Testimonials

Interview

Marc Geffroy, Project Manager – Louis Dreyfus TravOcean

1/ What has been your career path so far?

I always have been attracted to the sea, so it was natural for me to get specialized in Ocean Engineering during my studies at Centrale Marseille Engineering School.
I wanted to start my career with an operational experience. I had the opportunity to do my end-of-studies internship at the Toulon naval base. The company was in charge of the maintenance of the French navy ships. As an assistant project manager, I was lucky to be involved in the disarming of the Dupleix Anti Submarine Frigate. During the second part of my internship I was in charge of the technical stop of the Gapaud landing barge, which was connecting the Levant Island and Hyeres.
In addition to this “field” approach, I wanted to travel. This is why I applied for a project engineer position at Louis Dreyfus Travocean, which seemed to tick all the boxes.

I started to work at the La Ciotat office in 2015. Since then, I have gained experience in submarine cables installation, repair or burial in Telecom, oil and gas and even offshore windfarm markets.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role / your missions?

I am mainly in charge of managing different service agreement contracts: supply of ROVs and personnel to assist one of our clients during offshore windfarm inter-array cables installation and burial.
In addition to this long-term mission, I am involved in different submarine cable installation or burial projects.
My job starts, as soon as the contract is awarded, by a preparation phase: project documentation, definition of the technical solutions to be implemented, follow-up of equipment preparation on our different sites, purchasing, logistics…
This initial stage is followed by an operation phase on the project location, starting by organising the mobilisation of the equipment on the chosen vessel. Then, depending on the project, I am either involved in the operation on land or at sea.

3/ How did your position evolve in the LDA Group?

I was hired as a project engineer in 2015 and gained a strong experience thanks to the variety of projects I was involved in and the trust I was given by the company. About a year ago, I became a project manager, working on various projects at the same time.

4/ What do you like the most in this job?

The great diversity of projects: in the space of a few months I can go from working on the burial of a seismic cable in an oil field in Norway, to the laying of shore ends in the United Kingdom or Argentina, and finish by the mobilisation of various ROVs in Poland on a vessel dedicated to the laying and burial of offshore windfarm inter-array cables. All of this during a global pandemic !

5/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

I think you must be very curious, be self-sufficient and able to adapt to different situations: operational and weather conditions on site can change very quickly. Also you need to have good interpersonal and communication skills. This job involves working with a lot of different people and cultures.

6/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share about your job?

In 2016, following a storm in the English Channel, 4 network cables between the United Kingdom and France were damaged close to Dover. Louis Dreyfus Travocean had to perform a repair very quickly. Almost 12 months later, we got a call informing us that the network was damaged again, but on the French side this time. It is a rare event in the life cycle of this kind of cable, and I was lucky to be involved in both projects with very different technical solutions, within a year.

To bounce back on funnier statistics: before I started to work for Louis Dreyfus Travocean, I had only been on a plane twice… Since then, I have stopped counting !

7/ Are you a land or sea person?

I would say a mix of both: I am a littoral person.

8/ What are your hobbies and interests?

I really like outdoor activities whether at sea (sailing, diving…) or in the mountains (skiing, hiking…).

9/ What is your motto?

I don’t really have a motto but I always try to learn something from every situation, whether difficult or not.

Podcast ????️ ????

Do you wish to learn more about newbuilding at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group?

So, take a time to listen to the podcast by Pierre-Arthur Fortin, our Newbuilding engineer at EPI  Engineering, Projects, Innovation department!

Click here!

Podcast made by Cluster Maritime Français.

Interview

Nagasubramani Balakrishnan, Procurement Officer at LDPL Middle East

1/ What has been your career path so far?

After completion of my bachelor’s in Mechanical engineering, I started my career in Logistics and Supply Chain. My passion for Maritime kept growing, for which I moved to Dubai, to start a career in the Maritime Industry. Before starting my career in LDPL, the experience I gained in the other companies helped increase my quality of work in LDPL. My journey in LDPL MIDDLE EAST started in December 2018 as a Procurement Officer. The amount of knowledge I gained in these past 2 years, will help me carve my path towards a better future in LDPL.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role / your missions?

