"To reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing", explains Xavier Desmarest, "one of the subjects we found interesting to study, with the help of the Occitanie Region as part of the BIOBAT project, is replacing fiberglass with natural, biosourced fibers: hemp, bamboo, flax. We took on a major challenge for Roland Jourdain by building an Outremer 5X catamaran (60 ft) called We Explore, half of which is made from flax fibers. It proved its qualities by finishing second in its class in the recent Route du Rhum. We are now using it as a platform to develop new low-tech solutions, which we will ultimately adapt to ocean-going boats, which account for the bulk of our group's production".

 

"However, when it comes to resins, there's a blocking factor. The marine industry doesn't represent a big market for the few major international resin manufacturers, compared with other industrial sectors. Today, this is an obstacle. But the ecological transition is underway. We're confident that we'll be able to come up with increasingly sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions".

 

Éric Mabo adds: "The nautical industry has long been committed to the environmental transition. Before talking about construction, we should point out that in France we have APER, Europe's leading yacht dismantling industry, organized since 2019 in consultation with the manufacturers in our Federation. In this spirit, we have developed partnerships, particularly with the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB), to raise yachtsmen's awareness of the responsibility of their actions to respect the maritime environment, particularly in the Mediterranean with the posidonia issue".

 

Éric Mabo continues: "There are, of course, individual initiatives, such as the collaboration between Beneteau Group and the chemist Arkema to develop the recyclable thermoplastic resin "Elium" to make composites recyclable. Other initiatives exist on this theme, such as those of Windelo or Fountaine Pajot, for example".

 

Of course, the subject of innovation in yacht production also raises the question of the type of skills needed by shipyards, and therefore, more generally, employment and training.

 

"Yes, there are new professions emerging", says Xavier Desmarest, "particularly in data analysis, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Our challenge today is to recruit in the core skills of our business. The entire industry is concerned, and we're finding it hard to recruit anywhere in France. For example, at our production site of La Grande-Motte, we now have 55 job vacancies to fill: 40 in production, mainly in composites, joinery, electricity, plumbing and deck fittings; 15 in support functions. The key question is: How can we attract young people to these exciting professions, which have a lot going for them and are more attractive than many other jobs in industry? We need to promote our traditional professions more effectively".

 

Training seems to be at the heart of the employment and recruitment issue, but Xavier Desmarest qualifies this: "There are initial training courses that are satisfactory, but there are also people with initial professional experience who need to be accompanied towards new types of jobs. This is what we are developing in partnership with Pôle emploi, to create bridges from various professions to our own. In fact, we're pulling out all the stops to find solutions for recruiting, aided and abetted by all the solutions implemented in France, including work-study contracts. We are also committed to ensuring that once our employees are hired, they stay and flourish. This is achieved through induction courses, mentoring, training and quality of working life surveys".

 

Drawing on the experience acquired by the Fédération des Industries Nautiques, Éric Mabo adds: "The most important thing is to consider, company by company, what will make a young person want to join a yachting company rather than another sector. Yet, young people as a whole have three priorities: That my job makes sense. In other words: That what I do is useful. The second priority: Do I share the company's values? Environmental values, societal values. This is the "Employer Brand" concept. Third: What's in it for me? Interests in terms of personal fulfillment, working conditions and remuneration".

 

"It is these notions of attractiveness and loyalty that are essential for attracting young people and promoting the development of companies in the nautical industry", agreed Éric Mabo and Xavier Desmarest to conclude this round-table discussion.

As part of the stopover in the port of La Grande Motte of the catamaran LOVE THE OCEAN, the OceanoScientific association organized a round-table discussion on board between Xavier Desmarest (Grand Large Yachting / left)

and Éric Mabo (Fédération des Industries Nautiques / right), moderated by Yvan Griboval (OceanoScientific). 

On the agenda: carbon-free yachting and employment. Photo OceanoScientific

Focused since its creation in January 2011 on raising awareness among elementary schoolchildren (CM1 - CM2)

of the wonders of the Ocean, and the need to respect and love it, OceanoScientific welcomed on board two classes (CM1)

from the André Malraux school in La Grande Motte, with the presence of Stéphan Rossignol, Mayor of La Grande Motte,

who is deeply committed to preserving nature, and in particular Mediterranean sea turtles. Photo OceanoScientific

Based on the principle that the strongest vocations are born early, Yvan Griboval passed on his passion to the children

of the Sailing School at the Yacht Club de La Grande Motte, hoping to see them realize their dreams as young racers. 

Photo OceanoScientific