January 2012
Press:
January’s news was unfortunately tainted by the Costa Concordia tragedy. On this occasion certain media began to take a little more interest in the cruise sector and asked us about our situation with a ship with less capacity than its rivals and of a highly innovative nature. We appeared on television several times: TF1 lunchtime and evening news, BFM TV in “c’est dans l’air”, etc.
Shipyard:
The conceptual part’s finalisation phase continued in accordance with the schedule. The results of research by Alain Ducasse with regard to the ship’s 8 restaurants still has to be included, as well as the SPA and the multimedia auditorium, which will both also be part of the ship’s exceptional venues.
Bonds:
On 31 January 2012 just over € 1,100,000 worth of bonds had been subscribed, ie. 75% of the planned budget. At the current rate of subscription, the entire budget should be achieved over the next few weeks. It’s worth remembering that this bond issue is totally independent of the ship’s construction and only concerns the “project” aspect.
Model:
A minor delay with regard to the 1/200 model ordered several months ago and which will be delivered in February (instead of late January). This delay is due to small modifications in the hull which we wanted to include in the first finalised model of the SS FRANCE so as to be “as close as possible” to reality.
This model will be pressnted to the SS France Workshop as part of an open day whose date still has to be decided, most probably after the “Cruise Shipping Miami” exhibition where it will be on show at the stand of Saint Nazaire’s STX Shipyard.
Financing:
The final touches are being made to the Business Plan drawn up by V-Ships before the implementation of a project presentation kit aimed at the international financial community. It is now clear that foreign organisations are more interested in financing the project than French organisations, which is quite logical since the SS FRANCE’s future clientele will be made up of 80% “foreigners who love France”, and visibly there are a lots of them.
November – December 2011
Press:
November was marked by the start of a press relations campaign whose kick off was a 4 page article in Figaro Magazine. This article was accompanied by a video on Figaro.fr, which was also made available on You Tube. Within 15 days this video had received 45,000 views!
Catering:
The first think tank to define and organise catering on board the SS FRANCE in the company of Alain DUCASSE. This working group also includes specialist cruise ship kitchen fitters.
Design:
The first sketches of suites were created by Stéphanie COUTAS and Brigitte SABY. Jean-Michel WILMOTTE’s teams are working on fitting out the panoramic grand salon on deck 14 stern side, whilst Mathieu LEHANNEUR’s teams are working on the restaurant and lounge on deck 15 bow side.
Shipyard:
The latest general arrangement has been updated integrating the crew’s quarters. A new version is currently being prepared so as to include the last three months’ conclusions following several audits carried out with specialists and regular cruise passengers with regard to how the areas will be distributed.
Sea Economy Summit:
This summit took place in Dunkirk at the end of November and the project to build the new SS FRANCE was presented (and received applause) in the plenary session in the presence of the entire maritime community.
Obligations:
The subscription of SS FRANCE bonds has been very active over the last few weeks, undoubtedly because an increasing number of French are discovering the project and see it as a way to invest their savings in a participative and passionate adventure (with a yield of 4% per year …).
Model:
The 1/200 model ordered several months ago will be delivered at the end of January and will be presented during a private inauguration at the SS France Workshop on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the departure of the ex-SS FRANCE for its first transatlantic voyage, and which we will be celebrating in due style.
3D film:
The new version of the 3D film is on line on the website.
Finances:
The Business Plan is currently being updated and should be ready by early 2012. Several financing organisations have already contacted the project’s main players.
October 2011
Meetings with designers/decorators have continued. Two talented decorators have joined us: Brigitte Saby, internationally renowned as the ambassador of "Made in France", especially in Russia, as well as Stéphanie Coutas, with an interesting background linked to the sea and boats.
Both have produced the first sketches of some of the SS France's suites.
A newcomer to the team of designers/decorators is Jean Rabasse, who specialises in movie theatre decors amongst other artistic activities. He was behind the extraordinary decors of the film "The City of Lost Children ", directed by Marc Caro and Jean Pierre Jeunet, and released in 1995. Jean is currently finishing a film with Bernardo Bertolucci in Rome and will begin working on certain areas of the SS France as of January 2012.