It began with managing the procurement & logistics of spares for the Dubai and Guinea fleet. As a procurement officer, my major tasks revolve around sourcing of spare parts for the vessel. My main mission would be to abide by the delivering of the right parts, at the right place, and at a right quantity.

3/ What do you like the most about the job?

LDPL has one of the finest working environments I have ever experienced. Coming to work has been a delight, because of the working environment LDPL offers. My colleagues here are a treat to talk and mingle with. The everyday experience is what keeps me attracted to this job.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

The 2 years I have spent here have turned me into a better person. The qualities that I feel one must certainly have as a Procurement Officer is the ability to work hard, be focused and have great communication skills.

5/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share about your job?

Responsiveness. During the pandemic time, planning & shipment of spares was a difficult and challenging task. With the support of my Manager & my team, we were successful in shipping out the items to Dubai & Conakry without any delay.

6/ Are you a land or a sea person?

As much as I enjoy being in office, the sea offers thrills of its own. The small opportunities we get to be on board with other crew members is what I call a total joy ride.

7/ What are your hobbies and interests?

Watching football is one of my favourite ways to pass my leisure time. Apart from that, music and movies keep me entertained.

8/ What is your motto?

The only way to do great work is love what you do.

Interview

Tanvi Desai, Admin and HR Supervisor

1 / Could you tell us more about your career path and your current position?

I started working with LDPL MIDDLE EAST in November 2018 as Polyvalent Executive Assistance. As a newcomer in the Marine and Transshipment industry, I got an opportunity to explore different departments such as Technical, Operations, Purchasing, QHSE, Crewing to understand each department’s job role and importance related to the activities. With learning and experiencing on day to day basis, I strengthen my knowledge, skills, and abilities which were required to move on to my next step and position as Admin and HR Supervisor in July 2020.

2 / What has your career path been like at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group / LDPL?

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group / LDPL has strong leadership approach. Leaders and managers create strong relationship with employees and always encourage for feedback. This attitude from my leaders always gives me positive energy and to be challenged, constant learning and grow.

3 / What do you like most about your job?

As a part of Human Resource, I enjoy helping Employees and Managers improve the effectiveness of an organization.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

Integrity, Good listener and Navigate the Organization.

5/ What are your hobbies and interests?

My hobbies are listening to music, drawing animation and I am interested in Sports such as fitness training and traveling.

6/ Are you a land or sea person?

Land while working and sea while on holidays! ????

7/ What is your motto?

If you can dream it, you can make it.

8/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share?

Reactivity! During operation we encountered that one of the employees got COVID-19. As work must continue, I had to look for an alternate option as a group of employees had to quarantine till they get their negative PCR test. Immediately I found an alternate option for drivers through our agent to drive bus and car to drop other employees at the site area. Everything was arranged and there was no distraction during the operation. Also, follow-up was done with quarantine employees to ensure that they are well looked after.

******

Thank you very much Tanvi !

Interview

Baptiste Manrot, Captain

1/ What has been your career path so far ?

I grew up in a family who has always been passionate about the sea, but I was the first one to get a job out of it. I started my career right after secondary school. In 1999, I went to a boarding school in La Rochelle to take a two-year course in marine mechanics. In 2001, I obtained an engine specialist certificate and a certificate of vocational proficiency as a third-class engineer officer. I had a summer job as a diesel engineer with engine manufacturer Wärtsilä.

I attended a preparatory class and passed the entrance exam to the Maritime Academy in Saint-Malo in 2003. In 2005, I graduated as a second-class officer in the merchant navy. I went to sea as a student with the Compagnie Maritime Nantaise (MN) and La Surf and became a versatile officer in April 2006.
I embarked for the first few months as a third engineer on the RoRo vessels carrying the Ariane 5 rocket and as a deck lieutenant on a three-masted ship named Belem.

