Here - Comex

CONTENTS
6
SPECIAL REPORT
SCORPÈNE
Comex accompanies the first
dives of the Tunku Abdul Rahman
10
INTERVIEW
ÉRIC LAVOLÉE
Executive Director of the SCORPÈNE MALAYSIA Project
“A successful collaboration”
12
TRAVEL
© Europacorp
© Thierry Parel - Rolex
SOUTHERN CORSICA
Unrivalled beauty
4 &14
NEWS
Responsible Publisher: Michèle Fructus
Editor-in-Chief: Frédéric Gauch
Editor: Martin Greenfire
Photo credits: Thierry Parel, Rolex, Comex, Marc Delauze,
Jean Maris LIOT for DCNS, Europacorp
This magazine was designed and produced by MAYA press
www.mayapress.net - Phone 0811 651 605
FOREWORD
J
ust as this third issue of Comex Magazine goes to press, an important matter
is playing out near the Vieux-Port, in the waters of the Marseille Calanques,
which Comex’s vessels and divers know so well. For nearly 10 years
now, a public interest group has been taking an in-depth look at the wildlife,
flora, hills and depths of this vast coastal and maritime area covering 4,000 hectares.
This is where, by 2010, the Calanques National Park should be established. And
it will be the first nature park to be founded by the government in a very long
time, as most French national parks were
established in the 60’s and 70’s. More
important still, it will be Europe’s first nature
park near a city, with this dual identity
encompassing both land and sea. Its creation
is a sure thing, as the Calanques National
Park is covered by the French “Grenelle”
environmental initiative. However, its exact
perimeter still needs to be determined. More
specifically, the “core zone” (where the level
of protection will be the highest) and the
“partnership zone” (where the protective
measures may be reviewed periodically)
need to be defined. This is a key issue for
Henri Germain DELAUZE
all the enthusiastic participants, including
CEO
scientists, fishermen, residents, property
owners, walkers, boaters and many others
who have contributed to this wonderful effort. But the marine and underwater
boundaries of this superb project must not be forgotten. Because, if the Calanques
Mountains do indeed deserve every consideration, from Marseille to the neighboring
city of La Ciotat and from the islands of Maïre to Riou, the seabed and waters
also deserve a better fate than the one they have been subjected to for the past
century. Like so many Marseille residents who love their city and its environment,
Comex and its staff look forward eagerly to this outcome.
3
© Rolex
© Thierry Parel - Rolex
NEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNE
-3,900 m
Rolex forever
The iconic watches featuring the famous five-pointed
crown progress imperceptibly towards evermore
accuracy, reliability and performance. This is also
the case for the dive watches made by the famous
Geneva watchmaker, to which Comex has long
contributed its experience of the sea’s extreme
depths, and with which Comex shares its taste for
technical exploits.
A brief history
One hundred years ago this year, Wilsdorf & Davies
filed the “Rolex” brand name, on July 2, 1908.
With the impact of its three consonants and
two vowels, the Rolex name perfectly meets all
the criteria that still ensure the brand’s success.
The choice of the name given by Hans Wilsdorf
was, indeed, a good one. It is short (just five letters
long), easy to pronounce in every country and
in every language, pleasing to the ear (like the
tic-tock of the seconds hand), easy to remember
and aesthetically pleasing when printed on a dial.
Half a century later, in the speech he gave for
the brand’s fiftieth anniversary, Hans Wilsdorf told
the true story. “It was one morning, when I was
sitting on the upper level of a double-decker powered
at that time by horses, driving along Cheapside, in
London, that a good genie whispered to my ear:
«Rolex». A few days after this fruitful journey, the
Rolex brand was filed, and then officially registered
in Switzerland by Wilsdorf & Davies”. In 1913, the
name was filed internationally and, today, the
crown brand is known, renowned and duly
registered around the world.
“
A WATCH CAPABLE OF SUBMERGING
TO DEPTHS OF NEARLY 4,000 METERS
Thirty-seven years after the very first
model was released, itself derived
from the ultra-famous Submariner,
the Rolex Sea Dweller has undergone
new developments.
