Jérémy Dehondt

Director

A New Generation at the Helm

For Jérémy Dehondt, returning to Martinique meant coming home. Born on the island, he built his career around engineering and international maritime projects, but the idea of returning never quite left him. “Perhaps I’ll go back one day,” he would often think. The reopening of Martinique Shipyard offered the opportunity to turn that thought into reality.

An engineer by training, Jérémy began in renewable energy, working on tidal turbines before moving into international projects in Canada and Saudi Arabia, as well as frigate repairs. The sea was the thread connecting these experiences. “I wanted my career to be connected to the sea,” he explains.

He joined Martinique Shipyard as a project manager, became deputy director and took the helm in December 2025. “It’s a major challenge,” he says. His description of the starting point is straightforward: “a blank slate.” Rebuilding the business meant developing teams, restoring the yard’s reputation and bringing vessels back to Fort-de-France.

Today, his responsibilities extend beyond managing operations. “It’s about keeping things running, with a positive spirit and a focus on safety.” For Jérémy, that starts with the people doing the work. “I want people to arrive at work happy.” He sees teamwork as essential to meeting the demands of the yard.

The pressure is constant. His role is to absorb it, support his teams and keep projects moving, while pursuing two clear objectives: attracting vessels and ensuring clients are satisfied with the work delivered.

Behind those responsibilities lies a lasting attachment to the maritime world. “I can’t imagine living far from the sea,” he says, before adding with a smile: “I actually get seasick.”

Leading Martinique Shipyard brings together the different strands of his journey: engineering, the sea and the island where he was born. His focus now is on building a yard that clients trust and teams are proud to be part of.