I left the MN to join LOUIS DREYFUS ARMATEURS in 2007 and embarked directly as a third-class engineer officer on the EDOUARD LD until the end of the year. In 2008, my credentials allowed me to take a course for second-class officers to enter the last year of first-class officers’ studies. During this time, I stayed on the EDOUARD LD until the ship was sold in Malaysia. I was then transferred to the bulk carrier JEAN LD in Singapore until September 2008.

In 2009, I obtained my first-class officer’s diploma at the Maritime Academy in Le Havre and started to work on the cable ship LODBROG. I stayed on cable ships until 2012 when I became Chief Mate on the ILE DE SEIN. In late 2017, I joined ASN Marine to work in vessel support, then as an installation engineer, while taking part in tool design for cable operations. In November 2019, having realised I missed the sea, I went back to it as a Master on ILE D’AIX.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role ?

I am a Master and Operation Manager. I organise operations with my crew while ensuring the monitoring and management of the vessel. This role has been very rewarding on a personal and professional level. I am proud of it and proud to represent the company on board the ship. I like the decision-making aspect of my job but also the human side – I enjoy being close to my team.

3/ What do you like the most in this job ?

Being at sea in a fast-changing environment, having the trust of my crew and being able to rely on them too.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job ?

Sense of responsibility / Organisation skills / Ability to stay calm.

5/ What are your hobbies and interests ?

My family, the sea – even when I am on vacation (I enjoy diving and sailing) and inventing or building things.

6/ Are you a land or sea person ?

Definitely a sea person. I have often considered living on a boat with my family.

7/ What is your motto ?

Learn from others but stay true to yourself.

8/Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share ?

I was lucky – like many others I suppose – to meet and work for a few years with someone with a strong personality: Master Dhainaut. His famous “NOWWW” will go down in history. So will the moment when, during a docking, he said over the radio to the lieutenant who was arguing that the hawser was too soft, “no, it is you who are soft”.
Another memorable event was the fire on ILE DE SEIN. I was Chief Mate and I used a CO² fire extinguisher at Philippe Kervella’s command. It was a sad spectacle to see the ship so damaged.

******

Thank you Captain!

Interview

Série de témoignages « De la terre à la mer »

Jean-Christophe Vaillant, Responsable opérationnel OPENR

1/ Pourrais-tu te présenter et nous résumer ton parcours ?

Jeune, j’avais plutôt une volonté de me tourner vers un métier en relation avec la nature mais mon intérêt pour la technologie m’a dirigé vers la gestion des énergies. Le mixte de ces deux appétences m’a mené vers les énergies renouvelables et plus particulièrement l’éolien ; qui en 1994, n’était pas réellement en France le moyen de production le plus porteur malgré un développement fulgurant à l’international. J’ai intégré la seule formation supérieure ayant un volet d’enseignement sur ce sujet à Bordeaux le DESS Gestion des Énergies Renouvelables. A l’issue de de cette formation, j’ai rejoint le 1er Bureau d’étude français œuvrant pour le développement de la filière éolienne : Espace Eolien Développement.

La technologie a évolué puisque les premières éoliennes sur lesquelles je suis intervenu en Espagne ne faisaient que 30-50 mètres de haut pour une puissance de 200 kW. Loin de la technologie mature d’aujourd’hui avec des éoliennes dépassant les 5000 kW pour des hauteurs de plus de 130-150 mètres de haut. J’ai pu passer de missions de développements et d’analyses des gisements, à responsable de construction et responsable d’exploitation de centrales éoliennes.
La création de la société OPENR avec Jean-Jacques VINAT m’a permis d’avancer plus encore sur les questions d’exploitations et d’inspections des éoliennes avec toujours une volonté d’optimisation de la disponibilité de ce moyen de production qui est devenu l’une des sources d’approvisionnement renouvelable majeur d’électricité dans le réseau français et Mondial.
L’étape suivante étant l’éolien offshore, le rapprochement avec le Groupe Louis Dreyfus Armateurs est apparu rapidement comme une évidence. Il a permis d’ouvrir le champ au développement de nouvelles activités d’OPENR sur ce nouveau marché de production d’électricité à partir d’une ressource renouvelable.

2/ Quel est ton poste actuel ?