Its name: Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller
DeepSea. Featuring a new case
architecture, the Ring Lock System, it
has pushed back the limits of
waterproofing even further. It is capable
of withstanding the extreme pressure
of 390 atmospheres, the equivalent of
what is found at 3,900 meters under
the water’s surface. Still equipped with
the famous Gas Escape Valve, a device
that lets internal overpressure escape,
developed in partnership with Comex,
The first Sea Dweller
DeepSea watches were delivered
in September 2008.
4
”
the Sea Dweller DeepSea is a genuine
nugget of Rolex’s know-how, capability
for innovation and unrivalled mastery
of watchmaking technology. Other
new features were developed for this
exceptional watch. These include
a sapphire crystal that is slightly
domed and considerably thicker
than in previous models, a case-back
in titanium alloy with very high
mechanical strength and a redesigned
clasp, the Glidelock, which enables
divers wearing neoprene wetsuits to
adjust the strap in a flash. As for the
Ring Lock System, which is this watch’s
principal innovation, it is made of a
high-performance stainless-steel ring
alloyed with nitrogen. Placed inside
the watchcase, between the sapphire
crystal and the case-back, this ring
withstands the phenomenal pressure
to which the whole watch can safely
be subjected.
TELEX
ı PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS TO TEST THE NEW WATCH. Rolex entrusted Comex with the task of designing and manufacturing the
hyperbaric chamber that serves to test each Sea Dweller DeepSea to a depth of 480 atmospheres. Delivered recently to the prestigious
watchmaker in Geneva, this chamber consists of a high-performance single-piece stainless-steel tank, capable of creating the ambient
pressure that reigns at 4,875 meters, or a level 25% deeper than the new watch’s rated capability. At this level, the water column exerts a
pressure equivalent to a weight of 4 tons, bearing down on the crystal, the winder and the case-back. As they emerge from the workshop,
batches of 10 Sea Dweller DeepSea watches are put through extremely stringent testing in this new, exclusive equipment. Each watch takes
an hour and a half of testing to complete a full cycle.
deeper
The first flagship brands filed by Hans Wilsdorf
ROLEX
OYSTER
1908
1926
EXPLORER
SUBMARINER
1953
1954
OYSTER PERPETUAL
AIR KING
DATEJUST
TURN-O-GRAPH
1939
1943
1944
1953
MILGAUSS
GMT-MASTER
DAY-DATE
1954
1955
1958
“
It took three years
of research to develop the
new Sea Dweller DeepSea.
”
ROLEX AND COMEX
Everybody appreciates the quality and robustness of
Rolex watches. And then there are Rolex fans who
absolutely worship their watches, and especially certain
models, including the Submariner and the Sea Dweller,
featuring Comex’s white logo on their dials. These
watches have another characteristic: a special Rolex
Comex serial number engraved on the case-back.
Initially designed for the company’s divers, for whom
they are a real tool, these watches very quickly interested
the collectors and purists of the Swiss brand. As HenriGermain Delauze remarked in the magazine published
by Rolex - which just dedicated four pages to him -
“A hydrogen diver just can’t survive without his Rolex”.
Comex first began collaborating with the Genevabased watchmaker at the very beginning of the 70’s,
on the initiative of André Heiniger. All the divers were
equipped with the timepieces progressively, thanks
to a successful cooperation between the two companies.
Over the years, the watches engraved with the Comex
name have fostered technological innovations, the
most famous of which remains the gas escape valve
that is such a crucial feature on the watches of divers
doing saturation diving. These limited-series items
have become an amazingly hot item amongst collectors.
5
SPECIAL REPORT: SCORPÈNE
COMEX ACCOMPANIES
THE FIRST DIVES OF THE
TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN
This year, on behalf of the DCNS (French naval shipbuilder), Comex
conducted an escort, surveillance and security mission for a new vessel,
the submarine Tunku Abdul Rahman, which is performing its first sea
trials. This is the first of two Scorpène submarines that the DCNS is going
to supply to the Royal Malaysian Navy.
