VESSEL REVIEW | Alcyon – New tour boat for trips around France's Calanques National Park

“The owner required excellent stability, smooth motion, and very low noise and vibration levels, as well as efficient passenger flow,” said Gonnetand. “These expectations directly influenced key design choices, including an exceptionally wide beam for the vessel’s length, generous deck spaces, a bright and naturally ventilated saloon, and full PMR [personne à mobilité réduite, i.e., person with reduced mobility] accessibility, with dedicated boarding arrangements and sanitary facilities.”

The brief also focused on ease of manoeuvring and crew efficiency. This led to the integration of dual side control stations, a large and ergonomic upper deck wheelhouse, and a general layout designed to simplify embarkation, disembarkation, and daily operations.

The side control stations help improve manoeuvring precision and safety during docking and close-quarter operations, while the air-conditioned wheelhouse – which Gonnetand said is generous in size for a vessel of this category – provides enhanced visibility and working conditions for the crew even during the summer and winter months.

“Finally, the owner was seeking a vessel that would reinforce the operator’s brand image and offer operational flexibility for different activities, including tourism and diving operations. Alcyon was therefore conceived as a future-proof, versatile, and environmentally responsible passenger vessel, fully aligned with the owner’s operational and strategic objectives.”