Actuellement responsable opérationnel au sein d’OPENR, mon rôle est d’organiser le fonctionnement et le développement des missions réalisées pour nos clients mais aussi de développer de nouvelles activités. Dans une structure de petite taille comme OPENR, ce rôle mixe des fonctions de gestion des relation humaines, de responsable de la Qualité, de la Sécurité et de l’Environnement, de formateur , de responsable Technique sur les sujets de vérifications réglementaires, de responsable des achats et de garant au sein de l’équipe de direction de l’équilibre des budgets dans le cadre d’un développement solide d’OPENR.

3/ Une formation pour passer de la terre à la mer…Pourrais-tu nous raconter brièvement cette nouvelle aventure ?

Une formation pour passer de la terre à la mer ? Issu d’un milieu paysan, ma relation avec l’océan ne s’est résumée qu’aux loisirs sur la côte bretonne avec un attrait important pour la plongée. Mon implication dans le développement de la filière éolienne terrestre en France m’a éloigné de la mer, bien que je sois resté en contact via quelques cartes SHOM utilisées dans différentes études sur lesquelles je suis intervenu pour évaluer le potentiel éolien dans l’espace maritime de la métropole française.
N’étant pas marin de métier, l’apprentissage de quelques rudiments de survie en mer s’avère nécessaire. C’est cependant la seule exigence complémentaire hormis celle qui ne peut pas être apprise qui est de supporter le mal de mer. Mes expériences de plongées sous-marines ou d’interventions sur des bouées de mesures du vent, ajoutées au fait que l’oscillation des éoliennes s’apparente au tangage me permettent de ne pas appréhender ce mal.
La principale conclusion de cette formation est que, comme dans le cadre du travail en hauteur, il ne faut jamais tomber ; lors du travail en milieu marin, il ne faut jamais tomber à l’eau.

4/ Quelles sont les 3 qualités essentielles pour réussir dans ton métier et ton nouveau métier ?

Travailler dans l’éolien nécessite un peu d’engagement politique car ce moyen de production d’électricité est particulièrement soumis à polémique dans notre société française et il faut être prêt à répondre aux questions légitimes qui peuvent être posées en dehors de la sphère professionnelle.
En tant que responsable opérationnel, il n’y a pas vraiment de nouveau métier, c’est plutôt une continuité avec l’ajout d’une perspective supplémentaire. La capacité à fédérer autour d’un projet commun reste l’une des qualités majeures et un défi à réaliser avec l’augmentation des effectifs au sein d’OPENR.
Le corollaire de la qualité précédente est l’aptitude à l’écoute et la prise en compte des implications et inquiétudes de l’équipe que constitue OPENR.

La difficulté étant la distanciation déjà présente dans notre activité avec une dispersion des équipes sur le territoire. L’augmentation des effectifs et amplifiée dernièrement par la période de crise sanitaire.

5/ Qu’apprécies-tu plus particulièrement dans ton métier ?

L’implication dans la filière éolienne est un choix assumé qui a une tendance à déborder sur ma vie privée. Je ne dirais pas que c’est un sacerdoce, mais se réaliser dans cette filière et ce métier avec le sentiment d’agir pour la planète apporte une certaine fierté. Au sein d’OPENR de nombreuses opportunités s’ouvrent et la synergie avec LDA permet d’envisager encore plus de projets en accord avec mes convictions. Ce métier permet donc d’être pleinement acteur dans le changement en cours de notre société.

6/ Une anecdote ? Un fait marquant à propos de ton métier et de son évolution ?

C’est lorsque j’ai pris la décision de me former dans l’éolien, alors qu’il était plus facile de trouver une formation sur la physique nucléaire ; il a encore été plus difficile de trouver une société intervenant dans l’éolien, elles se comptaient à l’époque sur les doigts d’une main. Quel chemin parcouru en 20 ans !

7/ La mer ou la terre ?

L’énergie renouvelable et éolienne avant tout où qu’elle soit.

******

Merci Jean-Christophe pour ce témoignage très inspirant !

Interview

Marc Geffroy, Project Manager – Louis Dreyfus TravOcean

1/ What has been your career path so far?