SPECIAL REPORT: SCORPÈNE
45
The Tunku Abdul
Rahman can
remain
submerged for
45 days in a row.
THE
SCORPÈNE
SUBMARINE
With ten units sold worldwide, the Scorpène has risen to genuine
prominence on the international market. A contract with Chile
was completed in December 2005 with the delivery of the
O’Higgins, and in December 2006 with that of the Carrera.
Moreover, these first deliveries made it possible to demonstrate
the exceptional qualities of the vessels, thereby confirming
DCNS’ high level of expertise.
The trials on the two units for Malaysia are taking place in
the shipbuilding yards of Cherbourg and Cartagena. Six other
Scorpène submarines have been ordered by the Indian Navy.
With the Scorpène submarine, DCNS is able to meet the
operational needs of different navies and provide them with
8
“
The Scorpène is
based on a design
developed from the new
generation of French
nuclear submarines.
”
the best technology, at a competitive price, with a reduced total
cost of ownership.
The Scorpène is a new type of conventional-propulsion submarine
(diesel-electric or hybrid), designed for surface and submarine
attacks, special operations and training.
It is based on a design developed from the latest generation of French
nuclear submarines, thus benefiting from the most cutting-edge
technology available on the conventional submarine market today.
THE CONSTRUCTION
OF A SCORPÈNE
A contract was signed on June 5, 2002 for the supply of
two Scorpène class submarines and the provision of logistical
and training services. DCNS is in charge of the project management
of the program.
The highly resistant hull of the two submarines is made in
four sections by DCNS in Cherbourg, thus enabling block
construction. This modular concept enables Navantia to
manufacture and assemble the various pieces of equipment
comprising the rear section of the two submarines in Cartagena,
while DCNS Cherbourg performs the same tasks for the front,
including, amongst other things, the attack system. The rear
section of the first submarine completed in this way was then
transferred to Cherbourg to be joined with the front, and the
front section of the second submarine was transferred to Cartagena
for final assembly.
The first submarine, the Tunku Abdul Rahman, was delivered
on January 25, 2009, and its sister ship, the Tun Razak, is
scheduled for completion on October 25, 2009.
© Jean Marie LIOT for DCNS
CHARACTERISTICS
67.5 meters
6.2 meters
12.3 meters
Length
Diameter
Height
Submerged
displacement
Diving depth
Maximum speed
1,790 to 2,010 tons
Greater than 300 meters
Greater than 20 knots submerged
Type of propulsion Diesel-electric
50 days of patrol
Endurance
Crew complement 31
SUBTICS® Tactical Integrated
Combat System and other equipment
6 torpedo launchers
Sensors
Armament
“
With ten units sold
worldwide, the Scorpène has
risen to genuine prominence
on the international market.
”
INTERVIEW WITH A SPECIALIST
ÉRIC LAVOLÉE
EXECUTIVE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE SCORPÈNE MALAYSIA PROJECT
Having an iron fist in a velvet glove, a highly professional approach recognized
by his peers and an innate sense of organization has enabled Eric Lavolée to take
a high-speed career track. At the head of the Scorpène project at DCNS in
Cherbourg, he is successfully conducting this world-class operation involving
French/Spanish cooperation on a contract designed for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
Here is Comex Magazine’s interview with him.
“A successful
collaboration”
PROFILE
Born on September 18, 1962,
Eric Lavolée is married and has
a 9-year old child.
A graduate of ENSIETA, a prestigious
French engineering school, he was
promoted in 2000 to the position of
Principal Armament Engineer based on
recruitment by competitive
examination.
He is presently Head Armament
Engineer on detached duty.
His career path is impressive. Between
Cherbourg and Toulon, he participated
in the refit operation of the ballistic
missile submarine “Le Terrible”. He was
in charge of the maintenance in
operational conditions of aircraft
carriers Foch and Clémenceau. He also
contributed to the maintenance in
operational conditions of major ships
during the Kosovo conflict and
participated in disarming the
Clémenceau. Between 2000 and 2002,
he was the Chief Designer for aircraft
carrier no. 2 and for the Scorpène. He is
currently Executive Project Director for
the Scorpènes intended for Malaysia.
