Ship’s reconstruction

In the early 1990s, a group of maritime heritage enthusiasts from the Centre International de la Mer and the city of Rochefort were crazy enough to start rebuilding an 18th century frigate in the heart of the historic Arsenal.

The Hermione-La Fayette Association was created to bring this extraordinary project to life.

Its first president was writer and member of the Académie Française, Eric Orsenna, followed in 1994 by Benedict Donnelly.

Very quickly, the project earned the support of various local authorities including the city of Rochefort, the Charente-Maritime department, the Poitou-Charentes region and the European Union. Regional and national companies also leant their aid.

The association then decided not to build it themselves but to outsource the construction to several companies under the direction of a project manager. 5 years of studies and historical research were needed before the reconstruction could start.

Following the presentation of the project at the Paris Boat Show, the shipyard was officially launched.

The Asselin company, based in Thouars in Deux-Sèvres (department), was selected to carry out the first phase of work following a European call for tenders.

In the middle of the Arsenal de Rochefort, the Louis XV double dry dock was chosen for the Hermione’s reconstruction site.

The actual work of building the frigate began. In fact, for three months alone, there were carpenters in an immense drafting room drawing the ship’s plans to scale 1 then making the templates for the different parts.

 

Keel blocks sufficient to support a finished boat weighing 1,100 tonnes were fitted.

On July 4th 1997, which is very symbolic if you’re familiar with the frigate’s American history, the keel was fitted, which thus officially began the Hermione‘s shipbuilding adventure on a titanic scale. The Arsenal de Rochefort’s special green flag, announcing the start of construction, was hoisted up and flown on the Arsenal’s Porte de Soleil.

The keel is considered the backbone of the ship. This backbone was over 40 metres long and 38 cm thick and was to support the frigate’s entire skeleton. It was made from oak.

 

Now it was time for the transom and the sternpost to be revealed to the public. Once raised, this complex assembly of over 4.5 tonnes of oak was attached to the rear end of the keel. The stern will later hold the rudder.

 

There would be 62 in number, laid from the back to the front. Every rib is different, and they are what creates the hull’s final shape.

 

The fifteenth rib is attached.

 

The Thalassa, french TV programme filmed at night at the Hermione shipyard.

The 62nd rib was laid. The ship’s skeleton was now in place.

Fitted in position as the general public watched, the bow is the part that closes off the front of the ship.

 

During the month of December 1999, Storm Martin ravaged a large part of France. The marquee where the ship was being built didn’t escape damage but the Hermione herself didn’t suffer too much from the “storm of the century”.

 

Following Storm Martin of December 1999, a number of fallen trees (oaks) were donated to the association. Unfortunately, many of them were unusable because they were too damaged.

 

The keelson was laid in place.
This section covering the base of the ribs forms the ship’s internal spine. From now on, a large part of the carpenters’ work was to take place inside the ship.

The first workshops (Wood and Forge) start work.

The deck beams, the timbers that span the width of the ship and support the decks, were laid.

Inner planking began. These planks are the inner skin of a ship.

General overview of the ship, with portholes being made.

15 portholes have been made on each side.

• The planking, forming the ship’s skin is slatted so that the final planks can be adjusted as closely as possible at the end of construction.
• Construction began of the prototype steering wheel and the fittings for the gun carriages in the workshops.
• The ship is attracting more and more onlookers.
• The steering wheel being made – the millionth visitor! – The Hermione crafts festival

Saturday 27th September, 1,500 to 2,000 people assembled to accompany a delivery that came via the Route des Tonneaux et des Canons association, having left Nontron in the Dordogne 10 days earlier. All involved were tired but happy to reach the end of their adventure. In a party atmosphere bathed in sunlight, the trailer pulled by 3 magnificent draft horses set off from the marina preceded by fifes and drums. At a lively trot, the horses skirted the Corderie Royale to stop in front of the south pavilion at the entrance to the Centre International de la Mer. Bales of hemp were “delivered”. Passing up the paved driveway the length of the naval battles maze, the load was then successively welcomed by Admiral Dupont at the square that bears his name and at the entrance to the Hermione shipyard by “Monsieur de Latouche”. The two cannons and the entire consignment that had been transported by the Route des Tonneaux et des Canons were thus unloaded and symbolically offered to the Hermione shipyard.

Fitting of the transom, a huge horseshoe-shaped device weighing over 3 tonnes that goes at the back of the ship

• Blacksmiths made 64 belaying pins.

• On 14 December 1999, the bow, the part that closes off the front of the ship, was fitted as the general public watched.

On Tuesday 27th April 2004, 33 CAP Ébénisterie and Bac Pro students from the GIEL vocational college in Normandy and their teachers visited the site. This visit organised as part of a 3-day study trip to the Rochefort region was the culmination of an educational project involving the construction of the Hermione‘s watch bench, which 8 of their teachers worked on for an entire school year.

