Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard has cut the first steel for Celebrity Cruises’ newest ship, Celebrity Apex.

In the Western, developed world, it is now unfortunately a very rare event when a new trawler is delivered. Thus it was especially exciting to learn of a series of four new trawlers being delivered in Le Guilvinec on France’s Brittany coast. They were built for a young and entrepreneurial local owner, 34-year-old Julien Le Brun.

Kotug demonstrated the sailing of the first remote controlled tug over a long distance today.

Barely a month since the carefully choreographed visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to New Caledonia, positions have hardened as parties prepare for the 4 November 2018 independence referendum. 

Australian policy observers are focused on the current visit by President Emmanuel Macron’s first visit to Australia. But there will be another first immediately afterwards: his visit to the French territory of New Caledonia across the Coral Sea.

By Luc Vanacker 

History emphasises the dramatic. The enormous, lengthy and very costly battles of the Somme and north-west France dominate the history of World War I. Other important events tend to be sidelined.

Greece and Turkey, since the confirmation in 1973 of the existence of substantial seabed hydrocarbons under the Aegean Sea, have been engaged in a complex tussle, involving a complex web of maritime, airspace and offshore island sovereignty claims

Iceland’s Trefjar Shipyard has delivered a fast workboat to the Brittany port of Le Conquet for skipper Jean-Philippe Vaillant.

After difficult discussions, agreement has been reached on the question to be put in the November 4, 2018 referendum on New Caledonia's independence. But tricky negotiations continue. France, the colonial power, is claiming to be neutral, but is apparently acceding to pressure from extreme pro-France elements.

French shipbuilder Piriou has delivered a new Ro-Ro passenger ferry for south Brittany.