Association Hermione-La Fayette

What Association Hermione-La Fayette does

Association Hermione-La Fayette is a French nonprofit association, recognized as an organization of public utility since 1992, that preserves, operates, and shares the legacy of the frigate L'Hermione, the world's largest sailing replica of an 18th-century wooden French frigate. Headquartered at the historic Arsenal Maritime in Rochefort (with a secondary operations site at the port of Bayonne in Anglet since September 2021), the association maintains the ship using traditional naval carpentry and square-rig sailing techniques, supported by a community of 550+ trained volunteer boatswains (gabiers) and 2,500+ members. Its core products center on visitor tours of the ship (guided and self-guided), corporate event privatization (€500 HT and above, capacity up to 120 people), the Hermione Académie boatswain training program, branded merchandise through physical boutiques in Rochefort/Anglet and an online shop, and a brand licensing program with partners such as Armor Lux. Free pedagogical resources serve school groups, and the association operates the Fondation Hermione and the Hermione Jeunesse youth integration initiative in partnership with La France Mutualiste. The business model is a hybrid nonprofit mix combining transactional ticket sales, recurring membership fees and donations (including SMS micro-donations and crowdfunding), corporate event fees, merchandise sales, and licensing royalties, with major institutional support from the Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Charente-Maritime department, Ville de Rochefort, Naval Group, and tourism agency Atout France. As of early 2026, the association was under judicial recovery proceedings at the Tribunal Judiciaire de La Rochelle following a multi-year Grand Carénage (major refit) that has suspended sailing voyages since September 2021, prompting a public "MAYDAY MAYDAY" emergency fundraising appeal to avoid liquidation.

Name

Association Hermione-La Fayette

Legal name

ASSOCIATION HERMIONE – LA FAYETTE

Website

https://fregate-hermione.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Association Hermione-La Fayette is a French nonprofit (public utility since 1992) that preserves and operates L'Hermione, the world's largest 18th-century frigate replica, offering visitor tours, corporate events, volunteer training, and branded merchandise from bases in Rochefort and Anglet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Heritage Tourism

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (48721), Boat Building (336612)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Sailing Cruises (Windjammers & Tall Ships) (THAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails) (THAJAJAG), Gulet & Traditional Wooden Yacht Cruises (THAEADAE)

Keywords

• Maritime heritage preservation
• Historic ship tourism
• Sailing training programs
• Corporate event hosting
• Educational heritage tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochefort

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Visitor Tickets and Tours: Revenue from guided tours of the Hermione during refit in Anglet and future sailing visits. Tickets sold online and on-site for self-guided and guided tours.
2. Online and Physical Boutique: Sale of Hermione-branded merchandise including collectibles, model ships, stamps, anchors, navigation maps, textiles, and souvenirs. Products sold via online shop and physical boutiques in Rochefort and Anglet.
3. Corporate Events and Privatization: Revenue from renting ship spaces for corporate events, seminars, receptions, and team-building activities. Spaces available include Battery Deck, Grand'chambre, and Gaillard Deck.
4. Membership and Donations: Annual membership fees from individual and corporate members, plus tax-deductible donations via SMS, online platforms, and crowdfunding campaigns.
5. Brand Licensing: Licensing agreements with manufacturers allowing commercial use of Hermione brand and image on products, generating royalties. Licensees include Armor Lux (clothing), model kit makers, publishers, and food producers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Association Hermione-La Fayette operates L'Hermione, the world's largest sailing replica of an 18th-century French frigate, and sells guided and self-guided ship visits, corporate event rentals aboard the vessel, boatswain (gabier) training programs, branded merchandise, and educational resources. The association preserves and transmits traditional naval carpentry, rigging, and square-rig sailing skills through hands-on experiences for visitors, schools, companies, and volunteers.