I always have been attracted to the sea, so it was natural for me to get specialized in Ocean Engineering during my studies at Centrale Marseille Engineering School.
I wanted to start my career with an operational experience. I had the opportunity to do my end-of-studies internship at the Toulon naval base. The company was in charge of the maintenance of the French navy ships. As an assistant project manager, I was lucky to be involved in the disarming of the Dupleix Anti Submarine Frigate. During the second part of my internship I was in charge of the technical stop of the Gapaud landing barge, which was connecting the Levant Island and Hyeres.
In addition to this “field” approach, I wanted to travel. This is why I applied for a project engineer position at Louis Dreyfus Travocean, which seemed to tick all the boxes.

I started to work at the La Ciotat office in 2015. Since then, I have gained experience in submarine cables installation, repair or burial in Telecom, oil and gas and even offshore windfarm markets.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role / your missions?

I am mainly in charge of managing different service agreement contracts: supply of ROVs and personnel to assist one of our clients during offshore windfarm inter-array cables installation and burial.
In addition to this long-term mission, I am involved in different submarine cable installation or burial projects.
My job starts, as soon as the contract is awarded, by a preparation phase: project documentation, definition of the technical solutions to be implemented, follow-up of equipment preparation on our different sites, purchasing, logistics…
This initial stage is followed by an operation phase on the project location, starting by organising the mobilisation of the equipment on the chosen vessel. Then, depending on the project, I am either involved in the operation on land or at sea.

3/ How did your position evolve in the LDA Group?

I was hired as a project engineer in 2015 and gained a strong experience thanks to the variety of projects I was involved in and the trust I was given by the company. About a year ago, I became a project manager, working on various projects at the same time.

4/ What do you like the most in this job?

The great diversity of projects: in the space of a few months I can go from working on the burial of a seismic cable in an oil field in Norway, to the laying of shore ends in the United Kingdom or Argentina, and finish by the mobilisation of various ROVs in Poland on a vessel dedicated to the laying and burial of offshore windfarm inter-array cables. All of this during a global pandemic !

5/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

I think you must be very curious, be self-sufficient and able to adapt to different situations: operational and weather conditions on site can change very quickly. Also you need to have good interpersonal and communication skills. This job involves working with a lot of different people and cultures.

6/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share about your job?

In 2016, following a storm in the English Channel, 4 network cables between the United Kingdom and France were damaged close to Dover. Louis Dreyfus Travocean had to perform a repair very quickly. Almost 12 months later, we got a call informing us that the network was damaged again, but on the French side this time. It is a rare event in the life cycle of this kind of cable, and I was lucky to be involved in both projects with very different technical solutions, within a year.

To bounce back on funnier statistics: before I started to work for Louis Dreyfus Travocean, I had only been on a plane twice… Since then, I have stopped counting !

7/ Are you a land or sea person?

I would say a mix of both: I am a littoral person.

8/ What are your hobbies and interests?

I really like outdoor activities whether at sea (sailing, diving…) or in the mountains (skiing, hiking…).

9/ What is your motto?

I don’t really have a motto but I always try to learn something from every situation, whether difficult or not.

Podcast ????️ ????

Do you wish to learn more about newbuilding at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group?

So, take a time to listen to the podcast by Pierre-Arthur Fortin, our Newbuilding engineer at EPI  Engineering, Projects, Innovation department!

Click here!

Podcast made by Cluster Maritime Français.

Interview

Nagasubramani Balakrishnan, Procurement Officer at LDPL Middle East

1/ What has been your career path so far?

After completion of my bachelor’s in Mechanical engineering, I started my career in Logistics and Supply Chain. My passion for Maritime kept growing, for which I moved to Dubai, to start a career in the Maritime Industry. Before starting my career in LDPL, the experience I gained in the other companies helped increase my quality of work in LDPL. My journey in LDPL MIDDLE EAST started in December 2018 as a Procurement Officer. The amount of knowledge I gained in these past 2 years, will help me carve my path towards a better future in LDPL.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role / your missions?

