 On the eve of the 1980s, the Cherbourg agglomeration was hit by several violent social conflicts, particularly due to the closure of the Babcock factories.The major decisions of the public authorities, on which Cherbourg has depended for many centuries, and the nuclear industry, caused a deep economic crisis in the 1990s.The Arsenal was drastically downsized, the Northern Fleet (FLONOR) moved to Brest in 1992, and the closed.