"Teams heading the project"

Prime contractor

At the beginning of the Hermione project, the CRAIN (Research Center for Nautical Industry and Architecture) located in La Rochelle and managed by Philippe Pallu de la Barrière, conducted preliminary studies and drafted the first general layout. The CRAIN conducted analyses on the Hermione's behavior at sea and its stability, with particular usage of computerized simulation.

Today, it is a naval architect, Mr. Guy RIBADEAU DUMAS, established in Couëron, near Nantes, who is in charge of overseeing construction and progress.
His team is experienced in wooden construction, historical ship restoration and several large- sized units, including a learning schooner for Finland.

Businesses

Subsequent to the call for bids launched in 1995, the Hermione-La Fayette Association selected the Asselin firm to construct the Hermione's frame. Established in Thouars (Deux-Sèvres department), Asselin's core business is the restoration of historical monuments. The company's skill in woodworking and its teams' know-how, backed up by naval carpenters, guarantee the quality of its accomplishments.

Heading the company is François Asselin, a dynamic young CEO, managing a team of dedicated professionals. Joël Berthelot is in charge of wood supply, Jacques Haie is construction site manager, Jean Thomas is the team's model designer, drafter and historian, all in one. Eight carpenters complete the team.

This group is backed up by young interns or trainees from integration programs.

Find out more about Asselin on www.asselin.fr

In 2000, the Hermione-La Fayette Association asked a firm from Rochefort, AMI, to set up a metalwork shop on the construction site.

Since early summer 2005, MÉTALNÉO, a company specializing in metal solutions, again based in Rochefort, has been handling the site's metalworking needs.
A team of 3 blacksmiths craft a number of the ship's parts, before an attentive audience.

Find out more about Métalnéo on www.metalneo.com

Finally, quite recently, experts from Alexandre Genoud Bateaux Bois, a company based in a town neighboring Rochefort called Fouras, have joined our other partners and are now in charge of the woodworking shop.
Alexandre Genoud and his crew of naval carpenters supervised the construction of the Hermione's “little boat”, a 6.50-meter wooden vessel that is one of the 3 tenders aboard the frigate.
Since then, it has been working on producing the 26 gun carriages for the battery bridge.

As work progresses, until its completion, companies from various other fields and businesses, offering other types of skills and expertise, will in turn make their contribution to the project.

Visitors

The Hermione-La Fayette Association is supported by the qualified team at the Centre International de la Mer who welcomes and guides visitors throughout the site.