SOCIETE D'INGENIERIE DE RECHERCHESET D'ETUDES EN HYDRODYNAMIQUE NAVALE

Their core work

SIREHNA is a French naval hydrodynamics engineering firm that develops solutions for ship design, performance optimization, and environmental compliance. Their core work spans ship motion prediction, hull form optimization, and increasingly, underwater radiated noise reduction. They bring specialized simulation and testing capabilities to large maritime R&D consortia, contributing engineering expertise on fuel efficiency, advanced materials integration, and condition monitoring systems for vessels. They also apply their sensor and platform expertise to maritime surveillance and command-and-control systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), SIREHNA focused on clean shipping — methanol fuels, retrofitting, and fuel efficiency improvements — alongside a parallel track in maritime border surveillance and command-and-control systems. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward environmental impact: underwater radiated noise, advanced materials for sustainable ships, and the development of measurement standards. This trajectory shows a company moving from operational efficiency toward environmental compliance and regulation-readiness in the maritime sector.

SIREHNA is moving toward environmental regulatory compliance for shipping, particularly underwater noise — a field where EU and IMO regulations are tightening rapidly, making them a timely partner for green maritime projects.

How they like to work

SIREHNA never coordinates projects but contributes as a specialist within large consortia — their 157 unique partners across 25 countries confirm they integrate well into big collaborative frameworks. Notably, half their projects (3 of 6) are as a third party rather than direct participant, suggesting they are often brought in for specific hydrodynamics or simulation expertise by consortium members who know their capabilities. This makes them a reliable, low-friction technical contributor rather than a project driver.

With 157 unique consortium partners across 25 countries, SIREHNA has an exceptionally broad European network relative to their project count, reflecting participation in very large transport and security consortia. Their reach spans Western and Southern Europe's major maritime research hubs.

What sets them apart

SIREHNA occupies a niche at the intersection of naval hydrodynamics engineering and environmental impact assessment — few private companies combine deep ship design expertise with emerging capabilities in underwater noise science. Their location in Bouguenais (Nantes metropolitan area, a major French shipbuilding hub) gives them proximity to naval industry and testing facilities. For consortium builders, they offer a rare combination: a company that understands both the physics of ship performance and the regulatory trajectory of maritime environmental standards.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HOLISHIP
  Largest single funding (EUR 537,500) and addressed full life-cycle ship optimization — a comprehensive design challenge requiring deep hydrodynamic expertise.
• SATURN
  Their most recent project (2021–2025) on underwater radiated noise signals a strategic pivot toward a high-growth regulatory area in maritime environmental policy.
• CAMELOT
  Demonstrates cross-domain capability — applying maritime platform expertise to security and unmanned systems, showing versatility beyond commercial shipping.