CFT christens a new self-propelled vessel on the Seine
September 11th, 2024
The self-propelled barge Aurisse has joined the fleet of the Compagnie Fluviale de Transport (CFT), a subsidiary of the Sogestran Group. This vessel is designated to operate on the Seine River, transporting base oils between Le Havre and Nanterre, under a long-term contract with Shell.
The christening ceremony took place on Wednesday, September 11, at the CFT Mahieu site in Le Havre, attended by the vessel’s godmother and godfather from Shell: Alina Bolocan and Wahib Bensadia.
Like the three vessels christened in May on the Rhône (Albe, Lombarde, and Vésine), Aurisse represents the evolution of CFT’s fleet from the pusher/barge model to the self-propelled barge model, which is more efficient in terms of energy consumption and environmental impact.
Representatives of Shell, of the Sogestran group and of its subsidiary, Compagnie Fluviale de Transport.
From left to right: Pascal Girardet - CEO of the Sogestran group; Wahib Bensadia - Production Planning Coordinator for Shell - godfather of the Aurisse; Matthieu Blanc - River Business Manager for the Sogestran group; Alina Bolocan - Production & Logistics Scheduling Manager for Shell - godmother of the Aurisse; Sébastien Somers - Director of CFT Seine et Mahieu
Sébastien Somers, Director of CFT Mahieu, stated:
“The arrival of Aurisse on the Seine basin was made possible by a strong partnership with our client, built on mutual trust and our teams’ ability to offer a competitive logistics solution that meets their operational and environmental expectations.
Our onboard and onshore teams are committed to providing our client with a high-performance self-propelled barge that closely aligns with their specific needs, including the loading of up to five different grades of oils.”
The implementation of a dedicated self-propelled barge: the result of a long-standing collaboration
Shell and CFT have been partners for over 10 years. Until now, CFT primarily transported base oils between Le Havre and Nanterre using a pusher/barge convoy, supplemented by other units from the fleet during peak demand.
Together, they decided to evolve their collaboration by implementing a dedicated self-propelled barge for several reasons:
- Speed: the self-propelled barge is faster than the pusher/barge convoy (45 hours versus 60 hours for a trip), allowing Aurisse to complete three rotations in two weeks (instead of two);
- Optimization of Shell’s supply chain: increasing the frequency of rotations allows for better management of storage capacities at the Nanterre depot and significantly increases the annual delivery capacity;
- Availability and responsiveness: being dedicated, the self-propelled barge can adapt to the production schedule and client needs (loading via ship-to-ship in the Port of Le Havre or from various storage tanks in the region).
Several months to bring the self-propelled barge up to CFT and Shell standards
The self-propelled barge Aurisse previously operated in the ARA zone. It was purchased by CFT and then conditioned, cleaned, and upgraded to meet the standards of the Compagnie and the Sogestran Group. Improvements were made to closely meet the client’s QHSE requirements and enhance the crew’s living conditions onboard.
A new crew ready for action
A new crew boarded the Aurisse as soon as it arrived in Le Havre on January 9, 2024, to familiarize themselves with the vessel. They performed maintenance and improvements, translating all control panels in the wheelhouse, on deck, and in the engine room. In partnership with CFT Mahieu’s onshore teams, they formalized the operational and QHSE procedures. Thanks to their dedication, the first commercial operation took place on March 15, 2024, and was a great success on all fronts.
Reconfiguration of the Compagnie’s fleet
The Aurisse, like the three self-propelled barges that joined CFT’s fleet on the Rhône in May, reflects a significant orientation at the Compagnie Fluviale de Transport: the shift from the pusher/barge model to the self-propelled barge model, driven by the evolution of the Compagnie’s business model and environmental requirements.
The self-propelled barge is inherently more energy-efficient: the shape of its hull and the sizing of its engine significantly reduce fuel consumption.
Technical specifications: 110 m x 11.40 m / Capacity: 3 600 m3
10 tanks / Loading of up to 5 different types of oils
Naming: The vessel was named according to the Compagnie’s tradition of naming liquid bulk self-propelled barges after winds.
About the Compagnie: The Compagnie Fluviale de Transport is the leading French company for inland waterway transport of industrial goods. It operates on the Seine, Rhône, Loire, Rhine, and Danube rivers. A subsidiary of the family-owned Sogestran Group, CFT has around 300 employees (both crew and onshore staff). The Group’s values are trust, agility, pride, and commitment.
Some of the 10 crew members with Captain Bruno Lesaffre (left) and CFT Mahieu Director Sébastien Somers