We would sincerely like to thank the students and their teachers for the magnificent work they did. This reproduction of the historic watch bench is now part of the Hermione‘s forecastle.

The gig began to be constructed by “Alexandre Genoud Bateaux Bois”.

30th August 2004
Anne Renault, a sailmaker who trained at Port-Rhu in Douarnenez and who had recently settled in La Rochelle, arrived at the Hermione shipyard to manufacture the three sails for the gig (headsail, mainsail and jib).

The tools used in sailmaking are: a sailmaker’s palm, needles, splicers, mallets and a “minahouet” (a tool used to “serve” or wrap ropes).

 

• Deck planking
  The planking forms the skin of the ship. The widest planks are made of iroko and have a thickness of 162 mm. The other planks are made of oak and are around 80 mm.
  To obtain the desired curves, the planks are steamed then placed on a huge machine composed of different cylinders where they are bent.
• Installation of stanchions, posts supporting the ribs and decks. There are three types of stanchion on the Hermione: classic stanchions, hinged stanchions and stepped stanchions.

 

• Manufacture and installation of the lower halyard block.With its huge bronze sheaves, this is how the lines run back to the large capstan.
• Two large bitts and the topsail bitt were also made then fitted.
• On 11 June, the gig was launched in the marina of Rochefort.

5th september 2005

Stanchions fitted, being wood posts that support the decks. The carpenters start installing the stanchions on the battery deck. There are 20 stanchions including 6 lifting stanchions.

10th october 2005

Two carpenters make the two large bitts and their cleats which are to go on the battery deck. These are large wooden posts located on deck and used for manoeuvres

Construction of the mainmast deck ring.

Mainmast deck ring fitted on the forecastle.

The deck ring enables the mast to pass through the deck. Shims in the form of wedges are arranged around it to allow adjustment. Then the whole assembly was caulked with fabric to keep it watertight.

Since mid-February, the Wood workshop had been manufacturing the top for the lower mizzen mast. It is 3.5 m by 4, and it took a month to manufacture.

Anne Renault, a traditional sailmaker, made the three sails for the longboat in front of an audience.

Manufacture of the Hermione’s longboat.

This is one of the Hermione’s three tenders along with the gig and the shallop. That summer, the carpenters started on planking the ship entirely. This operation consists of covering the ribs (the ship’s frame) with oak planks forming the outer envelope of the ship. The whole ship is planked from the keel to the top of the ship.

Battery deck caulking.
Caulking is the name for everything that is done to make the hull and decks watertight. Between each plank, hemp tow is inserted before a tar called pitch is poured over it. While the decks are caulked with pitch, the hull is caulked with glazier’s putty.
Manufacture of the shroud chains by blacksmiths.
The milestone of 250,000 visitors over the year was exceeded.

The milestone of 2 million visitors since the start of the project was reached that year

2006 also saw visits from many public figures, such as the United States Ambassador, His Excellency Craig.R.Stapleton accompanied by Ségolène Royal, President of Poitou-Charentes, who came to announce that a grant of one million euros had been advanced. Michèle Alliot-Marie was also to visit the site when she came to Rochefort.

Battery deck planking
The first yard was delivered. This was the topgallant yard.

• The cutwater was attached to the bow (3.5 tonnes made up of about fifteen parts). This part extends the bow and would later support the Hermione’s figurehead.
• The first masts were delivered (topgallant mast and mizzen topsail mast) and completed on site (finishes).
• Work on the longboat came to an end and work commenced on the shallop.
• An exhibition about the Hermione made a stopover in the United States aboard the frigate “La Fayette”

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Marquis de La Fayette, the French frigate La Fayette travelled to the American coast with an exhibition about the Hermione on board.

The Hermione’s hold was used as a filming location for a biopic on Amerigo Vespucci.
Work on the boat continued (planking, manufacture of masts, interior fittings, etc.)

The quarter deck planking (‘the floor’) was completed

Planking of the forecastle. The planking used was douglas pine and oak

Shallop and longboat launched

Planking of topsides between the waterline and the bulwark

Installation of the small then the large capstan. These are two huge oak winches that were hot strapped by the blacksmiths. They are used to hoist or move heavy loads.
The three decks on the Hermione were fully planked now.

The Hermione team met the Belem, marking the beginning of a partnership between these two iconic ships from France’s maritime heritage.

Thalassa was back at the Hermione shipyard and produced a live broadcast, focusing on the very close relationship between the programme and the Hermione project since it first began.
Construction of bilge pump housing.

Painting began with painting the bulwarks (upper parts of the hull) in the colours of the King of France (royal blue and Naples yellow).
The four historical bilge pumps were installed which pump water into the sea.
Strapping of pump housing by blacksmiths.

The Belem came to Rochefort to greet the Hermione to mark the annual meeting of the association’s members

The quarters were fitted in the great cabin, including: 4 cabins and the wood panelling and cabinetry.

The painting was unveiled to the public who discovered the sculptures, the coat of arms where the crown and fleur-de-lys were covered with 250 sheets of gold leaf, as well as the frigate’s future colours.