It began with managing the procurement & logistics of spares for the Dubai and Guinea fleet. As a procurement officer, my major tasks revolve around sourcing of spare parts for the vessel. My main mission would be to abide by the delivering of the right parts, at the right place, and at a right quantity.

3/ What do you like the most about the job?

LDPL has one of the finest working environments I have ever experienced. Coming to work has been a delight, because of the working environment LDPL offers. My colleagues here are a treat to talk and mingle with. The everyday experience is what keeps me attracted to this job.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

The 2 years I have spent here have turned me into a better person. The qualities that I feel one must certainly have as a Procurement Officer is the ability to work hard, be focused and have great communication skills.

5/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share about your job?

Responsiveness. During the pandemic time, planning & shipment of spares was a difficult and challenging task. With the support of my Manager & my team, we were successful in shipping out the items to Dubai & Conakry without any delay.

6/ Are you a land or a sea person?

As much as I enjoy being in office, the sea offers thrills of its own. The small opportunities we get to be on board with other crew members is what I call a total joy ride.

7/ What are your hobbies and interests?

Watching football is one of my favourite ways to pass my leisure time. Apart from that, music and movies keep me entertained.

8/ What is your motto?

The only way to do great work is love what you do.

Interview

Tanvi Desai, Admin and HR Supervisor

1 / Could you tell us more about your career path and your current position?

I started working with LDPL MIDDLE EAST in November 2018 as Polyvalent Executive Assistance. As a newcomer in the Marine and Transshipment industry, I got an opportunity to explore different departments such as Technical, Operations, Purchasing, QHSE, Crewing to understand each department’s job role and importance related to the activities. With learning and experiencing on day to day basis, I strengthen my knowledge, skills, and abilities which were required to move on to my next step and position as Admin and HR Supervisor in July 2020.

2 / What has your career path been like at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group / LDPL?

Louis Dreyfus Armateurs Group / LDPL has strong leadership approach. Leaders and managers create strong relationship with employees and always encourage for feedback. This attitude from my leaders always gives me positive energy and to be challenged, constant learning and grow.

3 / What do you like most about your job?

As a part of Human Resource, I enjoy helping Employees and Managers improve the effectiveness of an organization.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job?

Integrity, Good listener and Navigate the Organization.

5/ What are your hobbies and interests?

My hobbies are listening to music, drawing animation and I am interested in Sports such as fitness training and traveling.

6/ Are you a land or sea person?

Land while working and sea while on holidays! ????

7/ What is your motto?

If you can dream it, you can make it.

8/ Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share?

Reactivity! During operation we encountered that one of the employees got COVID-19. As work must continue, I had to look for an alternate option as a group of employees had to quarantine till they get their negative PCR test. Immediately I found an alternate option for drivers through our agent to drive bus and car to drop other employees at the site area. Everything was arranged and there was no distraction during the operation. Also, follow-up was done with quarantine employees to ensure that they are well looked after.

******

Thank you very much Tanvi !

Interview

Baptiste Manrot, Captain

1/ What has been your career path so far ?

I grew up in a family who has always been passionate about the sea, but I was the first one to get a job out of it. I started my career right after secondary school. In 1999, I went to a boarding school in La Rochelle to take a two-year course in marine mechanics. In 2001, I obtained an engine specialist certificate and a certificate of vocational proficiency as a third-class engineer officer. I had a summer job as a diesel engineer with engine manufacturer Wärtsilä.

I attended a preparatory class and passed the entrance exam to the Maritime Academy in Saint-Malo in 2003. In 2005, I graduated as a second-class officer in the merchant navy. I went to sea as a student with the Compagnie Maritime Nantaise (MN) and La Surf and became a versatile officer in April 2006.
I embarked for the first few months as a third engineer on the RoRo vessels carrying the Ariane 5 rocket and as a deck lieutenant on a three-masted ship named Belem.

I left the MN to join LOUIS DREYFUS ARMATEURS in 2007 and embarked directly as a third-class engineer officer on the EDOUARD LD until the end of the year. In 2008, my credentials allowed me to take a course for second-class officers to enter the last year of first-class officers’ studies. During this time, I stayed on the EDOUARD LD until the ship was sold in Malaysia. I was then transferred to the bulk carrier JEAN LD in Singapore until September 2008.

