The Elcimaï Group Expands into the Maritime Sector with the Acquisition of Odyssée Développement
With 25 years of expertise in digital and real estate engineering and consulting on industrial organization and operational excellence, ELCIMAÏ announced today that it is acquiring ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT, an independent engineering firm specializing in the maritime economy. Previously a partner of its subsidiary GIRUS GE, which specializes in the circular economy and the energy transition, ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT is joining the French group to create a development synergy focused on specific, recognized, and complementary expertise.
A COHERENT STRATEGY
Following the acquisition of CODEF INGÉNIERIE a few weeks ago to strengthen the expertise in thermal spas and aquatic complexes of its subsidiary GIRUS GE, the ELCIMAÏ Group continues its expansion and announces today that it is acquiring ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT, an independent French engineering firm specializing in maritime economics.
RECOGNIZED EXPERTISE
Recognized for its in-depth knowledge of maritime and port sectors (commerce, transport, fishing, and recreational boating), port management issues (public contracts including public service concessions), and coastal regional planning, ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT was founded in 2000 on the Île d’Oléron, and relocated in 2003 to the heart of the largest marina on the Atlantic coast (Les Minimes – 5,000 berths), near major commercial ports (Grand Port Maritime de La Rochelle/Rochefort-Tonnay-Charente), fishing ports (La Rochelle/Oléron), and aquaculture areas.
It offers its expertise in consulting, auditing, and assessment of the maritime sector, technical support, as well as educational and training initiatives.
In this capacity, ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT collaborates regularly with GIRUS GE, an engineering firm recognized in the circular economy and energy transition sectors, which joined the ELCIMAÏ group in 2016. Since 2010, GIRUS GE has been developing maritime and coastal-related activities, leading it to create a dedicated service for these sectors : GIRUS OCÉANS. Among its recent projects, the GIRUS OCÉANS team—which notably supported the Territorial Industrial Ecology initiative of the Grand Port Maritime de la Rochelle (certified Matières Énergies Rochelaises – M.E.R.), has, for example, supported ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT in conducting a feasibility study for a ship lift at the Port Autonome de la Nouvelle-Calédonie.
“France’s maritime economy represents 700 billion euros in economic activity and over 300,000 jobs, both in mainland France and overseas ; it surpasses our automotive industry. Ninety percent of global trade passes through the seas, which also present significant opportunities in the energy sector and, more broadly, in sustainable development. A group such as ELCIMAÏ must recognize the tremendous potential for growth in this sector and take its rightful place within it. The acquisition of ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT aims to combine the expertise of entities that are today each experts in their respective fields—solidly established and fully complementary—to become a leader.”
Pascal Denier, Chairman and CEO of the Elcimaï Group
“This merger is an opportunity to put green growth at the service of the blue economy, leveraging the strength of the ELCIMAÏ Group’s business lines, which will thus expand in two directions : maritime and international.”
Leslie Widmann, co-founder of ODYSSÉE DÉVELOPPEMENT,