As the 2025–26 Caribbean season has come to a close, one theme stands out across the IMM network: growth through capability. 

Over the past year, IMM teams in Guadeloupe, Sint Maarten, and Puerto Rico have delivered a wide range of projects spanning commercial vessels, ferries, sailing yachts, and motor yachts. While each project came with its own technical challenges, the season was ultimately defined by something larger, the continued investment in people, infrastructure, and expertise that is expanding what can be achieved across the Caribbean. 

From supporting  a variety of vessesl in Guadeloupe to launching large-scale dry-dock operations in Puerto Rico and building momentum at the newly established IMM SXM shipyard, the year has strengthened IMM‘s ability to support increasingly complex marine projects throughout the region. 

IMM Guadeloupe: Supporting the Caribbean’s Fleet – from yachts to passenger ships 

At IMM Guadeloupe, the season showcased the yard’s versatility, with projects ranging from technical yacht refits and sailing yacht rigging works to major commercial ferry class surveys. 

One of the season’s standout projects involved the motor yacht Eau La La. During haul-out, the team uncovered an unexpected challenge: a missing four-meter stabilizer fin. Rather than delaying the vessel’s schedule, IMM’s composite specialists designed, fabricated, and  quickly installed a replacement. 

“Leveraging our responsiveness and composite expertise, we designed, laminated, and installed a replacement fin within days, allowing the vessel to regain full operational capability without requiring an additional dry-docking,” explains Site Director Arnaud Rambaud. 

Among the largest commercial projects were the mandatory five-year class surveys of the 47-meter FRS Express ferries Corail and Perle. The surveys required extensive planning, structural repairs, and custom-engineered docking solutions to safely support the vessels while providing access to critical sections of the hull. 

“Our quay and floating dock welcomed Corail and Perle for their mandatory five-year class surveys,” says Rambaud. “These projects demonstrated IMM Guadeloupe’s ability to engineer tailor-made docking plans and support solutions, enabling the opening of an eight-meter section of the hull while maintaining the highest safety and quality standards.” 

The scope included nearly one hundred welded inserts and structural spot repairs, complete valve overhauls, hull cleaning, and coating works over a continuous two-and-a-half-month schedule. All welding was carried out by IMM Guadeloupe’s team of class-certified welders and verified through non-destructive testing (NDT), ensuring every repair met stringent classification society requirements. 

Alongside project delivery, IMM Guadeloupe continued investing in new technologies and equipment, including advanced welding systems, laser technology, 3D scanning capabilities, and improved overspray containment solutions. 

Looking back on the season, Rambaud sees a clear trend. 

“Every project completed this year has been a step forward—strengthening our team’s expertise and confirming our ability to operate to the highest standards across both the commercial maritime and yachting sectors.” 

IMM SXM: A Strong Start and Growing Demand

For IMM SXM, the 2025–26 season saw the IMM team supporting a steady flow of maintenance, repair, fabrication, and technical refit projects. and also market the start of IMM’s shipyard operations in Sint Maarten having taken over the yard on the 1st of January.  Taking over the yard on January 1, the first months of the year showe. 

Scheduled works were frequently combined with urgent operational requests, requiring flexibility, rapid response, and close coordination with owners, captains, and yacht managers. 

According to Project Manager Dominique Delafoy, the level of activity reflects both the growing demand for technical services in the region, and the confidence clients are placing in IMM. 

“The 2025/2026 season was more intense than last winter’s season, bringing more vessels with complex technical problems to solve in short time frames. But the IMM team was able to maintain high standards and deliver results.” 

The work scope included custom stainless-steel rigging fabrication, high-load pulley repairs using hydraulic press, and the manufacture and installation of several critical rigging components. The entire project was completed within five days, ensuring the yacht was ready for competition. 

For Delafoy, the project highlights the growing importance of local technical capability throughout the Caribbean: “Projects like these demonstrate the importance of having technical expertise, fabrication capability, and rapid response available locally.  .” 

IMM SXM’s presence, expertise and reactivity is contributing significantly to Sint Maarten’s strengthening position as a technical and logistical hub for the Northeast Caribbean. 

IMM Puerto Rico: Bringing Dry-Dock Capability Back to San Juan

In Puerto Rico, the season was defined by major infrastructure progress and the continued development of what is becoming the Caribbean’s most capable ship repair facilities. 

Throughout the year, IMM Puerto Rico remained fully operational while simultaneously advancing significant upgrades to its Graving Dock facility. Key infrastructure improvements included the installation of main dewatering pumps, sump pump systems, and a new electrical substation. 

According to Civil Engineer José Lopez, these investments are transforming the facility’s capabilities. 

“The 2025–26 season was a milestone one for IMM Puerto Rico. Throughout the season, we remained fully operational at our San Juan shipyard, successfully carrying out vessel repairs and maintenance utilizing both our Floating Dock and shoreside berths.” 

he operation represented more than a single project. It confirmed the return of large-scale dry-docking capability to the facility and re-established San Juan as an important service location for the regional maritime industry. 

The yard also completed a major three-month repair and dry-dock program for an 80-meter motor vessel. The project included mechanical overhauls, steel and fabrication works, electrical repairs, coatings, repainting, and multiple vessel upgrades. 

“The project strengthened our relationship with the vessel’s owners and demonstrated that Gravity by IMM can be relied upon as a trusted shipyard partner in the Caribbean,” says Lopez. 

Just as importantly, the project provided valuable experience for the local workforce. 

“It allowed our team members to further develop their technical skills and gain additional exposure to world-class vessel standards.”