Bolidt to deck out Chantiers de l'Atlantique newbuilds until 2027

To date, Bolidt has supplied decking systems to around 100 Chantiers de l’Atlantique-built vessels, primarily cruise ships. Notable projects include Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-class vessels, MSC Cruises’ World class and Accor’s Orient Express Silenseas, entering service in 2026. 

‘I have personally been working with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for more than 10 years, and have found their exceptional team to be open, reliable and professional,’ said Jacco van Overbeek, director for maritime, Bolidt. ‘They are also eager to learn about innovation in solutions such as ours, often sending new team members to our R&D facilities in the Netherlands to show them who we are, what we do, and what we stand for.’ 

Helping drive innovation

Bolidt is currently developing pre-fabricated parts with support from the Saint-Nazaire-based shipbuilder, Van Overbeek added. ‘Our collaboration is not a typical supplier-customer relationship but more of a partnership between two parties that understand and rely on each other’s expertise, working together to achieve the best solutions for the finished vessels.’

Throughout its collaboration with Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Bolidt has been enhancing its product portfolio in response to evolving demands from cruise lines. This approach has resulted in innovations such as the Bolideck Future Teak, which closely resembles real teak but is lighter and more durable with a lower environmental impact.

Organic and recycled materials

Van Overbeek emphasised the priority the supplier continues to give to sustainability, including its targets for incorporating more bio-based materials and recycled parts into its decking systems. While many of its products already comprise 80% organic material, Bolidt wants to increase this figure in line with the IMO’s ambition to achieve net zero in shipping-related emissions by 2050.