Boaters and professionals come together for a heritage shipyard

The shipyard, specialist in heritage boats, located in Kergroise should continue its activity

Kergroise should continue to host heritage pleasure boats. Nicolas Le Corre, one of the key players in the project, tells us more about the meeting of 5 professional and amateur structures in Lorient and the discussions underway with the CCI.

Briag Merlet Published on March 15, 2021

Bringing together professionals and amateurs of heritage boats

The story began in 2017 around the association Bélouga Lorient. This one finds a hangar of 1600 m² in the area of Kergroise, allowing its owners to carry out the maintenance of their boats. The place is quickly shared with other heritage boat enthusiasts and now brings together 5 structures. "There are 3 associations and 2 professionals. Les Bélouga Lorient, with about fifteen boats of owners, the association Les Marguerites whose initial goal is to make young adults sail, initially on the sailboat Marguerite, which currently manages 3 boats plus 2 in preparation. The association is in charge of sailing the boat and providing volunteer labor for owners who entrust their boat and finance its maintenance. We also have the Kariba association and its double-decker bus which organizes cultural events. And 2 professionals: La Perrière Nautisme which does boat transport and marine mechanics and myself with the Atelier Nicolas Le Corre, in marine carpentry" presents Nicolas Le Corre.

L'association BÃ©lougas <a onclick= — The Bélougas Lorient association is at the origin of the project

Creating a heritage shipyard

Although the place does not have a fixed name, it is sometimes referred to as the Heritage Workshop, a term that is used as a specification. "We have everything here to create a heritage shipyard. With five large 5-metre wide doors and a 20-metre wide building, we can bring in beautiful boats. Our goal is not to compete with the wintering yards. We want to be a quality heritage and cultural place, not a big shipyard. We leave one metre between each boat, to be able to work in good conditions. Today, it is no longer possible to restore like pigs!

StemaÃ«l, voilier signÃ© Sparkman & Stephens, fait partie de la flottille des Marguerites — Stemaël, a Sparkman & Stephens sailboat, is part of the Marguerite flotilla

Integrating the shipyard into the development of the port of Lorient

Uncertain at the beginning of 2021, the future of the shipyard seems to become clearer. It has received the support of local elected officials and the local nautical fabric. "The Chamber of Commerce and Industry, owner of the building, has just extended our lease for 2 months to see how to integrate our project into the rehabilitation of the area. Depending on the situation, we will form an economic interest group or an association to manage the place" concludes Nicolas Le Corre optimistically.