The future of the Hermione is being played out at the La Rochelle commercial court

Will she finally have the wind in her sails? Will she have to lower the sails? The fate of’Hermionea replica of the frigate of the Marquis de La Fayette, will be played this Wednesday, January 28 before the commercial court of La Rochelle. While the owner association has been placed in receivership for six months, it will examine the prospect of an extension or liquidation, depending on the strength of the takeover files.

Former sailors who sailed on the Hermione will, for example, propose transforming it into a cooperative society of common interest, reports South West . Their project is in competition with that of Tugdual Jaouen, great-nephew of the “priest of the seas” Michel Jaouen, who proposes to collect contributions in exchange for sailing rights. Everyone must manage to continue the costly work undertaken on the boat, in dry dock in Bayonne.

Five million euros to find

“The restoration of the hull is estimated at 10 million euros. We have already invested 5 million and we have done more than half of the work”told the Monde Emilie Beau, head of the Hermione-La Fayette association. The funds provided by visits, member contributions, donations and contributions from public partners were not enough.

Attacked by devastating fungi, in dry dock since 2021, the frigate has undergone restorations on its hull for an amount of 5 million euros. But due to lack of sufficient funding, everything had to be stopped. Attendance dwindled and money became scarce. The Hermione-La Fayette association ardently hopes that the ship continues to play its role in transmitting navigational know-how. The court’s decision, according to South Westshould be known in the coming days.