Some projects leave a lasting impression, not only because of their scale, but because they redefine what is possible.
Long before International Marine Management (IMM) established its presence in La Rochelle, our COO and Founder, Fabrice Maitre, contributed to an importatn project in that location. In 2006, the 92-metre M/Y Tatoosh underwent what was described at the time by Jean-Christophe Lenoir, “the first full yacht-quality repaint of a gigayacht. “ The project took place in La Rochelle, transforming an unused dry dock into a fully operational temporary superyacht refit facility, an ambitious concept that would later influence how large-scale refits could be delivered.
The project was featured in The Yacht Report (published by Superyacht Times), which highlighted not only the engineering challenge, but also the innovative project management approach behind it.
Building a Shipyard Around a Yacht
Following little more than a handshake agreement after the Monaco Yacht Show, the team lead by Jean-Christophe Lenoir of ITM, had just weeks to transform an inactive dry dock into a world-class refit environment.
A complete temporary infrastructure was created around the yacht, including:
- A fully enclosed climate-controlled paint shed
- Dedicated electrical infrastructure
- Project offices and subcontractor facilities
- Health & Safety systems meeting the highest standards
- Space for specialists arriving from across Europe
Rather than bringing the yacht to an existing shipyard, the shipyard was effectively built around the yacht.
Fabrice Maitre at the Centre of the Operation
While the physical transformation was extraordinary, the real challenge was coordinating hundreds of contractors, suppliers and specialists under an extremely demanding schedule.
The Yacht Report recognised Fabrice Maitre as one of the key people driving the project from day one.
Following the initial agreement, Fabrice spent weeks establishing the entire operation—coordinating teams, organising the infrastructure and ensuring every discipline worked towards a single delivery date. The article even refers to his “sleepless month” spent setting up the project after that first handshake.
Daily coordination meetings became the backbone of the project. Fabrice believed every minute invested in planning and communication was essential to keeping such a complex refit on schedule.
A New Way of Managing Refit Projects
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of the project was not the repaint itself, but the way it was managed.
Instead of following the traditional fixed-price shipyard model, the project adopted a transparent cost-plus approach. Owners, managers and contractors worked together, openly reviewing quotations and selecting the best technical solutions rather than competing against hidden margins.
The result was a collaborative environment built on trust, transparency and shared responsibility—an approach that has since become increasingly common within the superyacht refit industry.
A Legacy That Lives On
Nearly two decades later, IMM has returned to La Rochelle with the launch of IMM La Rochelle
For Fabrice Maitre, this is more than an expansion into Europe—it is a return to a place where he helped deliver one of the industry’s landmark refit projects.
Today’s facilities, technical capabilities and long-term vision are very different from the temporary shipyard built in 2007, but the philosophy remains unchanged: bringing together the right people, the right expertise and the right infrastructure to deliver exceptional refit projects.
As IMM begins this new chapter on the French Atlantic coast, the story of Tatoosh serves as a reminder that innovation, collaboration and technical excellence have always been part of our DNA.
Sometimes, the journey forward begins by returning to where it all started.