In 2009, I obtained my first-class officer’s diploma at the Maritime Academy in Le Havre and started to work on the cable ship LODBROG. I stayed on cable ships until 2012 when I became Chief Mate on the ILE DE SEIN. In late 2017, I joined ASN Marine to work in vessel support, then as an installation engineer, while taking part in tool design for cable operations. In November 2019, having realised I missed the sea, I went back to it as a Master on ILE D’AIX.

2/ Could you tell us more about your current role ?

I am a Master and Operation Manager. I organise operations with my crew while ensuring the monitoring and management of the vessel. This role has been very rewarding on a personal and professional level. I am proud of it and proud to represent the company on board the ship. I like the decision-making aspect of my job but also the human side – I enjoy being close to my team.

3/ What do you like the most in this job ?

Being at sea in a fast-changing environment, having the trust of my crew and being able to rely on them too.

4/ Could you name 3 must-have qualities for this job ?

Sense of responsibility / Organisation skills / Ability to stay calm.

5/ What are your hobbies and interests ?

My family, the sea – even when I am on vacation (I enjoy diving and sailing) and inventing or building things.

6/ Are you a land or sea person ?

Definitely a sea person. I have often considered living on a boat with my family.

7/ What is your motto ?

Learn from others but stay true to yourself.

8/Any anecdote or major fact you would like to share ?

I was lucky – like many others I suppose – to meet and work for a few years with someone with a strong personality: Master Dhainaut. His famous “NOWWW” will go down in history. So will the moment when, during a docking, he said over the radio to the lieutenant who was arguing that the hawser was too soft, “no, it is you who are soft”.
Another memorable event was the fire on ILE DE SEIN. I was Chief Mate and I used a CO² fire extinguisher at Philippe Kervella’s command. It was a sad spectacle to see the ship so damaged.

******

Thank you Captain!

Interview

Série de témoignages « De la terre à la mer »

Jean-Christophe Vaillant, Responsable opérationnel OPENR

1/ Pourrais-tu te présenter et nous résumer ton parcours ?

Jeune, j’avais plutôt une volonté de me tourner vers un métier en relation avec la nature mais mon intérêt pour la technologie m’a dirigé vers la gestion des énergies. Le mixte de ces deux appétences m’a mené vers les énergies renouvelables et plus particulièrement l’éolien ; qui en 1994, n’était pas réellement en France le moyen de production le plus porteur malgré un développement fulgurant à l’international. J’ai intégré la seule formation supérieure ayant un volet d’enseignement sur ce sujet à Bordeaux le DESS Gestion des Énergies Renouvelables. A l’issue de de cette formation, j’ai rejoint le 1er Bureau d’étude français œuvrant pour le développement de la filière éolienne : Espace Eolien Développement.

La technologie a évolué puisque les premières éoliennes sur lesquelles je suis intervenu en Espagne ne faisaient que 30-50 mètres de haut pour une puissance de 200 kW. Loin de la technologie mature d’aujourd’hui avec des éoliennes dépassant les 5000 kW pour des hauteurs de plus de 130-150 mètres de haut. J’ai pu passer de missions de développements et d’analyses des gisements, à responsable de construction et responsable d’exploitation de centrales éoliennes.
La création de la société OPENR avec Jean-Jacques VINAT m’a permis d’avancer plus encore sur les questions d’exploitations et d’inspections des éoliennes avec toujours une volonté d’optimisation de la disponibilité de ce moyen de production qui est devenu l’une des sources d’approvisionnement renouvelable majeur d’électricité dans le réseau français et Mondial.
L’étape suivante étant l’éolien offshore, le rapprochement avec le Groupe Louis Dreyfus Armateurs est apparu rapidement comme une évidence. Il a permis d’ouvrir le champ au développement de nouvelles activités d’OPENR sur ce nouveau marché de production d’électricité à partir d’une ressource renouvelable.

