With the Trimaran III contract, the French Navy has placed its trust in the expertise of the CLS group (Collecte Localization Satellites), based in Toulouse, to provide its sea monitoring service by satellites.
"As a French company, it is a source of pride to serve the French authorities", rejoices Nadia Maaref, director of maritime safety at CLS.
“It's a success because this contract mobilizes the quintessence of the group's skills.
A real recognition of our know-how, ”she continues.
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With more than 11 million km², France has the second largest maritime domain in the world, which requires significant resources. For four years, CLS will therefore work on data from 300 satellites in order to carry out monitoring missions. "This can range from the fight against illegal fishing or illicit trafficking to monitoring ice in the polar areas through the fight against pollution or search and rescue on the high seas", specifies Nadia Maaref, who ensures that, thanks to using polar and geostationary satellites, CLS will be active 24/7. About twenty people will be called upon to work on this project on a day-to-day basis, from data collection to their analysis and processing, in Toulouse and Brest (Finistère). The group of 800 people has also strengthened its teams over the past year,in anticipation.
“Technology is constantly evolving and we have to be at the cutting edge. This contract is a great business card because the French Navy has many international collaborations ”, concludes Nadia Maaref, while CLS recorded a turnover of around 140 M € in 2020.
