History of the Port Revel Center
"Innovation is above all a matter of vision. From the early 1960s, our Esso customers were convinced that in the field of maritime transport safety would become a major issue. For their part, Sogreah engineers, now Artelia, had the intuition to offer models with embedded drivers instead of smaller and more economical remote models. Port Revel was born from this meeting between the need of our client and the ingenuity always awake of our teams."
Jacques GAILLARD - Co-Founder of Artelia
Our history
1953
Probably Sogreah's first ship (at Laboratoire Dauphinois d'Hydraulique) : the Sovac Comet, a 30 000 t tanker.
1954
The Esso France, a 47 000 t tanker with, for the first time, a crew on board (to perform measurements).
1958
The Pembrokeshire, then prosaically named PR 1116, a 70 000 t tanker at scale 1/40, later changed into
1960
The Pembroke in the Suez Canal study: with 3 observers scrutinizing ...
1965
The Pembroke is now named "Kiel" for the bank erosion study in the Kiel Canal. The model is self-propelled, but guided by cables.
1966
The Pembroke once more, here being used for "psychological tests" aiming at convincing Esso to launch the Port Revel operation.
October 3rd 1966
Further psychological tests, now on the Lake of Revel. In front of JP. Gamot (former CEO of Sogreah) the Brunsbüttel, which served in the Kiel Canal study in 1965.
1966
The Pembroke convinces ...
December 1966
The lake is partly emptied and works begin in the "Terres Froides" (Cold Lands)...
1967
Works begin in the Terres froides
February 1967
The Brittany model is well under construction: lots of manpower ...
March 1967
Brittany's hull is ready...
1967
a bulbous rubber bow...
March 9th 1967
In the meantime, the contract is signed with Esso.
1967
The lake is ready.
May 1967
The Brittany arrives at Port Revel.
1967
First manoeuvres in the Suez Canal.
1967
The Berlin testing the canal.
July 3rd 1967
The centre is opened.
During the 1970s, most students were captains, while the first pilots came to discover the center.
During the 80s, the ratio of 9 captains to 1 pilot was reversed.
In the 90s, the first refresher courses were organized for pilots, who returned every 5 years. These courses are less directive and leave more room for customisation, which is a way of optimising port operations to increase port accessibility.
During the current decade, we have seen a change in our relations with pilots. We are now moving towards a closer partnership in which pilots use our installations at their convenience. Courses and equipment are specially designed in close collaboration with the pilots.
The Lake's Developments Over the Years
The lake has undergone several developments since its creation. It had to adapt to changes in the maritime world, including the increase in ship size and greater draft requirements.
Lake in 1966
Lake in 2000
Lake in 2009
Lake expansion in 2009
Lake in 2015
Lake in 2023
The hangar's developments over the years
The hangars have also evolved alongside the growth of the Port Revel fleet. More models, larger in size, as well as tugboats now fill the garage.
Installation work begins
Hangar expansion in 2009
Hangar Extension in 2019
