Preparation of the Project

Preparation tasks consisted in handling a number of significant constraints such way a coherent set of actions should be put together in order to construct an eligible issue, based on complex project’s engineering. External experts in maritime engineering; public/private financing and European project management, have been sought. On the French side, the project benefited from the public program of “Aide au Partenariat Technologique” (“Support for Technological Partnership”), an OSEO measure.

  • Technical pre-studies permitted to identify hybridation options to be followed. Impacts of technological mutations have been assessed from technical and economical perspectives, in order to engender successful conditions for cultural change and facilitate dissemination.
  • The considered options have been presented to the maritime administrations and classification societies. The pre-validation of the innovative processes regarding security standards has been an important preparatory task.
  • Solutions were presented to the final users.  Ship owners committed to innovation have been identified. Subsequently, innovative equipment suppliers had to be convinced to participate, knowing that their marketing strategies do not target fishing business sector, considered by them as a marginal market without much future perspective.
  • In relation to shipyards, the investment required from ship owner, to be achieved before program startup, has been evaluated.
  • Investment planning has been presented to French banks for pre-approval.
  • Association principles have been settled with the three public fishing research institutes involved in the 2Seas area, and the technical pre-projects have been validated.
  • The eligibility of the global project’s articulation has been checked by Interreg management authority, during several meetings and various information exchanges.
  • A strong and recurrent pedagogy has been performed toward national and regional authorities within the three countries. In order to ensure necessary public support, presentations have been organized in Paris, Brussels and London, where Parliament Members and Ministerial focal points have been mobilized. Partners have met on several occasions in Boulogne, Gent and Oostende.

Particular contribution of FPDR (Lead Partner) in the project preparation :

  • General coordination
  • Informing the fishing community
  • Ensuring  ministerial and regional contacts (France)
  • Organising ministerial presentation seminars
  • Communication and lobbying.
  • Searching for financial partnership
  • Contracting with external experts. Coordination and follow-up
  • OSEO process management. Contacts with banks
  • Assuming general treasury of the preparation phases.

Particular contribution of TRANSENERGY (PP2) in the project preparation :

  • Project’s Technical leadership
  • Organization of technical seminars
  • Ensuring ministerial and regional contacts (Flanders)
  • Searching for financial partnership
  • Preparation and submission workshop (Oostende, Gent) logistics and hoisting.

Particular contribution of MARINE SOUTH EAST (PP3) in the project preparation :

  • Ensuring  ministerial and regional contacts (UK)
  • Participations in preparatory workshops (meetings and conference-calls)
  • Searching for private financial partnership