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A site affected by the absence of a title of occupancy
The cessation of activity at the Estérel shipyard, located between Port Canto in Cannes and the island of Sainte-Marguerite, is the result of a legal and administrative tangle that has led the French government to refuse any new authorization to occupy the public maritime domain. The Prefecture has confirmed that the company has not had a legal title for several years. Two applications for renewal submitted in 2019 and 2024 were unsuccessful, mainly due to a financial dispute between the State and the operating company.
The Direction départementale des finances publiques has blocked the issuing of a favorable notice due to unpaid and disputed royalties. In a press release, the prefecture stated that " maintaining the site is not compatible with the body of regulations that apply to the public maritime domain" and that " it is therefore not possible to issue a new authorization for this site."
Social consequences and ongoing dismantling
The yard's president, Claus Johansen, declared that the company was no longer in a position to continue its activities without legal and insurance cover. A judicial liquidation procedure is underway, with the arrival of a trustee scheduled for the week following the announcement. The site, which employed up to twenty people in high season, will have at least five immediate redundancies.
Site teams ensured the technical and environmental recovery of the site. "We've cleaned up and restored the site" said Claus Johansen.
A legacy of almost 90 years
Founded in 1936, the Estérel shipyard has its roots in even older infrastructures. As early as 1934, the first towing carriage was installed on Sainte-Marguerite Island, to repair ships damaged during the war. The company really took shape after the Second World War, specializing in the construction of mahogany plywood launches. It contributed to the renown of the Cannes region's naval expertise.
Uncertain prospects for the future development of the site
The Ville de Cannes recognizes that the company " has contributed to the reputation of Cannes' nautical know-how" while recalling that the activity was carried out on a state-owned estate. No concrete announcement has been made on the future of the site or its possible reconversion, but the municipality " hopes that a buyer will eventually be able to preserve the activity and know-how linked to this emblematic site."