10
“
For several months, Comex and DCNS have been
involved in a successful collaboration on the trial phase
of two new submarines built in Cherbourg. Could you
explain your role in this operation?
I am directing the construction of two Scorpène class submarines
ordered by the Royal Malaysian Navy. My mission consists of
supervising all the stages, from the design to the procurement,
including the construction and final acceptance of the submarines.
In parallel with this construction project, as the Malaysians
have never had a submarine fleet, DCNS is also having the
crews trained onboard a decommissioned submarine of the
French Navy, the Ouessant, and then on a specially designed
simulator. Maintenance training is also included. This is all part
of the contracts signed in 2002 with Malaysia.
When is delivery of the first boat to take place?
The first submarine, named Tunku Abdul Rahman in October, 2007,
will be presented for acceptance by the client during what is
called the “physical hand-over”, scheduled for January 25, 2009.
We are now in the home stretch. Indeed, after undergoing
ten days, the submarine will head to Lorient to perform a few
additional tests in the Atlantic Ocean.
What did your teams bring away from this experience
of collaborating with Comex?
Janus II enabled our crews to embark both on the submarine
and on its escort vessel. It even went the extra mile, as it
implemented special sensors to help us conduct certain tests.
All this made for a successful collaboration.
The Scorpène is available in three categories: the
compact, the basic and the basic AIP. Which category
does the Tunku Abdul Rahman belong to?
3million
that’s the number of work
hours allocated just for
DCNS’s portion of the
Malaysian Scorpène program.
the engineering tests, the submarine was dry-docked for corrective
and preventive maintenance required to upgrade its installations
and take account of the comments and observations that
were made during the test phases and some 400 hours of diving.
Now, the Tunku Abdul Rahman is taking to the sea again for
its official trial period, which will end in the Mediterranean.
In fact, the Tunku Abdul Rahman is a conventional Scorpène
submarine. The Royal Malaysian Navy is the second country
after Chile to purchase Scorpènes. There are obviously differences
between the Chilean and Malaysian ships, which depend both
on the clients’ needs and developments in the world of
submarines. In the period of time between the orders being
placed by these two countries, the dramatic sinking of the
Koursk occurred. Navies worldwide were alerted to safety issues.
This was even more evident for Malaysia, which is discovering
the world of submarines. This is why the Tunku Abdul Rahman
has a small extra section in the middle, of utmost importance.
It is called a “cofferdam”, a resistant compartment that splits
the submarine into two independent watertight parts, and which
features the air-aided escape system.
How is the second ship coming along?
Number 2 was started at the same time as number 1, so it
is well advanced. Navantia, our Spanish partner, is currently
starting trials on it in Cartagena. It should be delivered to
the Royal Malaysian Navy nine months after the Tunku
Abdul Rahman.
Are you looking forward to taking to the sea again for
the final stage of trials on the Tunku Abdul Rahman?
Yes, I can’t wait. This submarine, I witnessed its birth. From
the moment when its first piece of sheet metal was cut, in
February 2003, to its first dive, I have watched it progress,
step by step.
Like a child?
At the beginning of the year, the Janus II, Comex’s
flagship, was chartered to the Tunku Abdul Rahman.
What was its mission?
Janus II had to accompany and escort the Tunku Abdul Rahman
during its engineering tests in Lorient. Comex’s vessel was a
reassuring presence for everyone during the trials. It was
comforting to know that there was a surface ship, with all the
necessary resources, ready to signal the slightest problem.
But the ship’s job doesn’t end there, as it will continue to escort
the submarine during the final trials in the Mediterranean.
The role of Janus II will be exactly the same, except that the
final trials will be conducted in Toulon, with the same
contributions for the trials. Prior to going to Toulon in about
True enough, something like that, even if it’s rather pretentious
to say so. I witnessed its first moves on the slipway when it
rolled out of its assembly shed. Next, we gave it its first bath.
Then it learned how to dive…And now, we have to teach it
to submerge for extended periods of time.