2/ Quel est ton poste actuel ?

Actuellement responsable opérationnel au sein d’OPENR, mon rôle est d’organiser le fonctionnement et le développement des missions réalisées pour nos clients mais aussi de développer de nouvelles activités. Dans une structure de petite taille comme OPENR, ce rôle mixe des fonctions de gestion des relation humaines, de responsable de la Qualité, de la Sécurité et de l’Environnement, de formateur , de responsable Technique sur les sujets de vérifications réglementaires, de responsable des achats et de garant au sein de l’équipe de direction de l’équilibre des budgets dans le cadre d’un développement solide d’OPENR.

3/ Une formation pour passer de la terre à la mer…Pourrais-tu nous raconter brièvement cette nouvelle aventure ?

Une formation pour passer de la terre à la mer ? Issu d’un milieu paysan, ma relation avec l’océan ne s’est résumée qu’aux loisirs sur la côte bretonne avec un attrait important pour la plongée. Mon implication dans le développement de la filière éolienne terrestre en France m’a éloigné de la mer, bien que je sois resté en contact via quelques cartes SHOM utilisées dans différentes études sur lesquelles je suis intervenu pour évaluer le potentiel éolien dans l’espace maritime de la métropole française.
N’étant pas marin de métier, l’apprentissage de quelques rudiments de survie en mer s’avère nécessaire. C’est cependant la seule exigence complémentaire hormis celle qui ne peut pas être apprise qui est de supporter le mal de mer. Mes expériences de plongées sous-marines ou d’interventions sur des bouées de mesures du vent, ajoutées au fait que l’oscillation des éoliennes s’apparente au tangage me permettent de ne pas appréhender ce mal.
La principale conclusion de cette formation est que, comme dans le cadre du travail en hauteur, il ne faut jamais tomber ; lors du travail en milieu marin, il ne faut jamais tomber à l’eau.

4/ Quelles sont les 3 qualités essentielles pour réussir dans ton métier et ton nouveau métier ?

Travailler dans l’éolien nécessite un peu d’engagement politique car ce moyen de production d’électricité est particulièrement soumis à polémique dans notre société française et il faut être prêt à répondre aux questions légitimes qui peuvent être posées en dehors de la sphère professionnelle.
En tant que responsable opérationnel, il n’y a pas vraiment de nouveau métier, c’est plutôt une continuité avec l’ajout d’une perspective supplémentaire. La capacité à fédérer autour d’un projet commun reste l’une des qualités majeures et un défi à réaliser avec l’augmentation des effectifs au sein d’OPENR.
Le corollaire de la qualité précédente est l’aptitude à l’écoute et la prise en compte des implications et inquiétudes de l’équipe que constitue OPENR.

La difficulté étant la distanciation déjà présente dans notre activité avec une dispersion des équipes sur le territoire. L’augmentation des effectifs et amplifiée dernièrement par la période de crise sanitaire.

5/ Qu’apprécies-tu plus particulièrement dans ton métier ?

L’implication dans la filière éolienne est un choix assumé qui a une tendance à déborder sur ma vie privée. Je ne dirais pas que c’est un sacerdoce, mais se réaliser dans cette filière et ce métier avec le sentiment d’agir pour la planète apporte une certaine fierté. Au sein d’OPENR de nombreuses opportunités s’ouvrent et la synergie avec LDA permet d’envisager encore plus de projets en accord avec mes convictions. Ce métier permet donc d’être pleinement acteur dans le changement en cours de notre société.

6/ Une anecdote ? Un fait marquant à propos de ton métier et de son évolution ?

C’est lorsque j’ai pris la décision de me former dans l’éolien, alors qu’il était plus facile de trouver une formation sur la physique nucléaire ; il a encore été plus difficile de trouver une société intervenant dans l’éolien, elles se comptaient à l’époque sur les doigts d’une main. Quel chemin parcouru en 20 ans !

7/ La mer ou la terre ?

L’énergie renouvelable et éolienne avant tout où qu’elle soit.

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Merci Jean-Christophe pour ce témoignage très inspirant !