He will in particular take care of the bar located under the waterline which will enable passengers on the SS France to admire the marine wildlife when the boat is at anchor through the underwater port holes.
The general layout has also undergone several slight following comments by certain regular cruise ship passengers with regard to the initial layout. Whilst we're at it, we may as well go for perfection!!
Newsletter n°5 is currently being prepared and will be sent out in late November / early December: new remarkable synthetic images and interviews with VIP's who support or take part in the project.
September 2011
. The great name in French cuisine announced this summer is Alain DUCASSE. We wanted to work with a leading figure from French cuisine because the SS France's 7 restaurants must be subject to a meticulous study both technically and with regard to their theme and content. We preferred a chef with unanimously acknowledged talent and with a rich experience in the creation of gastronomic restaurants.
. The first designers began working, including (not in order) Jean Michel Wilmotte, Jacques Garcia, Mathieu Lehanneur, Patrick Jouin, Olivia Putman, François Zuretti …. They are all specialists in superyacht and palace interior design, and therefore a must for the SS France's interior design.
. On 27 September the SS France Workshop welcomed the French Maritime Cluster. All the maritime community present was able to visit the project's "HQ" under a superb summer sun. On the same day a new oil pollution collection unit built by ECOCEANE was christened at the Workshop. Fair winds.
. Creation of a "design committee" to follow up and coordinate the different qualitative stages with regard to the vessel's interior design.
July – August 2011
. Agreement with a major name in French cuisine to carry out organization planning for restaurants on board the SS France.
. Signing of the first sketch production contracts with leading designers for interior decoration.
. Extension of the "SS France Workshop" whose initial surface area grew too small to welcome the increasing number of fans of the new SS FRANCE during presentation evenings on the project's progress.
. Start of work based on several working models concerning:
- The rear great staircase (1/50th)
- Cabins
. Start of work based on two other models:
- A finalised 1/200th model
- A 1/100th sailing model
. Production of new synthesis images.
. Distribution of Newsletter n°4
. Implementation of a Spa Workshop to think with specialists from the business about the type of Spa on board the SS France in 2015.
. Submission of the vessel's layout plan to frequent cruise passengers so as to test the vessel's planned layout and implementation of the corrections.
. Start of a debate on how to make the website evolve.
June 2011
. First contacts with investment funds which showed interest in the project. Although the search for financing is not yet on the agenda (planned for late 2011), they were presented the project.
. Start of discussions with AFP for the implementation of a framework contract. A media action is planned for September 2011 so as to publish the results of studies carried out by STX as well as the first work by the designers contacted.
. Presentation of the project at a conference dinner at the Yacht Club de France.
. Handing over of the results of work undertaken by students from the Institut Français de la Mode (French Fashion School).
. Creation of a working group consisting of wealthy Chinese so as to find out how the Chinese see cruises. The Chinese market is an emerging market in the field of cruises and it is very likely that it will constitute a major source of luxury cruise customers by around 2015.
. Handing over by STX of the latest technical specifications as well as the general layout in accordance with the study contract signed on 17 December 2010: the SS France's concept is now complete with regard to its outside forms, hull shape, main features and the distribution of its interior spaces.
. First contacts with operators to provide on board services: spa etc.
. The contribution of bonds to the project's financing (studies and PR) exceeds € 800 000. The application of SS France bonds issued within a restricted framework was therefore highly successful.
. The process continues: those who have not yet applied for SS France bonds can request further details by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
May 2011
. Initial contact with distinguished designers / decorators / interior architects, mostly in the fitting out of superyachts.
. Implementation of the partnership with the French Fashion Institute: 3 groups of students work on their vision of the liner of the future: "24 hours on board the new SS France".
. Initial contact with publishers so as to create the first work on the birth of the new SS France's construction project.
