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What remains of a shipyard when its owner leaves? In Penhap, quite a lot: the shipwrights, the workshops, the wooden boats, and an operation directly tied to recreational boating in the Gulf of Morbihan. Yet the change is profound, as Chantier du Guip is refocusing its operations on Brest, while a new company takes the helm at its historic site.
The birthplace of the Chantier du Guip retains its shipbuilding heritage
Le Chantier du Guip was founded in 1976 in Penhap Cove on Île aux Moines. Fifty years later, its Morbihan-based operations were taken over by Penhap Bois Océan, a company founded by Pauline Nouvellon and Nicolas Chanteloup.
The construction, maintenance, repair, and restoration of wooden vessels remain part of the program. The three employees from the former shipyard will also be retained.
The facility covers more than 3,000 m². It features equipment specifically designed for marine structural work and, above all, a team familiar with the methods used on boats whose maintenance often requires more than just a spare parts catalog.
Pauline Nouvellon is taking over as manager of a construction site she first encountered during an internship
The new executive's career path deviates from the typical paths in the shipbuilding industry.
Pauline Nouvellon, 36, originally from Île aux Moines, worked for 15 years in international trade for companies in the pharmaceutical industry. She then decided to return to Morbihan to pursue a different career.
His entry into the marine carpentry field began with a several-month internship in La Rochelle at Despierres Bois Océan, a company run by Nicolas Chanteloup. Chanteloup then asked him to let him know if there was a project available in the Gulf of Morbihan.
A few months later, the sale of the Penhap site presented this opportunity. Pauline Nouvellon thus found herself at the helm of the business where she had originally been scheduled to complete an internship with the carpenters. This is a rather unusual situation in a trade where technical training generally takes a long time.
Despierres Bois Océan brings its expertise in marine structural engineering
Nicolas Chanteloup heads Despierres Bois Océan in La Rochelle, another company specializing in traditional marine shipbuilding.
The partnership between the two new owners thus combines two different roles. Pauline Nouvellon manages the Penhap site, while Nicolas Chanteloup contributes his experience with timber construction projects and their organization.
A CNC machining center must also be made available to Penhap Bois Océan. The takeover also includes support from Yann and Tegwen Mauffret. This transition period should help preserve some of the knowledge accumulated through the maintenance and restoration of boats at Penhap.
The departure from Île aux Moines does not mark the end of Chantier du Guip. Yann and Tegwen Mauffret have decided to focus the company on its Brest location, which was established in 1981. The two entities will therefore now follow separate paths.
The Brest facility is located on Quai du Commandant Malbert. Its operations have focused on larger vessels, classic yachts, and vessels that are part of the maritime heritage.
The workshop covers more than 2,000 m² and is capable of working on boats weighing up to approximately 100 metric tons. Shipbuilding and cabinetmaking play a central role there.
The construction of La Recouvrance in the early 1990s was one of the projects that contributed to the development of this facility.
The new organizational structure thus creates two independent companies. In Brest, Chantier du Guip continues its operations focused on large vessels. On Île aux Moines, Penhap Bois Océan operates from its historic site, specializing in the construction, maintenance, and restoration of wooden boats.
