Atlantic weather has again pushed back the final leg of the Anne-de-Bretagne Bridge deck delivery, with the transport convoy returning to shelter off Belle-Île after briefly reaching the waiting area outside Saint-Nazaire.
The semi-submersible heavy transport vessel Trustee, operated by Boskalis, arrived near the Loire estuary approaches on 17 February 2026. With another wind event affecting the French Atlantic coast, the vessel shifted back to sheltered waters on 18 February 2026, delaying the planned discharge of the deck and barge for the upriver move toward Nantes.
Local reporting indicates a calmer window is expected over the weekend, which would allow marine teams to resume the offload sequence once sea-state and wind conditions meet safety limits. No exact arrival date in Nantes has been confirmed, but the deck is now expected to reach its destination next week if the forecast holds.
The shipment is a milestone within Nantes Métropole’s wider transformation of the Anne-de-Bretagne crossing into a “bridge-square” designed to prioritize public transport and active mobility. The programme is linked to the rollout of two new tram lines (L6 and L7) planned for service from late 2027, while the bridge works are scheduled to continue through to the end of 2027.
Operationally, the choice of a semi-submersible transport asset reflects the sensitivity of large steel structures to Atlantic winter conditions. Industry sources describe Trustee as a purpose-built heavy transport vessel of about 216.8 m length and 44.5 m beam, designed for high-capacity cargo movements that still require conservative weather decision-making near exposed approaches.
