The former Europêche building in the port of Lorient, previously the premises of the Capitaine Houat processing company, has become a new administrative hub on the port of Lorient Keroman. It provides a range of services, including a new Maritime Integration Centre.
The building was severely damaged by a fire in 2011, was renovated in 2018 and has recently also had its façade refurbished. On the first floor, opposite the Keroman fish markets, approximately 1200 square metres of cold storage facilities offer new opportunities for the sorting and packaging of seafood products. The upper floor contains comfortable offices which have become home to major organisations serving the maritime industry.
Previously located nearby on Boulevard Louis Nail, next to the APAK fishing company, the Morbihan Fisheries Committee has now established its headquarters in the newly refurbished building, alongside the SMBO – CFDT maritime union and the Seafarers’ Social Service (SSM). Long-standing tenants Mer Conseils and Valemo are also there, along with newcomers the Maritime Integration Center (MIM), supported by the Blue Fish association.
This new entity’s aim is to support the retraining of seafarers listed as unfit for seafaring. More than 300 such cases are recorded each year in France.
‘Until now, there was a lack of resources to truly support this sector of the population,’ explained Anne-Céline Lhuillier, the MIM’s lead development officer.
‘We are now addressing this by aiming to help up to 120 people a year find onshore employment. Since we began in late 2025, we have reached about thirty and are starting to see some positive outcomes.’
