World Oceans Day: what solutions can help us reduce the impact of our products on the marine environment?

What is your job?

Gaëlle: “As Environment and Ecodesign Manager and Environment, Ocean and Climate Science Sector Manager, I am responsible for guaranteeing that the group’s products are duly aligned with environmental standards. Whether for surface ships, submarines or drones, as well as infrastructure sold to our customers (naval base or quay, for example), I coordinate the development of solutions designed to reduce the impact of our products on the environment. I also conduct prospective studies on their adaptation to future environmental conditions.”

 

On the occasion of World Oceans Day, what has Naval Group’s main contribution been to protecting the oceans?

Gaëlle: “Naval Group has been developing a marine environment protection approach for several years, by integrating environmental requirements into the design of its ships and its industrial activities. The group’s management system is ISO 14001-certified, for instance. The group is, in particular, piloting the European SEADETECT project, which aims to prevent collisions between ships and large cetaceans through automated marine mammal detection systems. We have also adapted our procedures for implementing sonar tests to protect marine fauna and in particular large cetaceans. Naval Group is also working on reducing the environmental and acoustic impacts of naval activities, in partnership with European scientific and industrial players.”

Can we really reconcile operational performance and respect for the marine environment?

Gaëlle: “Yes, often these two notions go hand in hand. If we do not release any solid or liquid waste and if we emit little or no smoke, which is, incidentally, legally defined and standardised, we are less visible and therefore more stealthy. If we are sober in our consumption of materials and energy during every phase of the life cycle (manufacturing, maintenance and during operation), we are less dependent on these resources and we can increase operational mission times without increasing energy consumption and thus contribute to addressing sovereignty issues.”

Is it important for Naval Group customers to have more environmentally friendly ships?

Gaëlle: “Yes, while not all customers are equal in the face of this logic, all wish to comply with and even surpass the civil regulations concerning pollution at sea known as MARPOL*. For other themes, this varies on a more case-by-case basis. As part of the SNLE 3G program, for example, our customer, the French Defence Procurement Agency, requires an environmental risk management file including a mapping of our rare and critical materials, among other things. What we want is to offer our customers appropriate eco-responsible solutions. This will show our customers what we can do in terms of the environment and encourage them to buy into our solutions.”

* The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention governing the prevention of pollution of the marine environment from ships, whether of operational or accidental origin. The MARPOL Convention was adopted on 2 November 1973 by the International Maritime Organisation.

How do the Naval Group teams define the eco-responsible solutions that will be installed on our products?

Gaëlle: “Eco-responsible solutions can emerge from two different sources: either from the Purchasing Department, through the responsible purchasing approach; or from R&D, through the catalogue of solutions. Whether they come from one or other of these channels, they are evaluated by the Product Line teams, who conduct a value analysis taking into account cost, return on investment and perception among our customers, before being proposed for our products before the Product Policy Committees. Each product line has its own Product Policy Committee and different solutions are proposed for surface ships, submarines, infrastructure and drones.”

Can you give us some concrete examples?

Gaëlle: “In the fields of surface vessels and submarines, a number of developments are being studied to reduce vessels’ environmental footprint. For new surface ships, exhaust gas reduction solutions can now be integrated, while some frigates adopt more economical propulsion systems that reduce energy consumption. Anti-fouling coatings adapted to different climate zones are also used to improve hull performance and limit overconsumption. Projects are also taking environmental issues and the expected effects of climate change increasingly into account. 

The rate of compaction of non-biodegradable waste on Blacksword Barracuda submarines is around 80%.

On the submarine side, several innovations aim to limit impacts at sea: improved sorting and treatment of waste on board, which is also the case for surface vessels, the progressive replacement of lead-acid batteries by more efficient and less polluting lithium-ion batteries, the advanced optimisation of energy management to reduce consumption, the reduction of toxic substances in the materials used, and the discontinuation of certain technologies generating gaseous discharges into the water. Finally, this overall approach to controlling the environmental impact over the entire life cycle of ships also takes into account the dismantling of nuclear attack submarines.”

And what about future technical advances for even greater respect for the oceans?

Gaëlle: “We need to look ahead. This is where my role as Scientific Field Manager comes in. The challenge is to answer this question: “What environment will our products have to face in thirty years’ time?” The Scientific Field Manager contributes to addressing scientific challenges such as improving resistance to environmental conditions and extreme events, optimising coatings for signatures, stealth and resilience, especially in terms of fouling. Our actions form part of a long-term vision and contribute to the sustainable protection of the ocean and biodiversity.”