To begin with, can you explain to us the dynamics that led to the creation of the New Aquitaine maritime cluster?
The desire to create the regional maritime cluster has a structural origin in the NOTRe law. This law led to the creation of our new region, by the merger of Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes and Limousin, but it also transferred to regional institutions the economic competence, previously exercised at the level of departments. In this context, the New Aquitaine region has defined that in order to be a valid interlocutor, the major sectors should form clusters. By relying on the communities of agglomerations, it has encouraged professionals to create these associations. The Agglomeration of La Rochelle then called on the players in the nautical sector at the beginning of 2017, offering them its help to form a maritime cluster.
What is the geographical scope of the Cluster and what is its name?
Although this is an initiative from La Rochelle, its vocation is regional. The association is open to companies from all over the New Aquitaine region, although it was logical that La Rochelle should be the driving force behind this movement.
We do not have a brand at this point. The association was only officially formed in July 2017. The name choice will come.
What are the main objectives of this maritime cluster in New Aquitaine?
We do not yet have a concrete action plan. It will be defined during meetings to come soon. Our first role will be to be the interlocutor of the region and to bring themes for the professionals on various subjects, which could go from the problem of the places of port to the application of the legislation on styrene or the development of the export. We will also communicate on behalf of the New Aquitaine nautical sector, just as we do in Brittany. The objective is to have New Aquitaine recognized as the Nautical Valley.
I am also an administrator of the Nautical Industries Federation and there is no question of competing with the FIN's competences which are rather national and European, whereas ours are local.
What are the next steps in the cluster's launch?
The association was created in July 2017 to give us a legal structure. We now need to have a concrete structure with a permanent staff and premises. We will then have to make ourselves known and attract members. Membership has not yet been opened and the association is carried by a hard core around Laurent Da Rold of the Pôle Refit in La Rochelle, Philippe Pallu of the Barrière du CRAIN, Fabrice Faurre of LR2N and myself, who is no longer strictly speaking a nautical professional since my resale of Fora Marine last year. Nevertheless, the big shipyards showed interest during the information meetings, which bodes well for the future.