When did you live your greatest emotion with it?
Definitely when we brought it to its maximum depth in March,
this year. A very special moment...
11
TRAVEL
SOUTHERN CORSICA:
UNRIVALLED BEAUTY
Corsica, with its incomparable
beauty, intoxicating fragrances
and turquoise waters, has
long been one of the favorite
p l a y i n g f i e l d s f o r C o m e x ’s
vessels. The Minibex and
its crew have carried out
countless missions of all
k i n d s t h e r e. E s p e c i a l l y i n
Southern Corsica, between
B o n i f a c i o, p e rch e d a t o p i t s
narrow limestone cliffs, and
the famous Lavezzi Islands,
a very important nature
BONIFACIO: “THE CITY OF CLIFFS”
reserve for any diving
The upper city, with its buildings balancing on the edge of a 223-foot-high
cliff, seems to be standing by virtue of a miracle; at least, this is the impression
you get when you approach it from the sea. You can also discern a sharp, narrow
recess cut into the limestone wall, going down to the water at an angle of about
45 degrees. This is the staircase of the King of Aragon, with its 187 steps carved
into the cliff. Legend has it that it was built overnight by the troops of King
Alfonso V the Magnanimous, during the siege of Bonifacio in 1420. However,
it is more likely that this staircase was built over a longer period of time by
Franciscan monks, who wanted to reach a spring of drinking water situated
at the foot of the staircase.
enthusiast keen on beauty.
12
IN THE LAVEZZI ISLANDS, PEACE AND PLEASURE
The Lavezzi Islands are located halfway
between Sardinia and Corsica, in the
Strait of Bonifacio. There are many wrecks
lying under the surface of the crystalclear waters surrounding them. In
particular, the Sémillante, one of the last
French wooden sailing frigates, which
had set sail to give assistance to the French
troops engaged in the Crimean War.
In the night of February 15, 1855, the
French ship was caught in a storm of
extreme violence and sank on one of
the reefs of the Lavezzi Islands, taking
down with it the 301 sailors and
392 soldiers onboard. After the sinking,
two cemeteries were opened and a
pyramid was built in 1856, at the
summit of Mount Achiarino in the
southwest of the archipelago. But there
is more to the Lavezzi Islands than
this. First and foremost, it is a nature
reserve of which Henri Delauze was
one of the discoverers. A paradise for
divers, with, amongst other things,
Mérouville, a place where you can
swim alongside groupers quite freely.
It is also a haven of peace for walkers,
who can visit the island by taking the
numerous trails blazed through the
vegetation. Carved into granite, the
Lavezzi Isles are made up of about a
hundred small islands. They feature
small beaches with crystalline blue
water and small coves where boats
anchor. For walkers and swimmers,
make sure to protect yourself from
the brilliant sunlight, because there
are not many shady places. If you have
no boat to get there, shuttles leave
from Bonifacio on a regular basis.
So remember to pack some sunscreen,
a hat and water, and set off for an
adventure on the sunbathed trails.
Lay down your towel on the white
sand of the island’s many beaches and
have a dive in the turquoise waters of
the Mediterranean.
