Cargomorphose is the name of the new company behind this project to recycle merchant and military ships into raw materials that can be used in the construction industry. “Boats are much larger than buildings, so why not dismantle them and reuse their materials for construction?”
Jacques Spiegelstein is the man behind it all. The idea was born 4 years ago in an ideation contest. He works as an architect in France and abroad on airports, train stations... Originally from Marseille, he has a passion for the merchant navy, and in this project he combines two universes dear to him, based on the values of recycling and the circular economy.
Developed at the ENSTARTUPS facility on the ENSTA Bretagne campus, the Cargomorphose project has become an integral part of the Brest ecosystem (Technopôle Brest Iroise, Village By CA) and is supported by the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (Brittany Atlantic Maritime Cluster).
The Breton structures welcomed me with open arms.
The challenge for Cargomorphose at the start of the academic year is to demonstrate the viability and feasibility of the project and convince ship owners. Jacques Spiegelstein shares this venture with two partners: Guillaume Chaussade, who is very familiar with the maritime sector and company management, and Pascale Barillot, who is in charge of communications and public relations.
Our aim is to convince the French Navy, as well as industrial companies, to entrust us with the dismantling of their ships. First, we perform a complete analysis of the structure and determine which of the ship's components can be reused in the construction industry. We use this analysis to develop a deconstruction diagram. These carbon-free raw materials are used primarily for structural work. We plan to use the products as close as possible to where the ships are dismantled, near rivers where they can be transported.
Each year, several hundred ships are scrapped from the European fleet. Cargomorphose has positioned itself as a new European player in the dismantling sector, with a strong social and environmental commitment.
Contact : Jacques.spiegelstein@cargomorphose.com
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