Atlantic weather has again slowed the final stage of the Anne-de-Bretagne Bridge deck delivery, with the transport convoy returning to sheltered waters off Belle-Île after briefly reaching the standby area outside Saint-Nazaire.
On 22 February 2026, the semi-submersible heavy transport vessel Trustee, operated by Boskalis, was photographed near Belle-Île-en-Mer (Morbihan), anchored offshore from Le Palais with the steel deck still on board. The image was taken by an Ouest-France press correspondent using a telephoto lens.The
Trustee 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 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 prioritise 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 exposed conditions along Atlantic approaches. 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.
Source: OUEST-FRANCE
