The naval architect behind Pen Duick VI, the First 30, and the Neoliner cargo sailboat
Naval architecture firm founded in 1945 in Marseille by André Mauric (1909–2003). Today a subsidiary of the Exail Group, Mauric employs around forty staff across Marseille, Nantes, and Belgium, with an office opening in Singapore planned for 2025. The firm designs 10 to 15 vessels launched each year for offshore racing, defense, merchant shipping, offshore, fishing, and ferries.
From André Mauric to Exail
André Mauric began designing in the 1930s and founded his firm in 1945. In 1972 he signed the plans for theImpensable, a half-tonner winner of the Half Ton Cup whose derivative designs became the Bénéteau First 30 (over 1,100 units built). In 1973 he designed the Pen Duick VI for Éric Tabarly, followed in 1985 by the Alcyone for Commander Cousteau, a 31 m turbosail vessel. The firm has delivered over 500 vessels in operation across 50 countries. Acquired by ECA Group, it is now part of the Exail Group, positioning it at the heart of autonomous naval platform development (USV Inspector 90 and 125).
Cargo sailboat, defense, hybrid: the current focus
Mauric is the naval architect of the Neoliner Origin, a 136 m Ro-Ro cargo sailboat launched in January 2025 at RMK Marine (Turkey) for owner Neoline. Two 1,500 m² Solid Sail rigs (from Chantiers de l'Atlantique) and a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system aim for 80 to 90 % lower fuel consumption on the Saint-Nazaire–Baltimore route. The firm is also working on the ALBA (an electro-hydrogen-powered vessel) and overseeing the USV Inspector program for Exail Défense.
