STX France, the French shipbuilder in which the south Korean STX Offshore & Shipbuilding group has a 66% stake and the French government owns the rest, says it will invest €20 million in facilities to cater for renewables and offshore wind business.

“Considering the company’s order book on its ship markets for five years onwards and the related intense activity of its shipbuilding workshops, it has been decided to create new production facilities especially dedicated to renewables and offshore wind activities,” the company said in a statement.

The investment, worth about €20 million, will finance the construction of three workshops dedicated to “jacket” type foundations, transition pieces and electric sub-stations:

• An assembly workshop for « flat » units (dimensions 90 x 35m x 16m) provided with 2 x 60 t cranes.

• A 6,000m2 pre erection area

• A large painting cell (dimensions : 50m x 35m x 25m)

“These facilities will be at the cutting edge of technology with production means and processes mixing the state-of-the-art of digital, automation and standardization technics. It relies on our know-how in the sector of large marine steel structures to meet the requirements of our new customers on the energy markets. Thanks to its efficiency, STX will be in position to contribute actively to the reduction of the offshore energies costs,” the company said.

STX France is a major builder of cruise liners and it has orders from Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises in its current orderbook.