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From Friday 24th to Thursday 30th September 2021, the sonar-equipped tugboat ‘Aldébaran’ (M772) will be docked at Le Ponton d’Honneur jetty on Quai Richelieu in Bordeaux; it’s a unique opportunity to explore this ship that primarily carries out surveillance over the depths of the sea.

For 2 days, the crew will be on hand to offer full immersion, educating the general public on the ship’s many different naval protection missions. There are three such specialist ships in the minesweeping division of French Naval Action Force, each one equipped with high technology, in particular DUBM44 sonar which allows them to detect mines and obstacles, thus enabling them to work safely near the depths of the sea (from 5 to 30 metres).

The stopover also marks the signature of an agreement (known as the CDSG) between French defence and global security services and Lycée Clos Chassaing in Périgueux. This partnership will provide pupils at middle and high schools with a better understanding of the spirit of defence and security with complete immersion into naval crews, as well as the navy’s values of shared experience and togetherness.

> Open to the public: Saturday 25th September from 2pm to 6pm / Sunday 26th September from 2pm to 6pm

See the list of ships that are docking in Bordeaux this year:

> 22nd May to 6th June: the ship belonging to the environmental NGO Parley is docking in Bordeaux to increase awareness about plastic waste in rivers and oceans.

> 17th June to 20th June: as part of the Bordeaux Wine Festival, three tall ships (Le Marité, Le Français and El Galéon ) are docking in Bordeaux, where visitors can step onboard and explore

> 30th July to 1st August: the famous tall ship Belem is back in Bordeaux for refuelling

> September: Plastic Odyssey is stopping in Bordeaux as part of its mission to visit 30 countries in 3 years. The boat is travelling around the world carrying out research and finding solutions to plastic pollution

> September: the British tall ship “Pelican of London” is to drop anchor in Bordeaux

> November: stopover for the training ship Atyla

The narrowboat Tourmente is stopping off at Bordeaux from 8th to 13th September 2020 at the ‘Ponton d’Honneur’ jetty on Quai Richelieu as part of its 8th ‘Entre Deux Mers Voyage 2020’, featuring local produce, two exhibitions, innovative projects, art and history.

The Tourmente and its crew navigate the canals of Le Midi, the Rhône basin and the Saône, meeting locals along the way with the aim of educating the general pubic, businesses and elected officials about the river world.

From August 18th onwards, the Entre Deux Mers Voyage will take in 12 ports, including Bordeaux, Sète, Lyon and Saint-Jean-de-Losne. Since 2011, this operation has been crossing regions irrigated by waterways. Each time the Tourmente drops anchor, the hold of this historic narrowboat from the Midi Canal (1934) is opened up to the public, filled with various propositions.

Free entry, 10am to 7pm

From 12/08 (2.15am) to 13/08 (13.30pm) – MARINA – Bordeaux
From 14/08 (7.00am) to 14/08 (12.00am) – DEUTSCHLAND – Le Verdon
From 14/08 (4.45pm) to 15/08 (4.30pm) – DEUTSCHLAND – Bordeaux
From 14/08 (5.00am) to 14/08 (12.00am) – SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR – Le Verdon
From 14/08 (5.15pm) to 15/08 (4.15pm) – SEVEN SEAS SPLENDOR – Bordeaux
From 16/08 (6.45am) to 17/08 (6.15am) – AMERA – Bordeaux
From 17/08 (11.00am) to 17/08 (6.00pm) – AMERA – Le Verdon
From 19/08 (9.15am) to  20/08 (8.00am) – WORLD VOYAGER – Bordeaux
From 21/08 (10.45am) to  22/08 (10.30am) – BREAEMAR – Bordeaux
From 22/08 (10.15am) to 23/08 (7.00pm) – WIND SURF – Grattequina
From 21/08 (8.00am) to  21/08 (7.00pm) – SEVEN SEAS NAVIGATOR – Le Verdon
From 23/08 (12.15am) to 25/08 (11.45am) – CRYSTAL SYMPHONY – Bordeaux
From 27/08 (3.00am) to 27/08 (3.00pm) – VEENDAM – Bassens

Access the 2020 program
Photo: mattcardinal – adobe.stock

This summer, the yacht Bougainville, owned by the cruise ship company PONANT, is to make Bordeaux her home port. This elegant boat with 92 luxurious cabins will travel up and down the Atlantic coast, allowing her passengers to discover the highlights of Gironde, Charente Maritime and the Basque Country.

This initiative is part of a national strategy which aims to showcase the strengths of French tourism. Throughout the summer, the company is offering 100% French cruises that depart from 5 great national ports: Bordeaux, Saint-Malo, Le Havre, Marseille and Nice.

The first cruise departing from Bordeaux, called ‘The Nature and Tradition of Nouvelle Aquitaine’ sets sail on 11th July, with the trip lasting for 8 days. At the moment of writing, 11 such cruises are set to leave from Bordeaux.

© Ponant/Philippe Plisson