Start of interior painting

Caulking of topsides (upper parts of the hull, out of the water)

3 millionth visitor

The Bernard shipyard completed the planking (outer skin of the ship covering the ribs)

The Bernard shipyard completed the planking (outer skin of the ship covering the ribs)

The King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf visited the Hermione shipyard

The manufacture of the 17 sails (2,100 m²) continued thanks to Anne Renault, who finished them by hand.

The officers’ quarters were completed in the Great Cabin, the accommodation and command space reserved for the highest-ranking officers.

Les logements des officiers sont terminés dans la Grand Chambre, espace de logement et de commandement réservé aux officiers les plus gradés.

End of the caulking, representing a total length of 12 km of sealing and 255 kg of hemp used.

Creation of the heads at the rear of the ship housing the captain’s and officers’ lavatories.

The figurehead was in turn unveiled to the public. It depicts a lion 3.5 metres (11’4″) tall holding the King of France’s crown and the coat of arms with three fleur-de-lys between its front paws.
End of the painting work on the hull (a total of 2 tonnes of paint have been applied to the entire frame).

Manufacture of the davits which are used to manoeuvre anchors
Rudder installed, the central device used for the frigate’s steering.

Beginning of rigging production by the Swedish company JB RIggers. 25 km of ropes would be needed for the Hermione.
Installation of the two azimuth thrusters at the rear of the hull, for greater manoeuvrability in ports

The visit of the American ambassador in France to the Hermione shipyard represents a strong symbolic moment marking the cooperation of the two countries in view of the future navigation.

A pivotal year since this was when the Hermione was launched on the Charente for the first time and it moved to the Napoleon III dry dock.

The preparation for the undocking took place in several stages: first the marquee was dismantled, the ship caissons were prepped, progressively water filled the dry dock and finally the hull took to the water. 50,000 people came to attend this major event, which ushered in the last phase of shipyard construction allowing the Hermione to sail.

220 tonnes of ballast were placed by the initial volunteers from the Association in the bottom of the hold. The ballast was composed of pig iron and granite cobblestones and it was intended to keep the ship stable.

Arrival of a team of volunteers to take over ship maintenance

Arrival of the lower masts

Arrival of the ship caissons which came to close the dry docks so the frigate could be floated then moved to the Napoleon III dry dock

The ship was launched. The Hermione’s first outing along the Charente. She moored in front of the Corderie Royale

Historically accurate replica furniture was added to the Great Cabin and the officers’ cabins. This furniture produced in cooperation with the vocational colleges around the region as part of their course work.

Installation of the lower foremast, a 23.5 m mast weighing almost 10 tonnes accompanied by 14 shrouds and 2 stays (i.e. 350 m of cordage) as well as its top.
The bowsprit mast was fitted.

 

Yann Cariou was chosen to command the frigate

Installation of the fore topmast, the bowsprit and the lower mainmast (27 m). With its standing rigging and its top as well as the mizzen low mast and mizzen topmast

Stepping of the topmasts (2nd row) at the capstan

Stepping of the topgallant masts (3rd row) and hoisting of the lower yards

Last yards in place

The various mast sections were laid throughout the year, starting with the 3 vertical masts, the spritsail and finally the yards, which are horizontal spars supporting the square sails. Here, a crane was used to fit the masts, replaced the masting device of the olden days. This work was overseen by Jens Langert, the master rigger, with the help of about fifteen people (on-site artisans and volunteers)

Installation of cannons and ship’s boats on the main deck.
Sails fitted (17 sails with a surface area of over 2,000 m2) and lines were also fitted (i.e. 15 km of ropes and some 800 pulleys)
Fête des voiles sailing ship festival (May 17)
The crew’s historically accurate costumes were made
Strapping of the anchor stocks.

Arrival of the last cannon for the Hermione, delivered just like it was in the 18th century by barge up the Charente river. This was carried out jointly with the association La Route des Tonneaux et des Canons.
Anchors fitted

4 millionth visitor

The construction of the Hermione came to an end after 17 years of work, culminating in the fitting of the 17 sails and 28 guns on board the Hermione. Manufactured at SAFEM near Angoulême, the 12-pounders were installed on the frigate’s battery deck and the 6-pounders on the forecastle. The two anchors that weigh 1.5 tonnes each went at the front of the Hermione.

 

The Hermione was given the “Bateau d’Intérêt Patrimonial” (BIP) label for being a “heritage boat”, awarded by the Fondation du Patrimoine Maritime et Fluvial.The frigate thus joined a fleet of 829 vessels labelled BIP.

The first sea trials then began, with a crew who had only just trained in sailing a ship with an old rig. On 7 September, the Hermione descended the Charente, cheered on by a large crowd and followed by an armada of boats that had come to greet her. The sea trials, which were to last two months, marked the beginning of a new adventure with the next objective being the official voyage to the United States of America in the spring of 2015.