The Alpes-Maritimes department inaugurated this Friday, September 11, 2026, the “Loïc Leferme” Maritime Center, located in the former arsenal of the Royal Port of La Darse in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The new structure aims to bring together maritime stakeholders, support young people and champions, develop freediving and offshore racing, while strengthening actions for the protection of the Mediterranean.
The Alpes-Maritimes Department Maritime Center “Loïc Leferme” officially opened its doors this Friday, September 11, in Villefranche-sur-Mer. The inauguration took place in the presence of Charles Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, Bernard Chaix, deputy and departmental councilor, Xavier Beck, mayor of Cap d’Ail and first vice-president of the department, Robert Capelier, mayor of Villefranche-sur-Mer, as well as Carine Papy, vice-president of the department responsible for youth and sports, and Sabrina Ferrand, departmental councilor.
Several ambassadors of the new Maritime Center were also present, including Jean-Pierre Dick, Guillaume Néry, Julie Gautier, Alice Modolo, Arthur Guérin-Boëri, Clément Lesaffre, and Claude Chapuis. Valérie and Inès Leferme also participated in this inauguration as a tribute to Loïc Leferme.
Located at the heart of the departmental port of La Darse, in the former arsenal of the Royal Port, the Maritime Center aims to be a place of cooperation dedicated to maritime practices, knowledge transfer, the protection of the Mediterranean, and the development of new projects.
The inauguration day was marked by several highlights. Freediving champions performed demonstrations, while artist Anthony Alberti created a work live. Guests also had the opportunity to discover the spaces of the new Maritime Center and interact with the first ambassadors present.
Six missions to bring the sea to life in Villefranche-sur-Mer
Named after Loïc Leferme, a five-time world record holder in deep freediving, the Maritime Center embodies the values of sharing, knowledge transfer, self-improvement, and respect for the sea associated with the freediver’s legacy. He died in 2007 during a training session in Villefranche-sur-Mer bay.
The new structure is based on six missions. The development of freediving, the promotion of offshore racing, the welcoming of champions and the sharing of their experiences, the protection of the Mediterranean, the valorization of maritime heritage, and support for associative activities and events should guide its activities.
The Maritime Center will operate year-round. Young people, school children, students, and the general public will be able to participate in meetings, training sessions, conferences, awareness-raising activities, and educational projects.
For freediving, the stated objective is to make Villefranche-sur-Mer bay a world reference location for training, education, research, innovation, and competitions. Offshore racing should also benefit from a support program for young sailors, particularly focused on offshore sailing training.
The presence of Jean-Pierre Dick and the announced partnership with Alexia Barrier align with this goal. The sailor is engaged in offshore racing and is set to become, on November 1st, the first woman to start the Rhum Route in the ULTIM category.
The project also fits into a maritime policy pursued for over thirty-five years by the Alpes-Maritimes Department. The Sailing Plan launched in 1991, the departmental “Jean-Pierre Dick” School of the Sea in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Mediterranean Plan 06, and involvement in the Pelagos Sanctuary represent several stages of this policy.
The protection of the Mediterranean is thus among the missions of the new Maritime Center. Actions should notably focus on raising awareness of issues related to marine biodiversity and collaboration with the scientific community.
Charles Ange Ginésy presented the Maritime Center as a new anchor for the departmental maritime policy: “With the inauguration of the Alpes-Maritimes Department Maritime Center ‘Loïc Leferme’ in the presence of his wife Valérie and his daughter Inès, the Alpes-Maritimes Department sets a course and common anchor for its maritime policy.”
The department’s president also emphasized the objective of networking expertise and initiatives to facilitate cooperation and enable the emergence of new projects around youth and Mediterranean protection.
The Darse of Villefranche-sur-Mer, founded in 1539 by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, now hosts this new departmental structure. The Maritime Center should pool human and material resources, welcome champions and young talents, promote maritime heritage, and raise public awareness of the marine environment.
Through the development of freediving and offshore racing, the Department also wishes to support new projects and make Villefranche-sur-Mer an anchor point for maritime stakeholders. The “Loïc Leferme” Maritime Center thus aims to bring together associations, athletes, young people, scientists, and professionals around the maritime issues of the Alpes-Maritimes.
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