THE UPPER CITY
PLACES TO GO
> Tourist Office of Bonifacio
Rue Fred Scamaroni
20169 Bonifacio
Phone 04 95 73 11 88
Fax 04 95 73 14 97
tourisme.bonifacio@wanadoo.fr
http://www.bonifacio.fr
> Restaurants
Stella d’Oro Chez Jules
7 Rue d’Oria Haute ville
Bonifacio
Phone 04 95 73 03 63
stella.oro@bonifacio.com
http://www.bonifacio.com/stella.oro/
Cantina Grill
3 Quai Bando Del Ferro on le Goulet
after Montée Rastello
Phone 04 95 70 49 86
cantinagrill@wanadoo.fr
Le Comptoir Bonifacien
9 Rue saint Jean Baptiste
Bonifacio
Phone 04 95 73 58 54
The port of Bonifacio is hidden in a deep natural inlet. A first small
cove enables ships to drop anchor, while the port itself continues farther
inland, protected by the imposing citadel of the upper city. In summertime,
the traditional fishing boats keep company with luxury yachts. The
harbor is full of restaurants and souvenir shops. You can’t go to Bonifacio
without climbing up the Rastello Steps (Montée Rastello), and then the
Saint-Roch Steps (Montée Saint-Roch), which will lead you to the
drawbridge of the Porte de Gênes (Genoa Gate), built in 1588. Bonifacio
initially flourished in the shelter of its fortifications. It is thus naturally
in the upper city that you find the vestiges of its millennial past. As
soon as you go through the monumental gate, you are on the Place
d’Armes, in the old city of Bonifacio. It will take you a while to discover
the hidden treasures of the city, such as the Bastion de l’Etendard, dating
from the 16th century, the Rue des Deux-Empereurs, Rue Charles-Quint
and Rue Napoléon-Bonaparte, where you will be able to admire the
many aqueducts overlooking the narrow streets. These were used for
collecting rainwater and transporting it to the Cisterna, the drinking
“
The buildings of the upper
city seem to be miraculously
clinging to the limestone cliff.
”
water reservoir that was so crucial during sieges. The house of the
Podestat, the governor of the city during the Genoa period, and SainteMarie Majeure Church, which is the oldest building in Bonifacio, are
also important sights to take in. Finally, at the southern tip of the
promontory, you’ll find a naval cemetery, windmills dating back to
the 12th century, and, above all, a spectacular view of the Strait of
Bonifacio and Sardinia, just opposite. And if you’re feeling brave, make
your way down the steps of the King of Aragon staircase, but beware:
you’ll have to climb all the way back up afterwards!
flyem@wanadoo.fr
13
NEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNEWSNE
“Hublot”, the first novel by Marc Delauze, published
by Société des Ecrivains.
In this page-turner, the fine seagoing vessels,
Janus IV, Rémora 2000 and Achille the ROV, play
a starring role.
Books
not to be
missed
“Ténèbres Océanes, le triomphe de la vie
dans les abysses”, by Lucien Laubier,
published by Buchet Chastel Ecologie
The DGA chooses the
Comex/Foselev consortium for the
maintenance of Cap Ferrat’s
monitoring system. The consortium
comprising Comex (lead company) and Foselev (joint
venturer with the vessel Castor II) has been chosen
by the General Armament Delegation (DGA) of the
French Defense Ministry to carry out maintenance on
the underwater monitoring system of Cap Ferrat, for
a five-year period. The service consists of lifting and
reinstalling submerged acoustic lines.
LOTS GOING ON AT LA
PROVENCE NEWSPAPER
The journalist Hervé Vaudoit, who was a star reporter at the
La Provence newspaper during the Saint-Exupéry affair, is back in
Marseille. After staying on the investigation from start to finish and
then writing a book about this incredible adventure - “Saint-Ex,
La Fin du Mystère”, co-authored by Alexis Rosenfeld and
Philippe Castellano and published by Filipacchi in 2004 - he
had been appointed Edition Editor of La Provence in Aix-enProvence. Early September, he was promoted to the position of
head of the “Economy, Social and Environment” section of the
Marseille daily. He is working with three other journalists interested
in the sea and the corporate world: Philippe Gallini, Jean-Luc Crozel
and Valérie Simonet, whose serious, professional approach has
always been admired by Comex. All the employees of the Compagnie
Maritime d’Expertise, as well as the editorial staff of Comex Magazine,
wish this new team and its boss much success and achievement.
COMEX ON THE CUTTING EDGE FOR
CYBERNETIX
A campaign designed to validate the optimization of a tool for
cleaning seismic cables was conducted last June onboard the
Minibex, for Cybernetix, a company specializing in automatic
control and robotics. This operation concerned equipment belonging
to the geophysics company,
CGG Veritas. This new tool,
called NST, was developed
by Cybernetix. It will make
it possible to maintain the
performance level of seismic
imaging tools designed for
offshore oil surveying. The
NST, propelled exclusively
by the pressure of its flow resistance, passes along a seismic
cable at a depth of 2 or 3 meters, and has to clear the various
subassemblies that comprise the cable, such as the seismic birds
(positioning devices), canisters, ballasts, etc. The tests were
conducted on a seismic cable towed by Comex’s boat. The client
(who was present) was able to observe the ease of use and excellent
handling of the device on the seismic cable. The cleanup operation
itself will be checked soon, under actual operating conditions. This
operation will be performed onboard a ship of the CGG Veritas
fleet, in warm waters where marine encrustations, such as goose
barnacles, develop very quickly, to the detriment of the performance
levels of acoustic devices.