Product overview

Association Hermione-La Fayette operates L'Hermione, the world's largest sailing replica of an 18th-century French frigate. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected experiences: visitor tours (guided and self-guided) of the ship at its ports in Anglet and Rochefort; professional corporate event hosting and private rentals; the Hermione Académie boatswain training program for volunteer sailors; branded merchandise through its online boutique and licensing program; and educational resources for schools. The offering centers on maritime heritage preservation, hands-on sailing training, and immersive historical experiences, supported by donations, memberships, and corporate partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hermione Académie: Training academy operated by the association offering professional development programs related to maritime skills, seamanship, and interpersonal competencies developed through the Hermione project.
• Fondation Hermione

Products and services

• L'Hermione Guided and Self-Guided Tours
• Corporate Events and Private Rentals
• Hermione Boatswain Training
• Hermione Académie Formation Programs
• Brand Licensing Program
• Official Online Boutique
• Pedagogical Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• 550 boatswains trained since 2014 with practical maritime skills
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• La France MutualistecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2019Major partnership supporting the creation and maintenance of Hermione sails and youth training programs (Hermione Jeunesse). La France Mutualiste Foundation co-finances sail production and upkeep, and supports 10 young people per year through training. They facilitate employee volunteers to serve aboard the ship and share values of memory, transmission, and intergenerational solidarity.
• Naval GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain institutional partner contributing financially to concrete actions of the association. Naval Group's expertise in naval engineering aligns with the association's maritime heritage mission.
• BCG (Boston Consulting Group)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnical partner providing materials or services to support association operations.
• ManpowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner contributing expertise and support for developing training programs that implement the association's values and skills.
• Fondation GRDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner supporting the development of Hermione Academy training programs.
• Campus des Industries Navales (CINAV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner contributing expertise in naval industry skills and professional development.
• Armor LuxminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerExclusive clothing license partner producing men's, women's, and children's garments bearing the Hermione brand. Pays royalties or provides merchandise benefits in exchange for commercial exploitation rights.
• Ville de RochefortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost city of the association, providing institutional support for the Hermione project and maritime heritage tourism.
• Charente-Maritime DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional institutional partner supporting the association's maritime heritage preservation mission.
• Région Nouvelle-AquitainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council providing financial and strategic support for the Hermione project and training programs.
• Arsenal des MersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime heritage site partner collaborating to maintain the visit destination in Rochefort. Offers exhibitions about the Hermione and related attractions.
• Cluster Maritime FrançaisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaritime cluster partner working to defend French maritime heritage alongside other stakeholders.
• Atout FranceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational tourism development agency supporting the Explore France sailing expedition to promote France as a destination.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet): Scandinavia's most visited maritime museum, housing the 17th-century Swedish warship Vasa. Comparable as a wooden warship preservation and exhibition operation, though Vasa is a static museum exhibit rather than an actively sailed replica.
• Mystic Seaport: The largest maritime museum in the United States, operating a 19th-century seafaring village with historic vessels, sail training, and educational programs. Comparable in combining heritage ship preservation with traditional-skill training and visitor experiences.
• USS Constitution Museum: Museum associated with the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned naval warship still afloat. Comparable in operating a wooden-hull historic warship, public visitation, educational programming, and heritage preservation mission.
• Royal Museums Greenwich (Cutty Sark): Operates the Cutty Sark, a 19th-century British clipper preserved as a visitor attraction in Greenwich. Comparable as a heritage ship operator with ticket, retail, and event revenues, though it is a permanent static exhibit rather than an active sailing vessel.

Direct peers

• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: American museum organization that operates Mayflower II, a full-size replica historical sailing ship, alongside heritage programming and educational exhibits. Closest Anglo-American analogue combining a replica-vessel operation with museum-style educational offerings.
• Sail Training International: UK-based international charity coordinating tall ships races and sail training across a global fleet of vessels. Directly comparable in mission around traditional seamanship training, gabier-style volunteer crew development, and tall ship event organization.
• Etoile Marine (Étoile du Roy): Operates the Étoile du Roy, a French-built replica 18th-century frigate used for corporate hospitality and charter sails. Directly comparable as a replica tall-ship experience business in the French maritime heritage tourism market.
• Fondation Belem: Operates the Belem, France's other flagship tall ship and a historic three-masted barque. Closest direct peer: a French nonprofit running sailing voyages, sail training, and port-visit tourism on a historic vessel, sharing business model, regulatory environment, and audience with Hermione.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LHERMIONE_SHIP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChp_g8AqnzP8XDpgy9-miGw
• Facebookfacebook.com/LHERMIONESHIP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-hermione-la-fayette
• Instagraminstagram.com/hermione_lafayette

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association Hermione-La Fayette