Why did you decide to launch this adventure ?

This project is the result of several things : my family history : interior designers of cruiseliners for two generations, the achievement of my previous ship building and management projects :  le Clipper Paris & Paris Yacht Marina, my meeting with François Tajan during the nez du FRANCE auction, as well as my meeting with Jean Pierre Véron who won the auction, the passionate enthousiasm that the entire world has for the FRANCE, my father's death, my passion for boats and a desire to return to sea after 20 years on rivers (upon which I'll continue to sail...)

Your ship is by far larger and more expensive than your previous ships (200 to 250 million euros for the entire project) : are you suffering from delusions of grandeur ?

This type of project can only be undertaken with a team of experts in each field who collaborate with me to "drive this project home".

Otherwise, the method remains the same for building smaller ships : we're just scaling up. Nothing is insumountable, especially since France is rich with experts in shipbuilding.

As for the financial aspect : an exceptional project will find exceptional financing !

What will your ship have in common with the OLD « FRANCE » ?

The DIFFERENCE.

Le FRANCE was different from other ships in by her size and her performance : she was de "Queen" of cruiseliners.

The "nouveau FRANCE" is also, by her architecture, different from other ships. The old FRANCE symbolized the French 'art de vivre' ; the "nouveau FRANCE" will be different from other cruiseliners by breaking with current trend of "floating amusement parks". We'll build an elegant cruise ship which will mark the return of 'quality over quantity'.

What justifies using the name "le nouveau France" and can you use the « FRANCE » name ?

The ship will be called 'FRANCE' because our ambition is to wear the colors "the French difference : creativity, art de vivre, refinement..." beyond the seas.

I have trademarked the name and design of the FRANCE with INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) as well as the name "paquebot FRANCE" ; the Minister of Ecology and Energy a certificate of the reservation of the name "France" for this ship.

Where will this ship be built ?

I immediately think of Saint Nazaire ; I'm quite attached to this town ; it would be ideal so that this new FRANCE would be in the tradition of the old FRANCE. In the 50's, Europe was still recuperating from WW2 and the FRANCE could not have been built in France. Today, the ship can be both French and European. However, cost will be an issue.

I had my last boat, the "Clipper Paris", built in Saint Nazaire and over  a period of several months I was able to see the shipyard's expertise, so I prefer this solution. I've also signed with St Nazaire's STX Shipyard an initial contract for an additional study on the ship, following work already carried out by my usual naval architects' firm.

Did you inform the French government of your intentions ?

Yes. I've also received encouragement from the highest level.

Who will operate this vessel once it's built ?

At this stage, I don't know yet. There are French structures with the know-how to manage this type of ship, but it's still too early to talk about choosing an operator. We could also possibly set up an operating company to manage it "in house".

You said that it will be an environmentally-friendly ship, how will it differ from other ships ?

First, the shape of the ship is subject to a very in-depth study aimed at minimising drag and therefore resistance in the water.
Second, it isn't intended to travel very fast: 15/18 knots is an acceptable speed – this is a long way from the 32 knots of the former SS FRANCE. The "extra knot" is not very energy efficient.
Third, we’re working on the engine. Today there are optimised solutions available for this type of ship and research is constantly making progress.
Fourth, most of the lighting will be provided by leds. Today this system is proved to be very energy efficient. When you think of how many bulbs there are in a liner of this size, you can imagine how much energy can be saved.
Fifth, assisted sailing systems are currently being researched. These could help to significantly reduce energy consumption.

Where will the SS FRANCE's home port be ?

We haven't looked at this issue yet. We still have time ahead of us to deal with it. I personally have a leaning towards Le Havre, which would be in line with the "Greater Paris" project. Le Havre is also a mythical port in the SS France adventure. Nevertheless, the ship's port of operations will most likely be in the Mediterranean given its cruise programme.

The overall cost of the new SS France will, in your words, be between M€ 200 and 250, but will only contain 250 cabins. Is this viable? Have you carried out a market study? How do you envisage financing the project ?

The project to build a new SS France has been subject, with the expertise of specialist consultants, to an in-depth study of the cruise market, its perspectives and prior to any other research, a profitability study for the investment it represents.

In fact, the last two years of investigation led us to correct some data from the equation: the cost of the ship should now be around €300 M. However, her capacity will increase to approximately 650 passengers, which, in terms of profitability is significantly better than the original data, whilst makin the ship more consistent with the space occupied by passengers.

Here are some basic points :

• The world cruise market is in good shape despite the fact that many giant ships launched over the last decade and a half have created a surplus passenger capacity which is currently being compensated by a reduction in the number of new orders over the last two years.
• The European market is on the whole expanding. The perspectives for the coming years are excellent.
• The new SS France is on the European and international luxury cruise market. This niche is already occupied by several ships which propose a well identified type of service for an equally well identified clientele.
• The "SS France product" will be around the same price level as other ships positioned on the same market, although its assets will be its modernity, originality and difference.
• The capacity of the new SS France is 25,000 people per year, ie. approximately 12,000 families, which is a very small number compared to the demand for luxury cruises. Plus with its architectural specificities, the fact that it will act as a "showcase" for France and the comfort of its facilities, it will be an inescapable product on this market.
• New emerging markets (India, China, etc.) with a population with a high purchasing power and wanting to consume luxury items will be important in the coming years. It's worth remembering that the new SS FRANCE will at best be operational in four years and between now and then, these emerging markets will literally have invaded the luxury planet.

With regard to the ship's financing, the strategy envisaged is based on marketing shares in the ship owning company once it's been launched: "The SS France should be owned by the French".

In the meanwhile, a bridging loan will be taken out to finance its construction.

All the investments (studies, advertising) since the project began are today self-financed by the project's protagonists.

How would you sum up this project in a nutshell ?

It's THE French project par excellence for the coming decade.

And just at the right time:
2010 was the year of the 50th anniversary of the launch of the historic SS France (11 May 2010). 2011 dedicated a major exhibition to it at the Marine Museum (9 February - 26 October 2011). 2012 is the year of the 50th anniversary of its commissioning and is also the year in which the project to build a new SS France will become a reality after 3 years studying its design, conceptualisation and innovation.