. "The main challenging rules are, for vessels with high tonnage, the energy efficiency design index."

Ship-ST, in collaboration with one of its subsidiaries developed rigid solar wing sails that can be folded horizontally. Lamotte said that, as the new trends affect design processes, Ship-ST is pleased that the wing sail technology has been adopted for a polar class vessel due to be launched in the autumn of 2026.

"We can also mention new rules of probabilistic stability. They strongly impact design process, mainly for subdivision and progressive flooding considerations."

Lamotte explained that Ship-ST is continuing on its path towards decarbonisation.

"Today, 80 per cent of our business is linked to design contracts for newbuilds or refits incorporating decarbonisation components," he told Baird Maritime. "These studies are carried out for both the maritime and inland waterways sectors.

"We have taken this path fifteen years ago, and on the strength of these past experiences, we are confident for the years to come. Despite current events, the shipowners we work with are still in a position to invest in innovative vessel projects."

Lamotte said Ship-ST has been collaborating with owners of research vessels since the company was established.

"This business is still going strong, mainly with shipowner Ifremer, but also with new ones like the Muséum National d’Histoires Naturelles and [organisations within] the Pacific community," Lamotte explained.

"The main subject we work on is consumption efficiency. We carry out studies linked with this topic such as propeller efficiency and hull drag, waste heat recovery, use of wind propulsion, and many others we are developing as part of our research and development policy."

For a list of the 2024 "Best Of" award winners, please click here.