. Implementation of the new SS France Workshop formula: a weekly meeting at 7pm on Tuesdays (except in July and August). The rest of the time the Workshop is privatized or used for the project's needs.
. Awarding by V-ship of a letter of intent concerning the vessel's operating (except marketing), handing over the first draft of the framework contract.
. Reception of a letter of support from the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr. Thierry Mariani. This letter was received after other letters from various figures in the government and a letter of encouragement from the Elysée Palace.
. Initial contact with specialists for the layout of the palm grove.
April 2011
. Reception of the first elements of mission n°2 from the Saint Nazaire Shipyard, namely including provisionally defining and distributing the public spaces (lounges, restaurants etc)
. Contact made with starred chefs with a view to drawing up specifications for on board cuisine
. Implementation of a partnership with the French Fashion Institute to set up think tanks on "luxury on board the SS France"
. Presentation of the project to the Colbert Committee.
February 2011
9 February 2011: The ''SS France'' exhibition is open to the public until 23 October 2011 with an area dedicated to the new SS France project.
8 February 2011: Private viewing of the "SS France" exhibition at the National Marine Museum in the presence of Mrs Geneviève de Fontenay, a loyal admirer of the project.
7 February 2011: The new version of the www.lenouveaufrance.com website is put online enabling all those wanting to register to receive information on the marketing of shares in the ship-owning company when it takes place.
4 February 2011: The first scale model of the new SS France is received (streamlined model with a scale of 1/200), exhibited at the National Marine Museum in Paris.
January 2011 : Media coverage of the project with television reports (France 3 news, France 2 news (1pm and 8pm), M6 news (12:45pm and 7:45pm), TF1 (8pm) and numerous press articles (Paris Match, Le Figaro, Le Parisien, JDD etc).
17 December 2010: A new design contract is signed with Saint Nazaire’s STX shipyard to consolidate the initial studies, namely with regard to the vessel's energy aspects and the distribution of fittings. This new mission should provide a definitive version of the overall plan for the new SS France by spring 2011.
December 2010: A partnership with Paris Match is implemented and whose first action is illustrated by the first full page spread in the issue of 9 December 2010.
7 December 2010: A partnership and patronage contract is signed with the Marine Museum as part of the exhibition on the SS France from 9 February to 26 October 2011.
16 October 2010: The "SS France Workshop" is opened at the Port de Grenelle in Paris' 15th arrondissement.
July 2010: SS France bonds are issued each worth € 1 000 at the rate of 4% per annum, reimbursable on 31 December 2013. These bonds are issued within a restricted framework and can be subscribed in € 10 000 tranches with a maximum of € 50 000 per person or entity. On this occasion the "Top 50 Club" is the created, with the first team members in the SS France adventure. Details: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This email address is protected against spammers' robots, you must activate Javascript to see it.
March 2010: The Business Plan is submitted and the conclusions of the first study entrusted to the Saint Nazaire shipyard.
1 & 2 December 2009: The project is presented to the Sea Economy Conference held in Brest.
12 October 2009: An initial mission contract is signed with the Saint Nazaire shipyard (STX).
9 October 2009: A mission contract is signed with several specialised consultants with a view to drawing up a Marketing & Financial Business Plan.
20 August 2009: Didier Spade receives a name reservation certificate for the "SS France" from the French International Registry / Ministry of the Environment, Energy, Sustainable Development & Regional Planning.
5 August 2009: It is decided that the nose of the SS France will remain at the Port de Grenelle for an unlimited period of time.
19 May 2009: The project is presented to the France Maritime Cluster, whose action is essential to the project's future.
13 May 2009: Press conference announcing the official launch of the construction project for the new SS France; first articles and TV reports.
17 March 2009: The nose of the SS France arrives at the Port de Grenelle.
09 February 2009: Jean Pierre Véron gives the nose of the SS France to Didier Spade on load for a period of approximately 2 months.
08 February 2009: A dual opposes Jean Pierre Véron and Didier Spade to purchase the nose of the SS France at Artcurial; it is Jean-Pierre Véron, a property developer who buys it for € 275 000.