Under the vast hangar of the Manche Industrie Marine workshops, the employees of the shipyard were keen to get together on Friday October 18. One last time? A few hours earlier, in the morning, the Dieppe commercial court pronounced the judicial liquidation, at the same time recording the cessation of activity already announced the day before by the shareholder, the Fipam group, highlighting the insecurity of premises.
But it was rather the state of the company’s debt which decided the judges of the commercial court. The company, which is no longer able to honor its deadlines as part of a continuation plan put in place in 2017, had requested a new payment schedule spread over four years.
“There are well over three million debts”whispers an employee. The company therefore owes no less than €647,000 in rent and property tax arrears. The management of the boss of Fipam, Jacques Failly, is called into question, as is his communication in recent days which suggested that the relocation of the activity to the group’s other sites, in Fécamp in particular, was the direct consequence of the obsolescence premises.
“There were lies”
“It’s not new, but we could continue to work”insists an employee. Anthony Depoilly, workshop manager, 35 years of service at Manche Industrie Marine, does not hide his bitterness: “There have been lies all week!” We have work to do, there are boats to finish. It’s sickening. We were told that there was no more money to buy the raw materials. »
In the Paris basin, the trawler The Relaylaunched in June, is awaiting completion to be delivered to its owner, Yvon Neveu. The latter wanted to greet the employees of Manche Industrie Marine when they had just learned of the liquidation of the company: “It’s a huge waste! There is know-how here, skills, the employees have all done a good job. » In front of the hangar, the hull of the trawler Saint Paul II is now abandoned. It was due to be launched next year. It will be finished in another construction site.
The 38 employees are now waiting to receive their dismissal letter. Only two of them have been reclassified on other Fipam sites, for the moment.
“We are not running away from our responsibilities”
“We do not shy away from our responsibilities, and we recognize that there are faults on both sides. But it is crucial to remember that we have done everything possible to maintain activity, despite the obstacles and the absence of certain crucial works”commented the Fipam group after the court decision on the Manche Industrie Marine Facebook page.
The company adds: “Our president Jacques Failly has always put people at the heart of his decisions. But like any business, we also encountered obstacles. The past few years have been particularly difficult, with business slowdowns and unforeseen financial challenges. » And in conclusion this still vague note of hope: “We have already started preparing for the sequel. New projects are in the works, and we are convinced that this difficult stage will open the door to opportunities and a stronger and more sustainable recovery of activity. »
“Employees demand justice”
Nicolas Langlois, mayor of Dieppe and Sébastien Jumel, president of the Dieppe-Maritime agglomeration, react to the judicial liquidation of Manche Industrie Marine. In a press release, they reaffirm their “full support for MIM employees whose know-how and experience continue the history of Dieppe shipbuilding but also for the suppliers and customers concerned”.
The elected officials speak of a staff “unfairly threatened today by management choices which have accentuated the difficulties of this company which matters to the port and our territory”. they add: “The employees are demanding justice, accountability for the setbacks they are experiencing today and they legitimately hope to be able to combine their activity in the future. »
For Sébastien Jumel “the know-how of the workers, technicians and executives of the MIM is at the origin of very great industrial successes like the trawlers of the Lejuez armament or more recently the Gloire à Dieu multi-purpose shellfish trawler from Dieppe. We recognize this know-how and we defend it because it is part of the city’s DNA, and continues the great history of Chantiers de la Manche and Chantiers de Normandie.”