INAUGURATION OF THE CHAMBER AT
SAINTE-ANNE MILITARY HOSPITAL IN TOULON
The hyperbaric chamber of the Sainte-Anne Military
Hospital has just been installed in its new premises,
in Toulon (Var). The inauguration ceremony for
these new systems, held on May 21st, was attended
by many important civilian and military guests.
Comex’s role in this project was to extract the
chamber from its initial location, totally overhaul
it from a technical standpoint and then install it
in its new home, custom-designed at Sainte-Anne
Hospital. A new, fully automated control console
14
has replaced the old one, and the interior equipment
has been completely redone and updated. Since
it was restarted on May 1st, the hyperbaric center
has successfully performed, in these new installations
made and maintained by Comex, some forty
treatments for diving accidents, about fifteen
treatments for intoxications and daily treatments
for chronic conditions.
Lights, camera, action at Comex
HEALTH
Djibouti receives
its hyperbaric chamber
The Balbala Hospital received the keys to its Comex hyperbaric chamber
on June 21st, during an inaugural ceremony presided over by the
President of the Republic of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh. In the
presence of several members of the government gathered around
the Chief of State, Dr Madian Mohamed Saïd, Chief of Medicine
Hyperbaric Department of Balbala Hospital, emphasized in his speech
that Djibouti is now the only country in this part of Africa to have
this type of equipment.
© Europacorp
A few night scenes
of the movie “Transporter 3”, directed by Olivier Mégaton and
starring Jason Statham, Robert Knepper and François Berléand,
were shot last spring in Comex’s pool at its headquarters in
Marseille. The movie is scheduled for release in North America on
November 26, 2008.
A mysterious world in the
Lacaze-Duthiers Canyon in
Banyuls-sur-Mer. The oceanographic
observatory of the Arago Laboratory chose
the Minibex, one of Comex’s oceanographic
vessels, to perform a survey of the
underwater canyon, Lacaze-Duthiers, some
thirty kilometers offshore from Banyuls-surMer (eastern Pyrenees). The purpose of this
operation was to take an inventory of the
wildlife and flora living in this canyon, so as
to develop scientific research there and
establish long-term monitoring of the
biodiversity. Onboard
Minibex, about fifteen
specialists from the
observatory mapped the zones
to be studied. The results
obtained far exceeded the
scientists’ hopes. Rarely observed up till
now, the grenadier, a deep-sea fish, was
SURVEILLANCE OF ALCAN’S
GARDANNE PIPELINES
photographed in its natural environment.
Comex has just completed a rigorous inspection of the seven kilometers
of underwater pipeline of the Alcan alumina refinery in Gardanne (near
Marseille). This piping carries the bauxite residues produced by the
plant to an outlet, where they are discharged at a depth of 300 meters,
in the Cassidaigne Trench, offshore from Cassis Harbor. This operation
is repeated every five years with Comex’s technical resources, pursuant
to French legislation.
at a depth of 600 meters. This coral had
This project also enabled deep cold water
coral to be found and located with precision,
already been observed in 1964 during a
mission by Jacques-Yves Cousteau with the
famous Calypso.
Lucien Laubier, a pillar of the Marseille Oceanography Center, passed away on June 15 at
the age of 71. His passing deprives the international scientific community of a very great
oceanographer. As talented as he was passionate, this pioneer had an especially rich career,
participating actively in the adventure of deep-sea diving with scientific divers. A high-level
professor, over the course of his scientific career, he penned many books that are internationally
considered as benchmarks.
15