Two uniforms, one commitment to serving the Navy and national defense
By Jeremy Heinrich, Marine Business Team Leader
Can you describe your job to us?
I install fans for boats—it’s as simple as that. To put it simply: we manufacture air-handling units that circulate cool and warm air throughout all types of boats.
I’m always impressed when I see ships over 70 meters long with their crews. Once we arrive on site and see this type of vessel being built—at Naval Group, in particular—it’s truly impressive!
HVAC on a ship isn’t quite the same challenge as for a building on land. You have to take into account constraints related to space, stability, and resources. So, to make the air cooler and more comfortable on board the ship, we use very cold seawater that we circulate through very long pipes. As it comes into contact with these pipes, the air cools down before a fan blows this cooler air into the various rooms of the ship.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most is managing a team and also the satisfaction of building finished, well-crafted machines. I also enjoy being able to go on board the ships and troubleshoot issues. You have to adapt to the conditions on board; sometimes you have to “crawl” through confined spaces. What I like is being able to move around.
Can you describe the workshop where you work and what its advantages are?
We manufacture HVAC systems in a large workshop on land, which provides us with a structured environment, cleanliness, and added value for our customers. Our conditions are different from those on a ship. That is to say, we have plenty of space and can work around the machinery. We have lifting equipment that makes our work easier, particularly when it comes to material handling. Safety is also a key consideration, and our workshop embodies this commitment. In fact, our customers know exactly where the manufacturing takes place. Thus, manufacturing in France—in Brittany—is a guarantee of expertise and quality that remains within the company.
Equans' clients include leaders in the defense industry that build ships for the French Navy. But that's not all! Can you tell us about the international ships you equip?
We arrive and see a whole new world. We tell ourselves that we’re working for France and to protect it. That’s what makes it so interesting.
We’re doing our part, and seeing the projects come together—all the new ones, the future ones like the aircraft carriers—is simply impressive! And when we see that, we think to ourselves, “I’m really part of something huge!”
On your days off, you slip on a pair of aviator sunglasses to take on the role of a first-class airman in the Air Force. That alone is so cool! The military runs in the family. Can you tell us more about it?
My father served in the Army, one of my brothers-in-law is in the Navy, and one of my brothers is in the Gendarmerie. Someone had to join the Air Force! I wanted to be part of that world because of the stories my father and brother-in-law told me
I wanted to get a foot in the door of that world while keeping my current job. So I joined the reserves, which allows me to balance both.
Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge?
I was promoted to team leader not long ago and have supervised SNU (Universal National Service) training programs. These are young people between the ages of 15 and 18 who are getting their first taste of military life. Working with young people so often helps me feel less anxious about leading others at work.
In the military, you developed a sense of personal discipline that you apply to everything you do, including when you go running. Could you elaborate?
Running takes up a large part of my life after work. In fact, I run an average of 5 to 6 times a week.
I’ve run the Paris Marathon, the Guerlédan Trail in Brittany—which is 65 km long—
2,500 m of elevation gain, and my most recent race—a 175-km event to benefit the Association for Cardiac Surgery—the Tour du Golfe du Morbihan. This is an organization that funds heart surgeries for children around the world, whether in Africa or other countries. Any means is good for raising as much money as possible to help these children. The race I participated in helped pay for a quarter of one surgery, which was pretty good! We’re trying to raise as many donations as possible for them.
The sound of the waves reminds man that he is a fleeting being, but also that he is part of something greater than himself. Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
