HydrOcean becomes part of Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas has finalized the acquisition of HydrOcean, a French engineering company which provides design support for the construction of ships, offshore structures, racing yachts and marine energy systems.

Established in 2007, HydrOcean specializes in assessing and optimizing hydrodynamic performance. The company has co-developed advanced digital simulation tools in partnership with Ecole Centrale Nantes’ fluid dynamics laboratory.

HydrOcean’s services and simulation tools help reduce the risks, time and costs associated with ship design.

The company regularly works for major industrial French and international companies, such as DCNS, STX Europe, CMN, V.Ships, TOTAL, Technip, GazTransport&Technigaz, Multiplast, VPLP, Team Groupama, Team BanquePopulaire, ALSTOM, Sabella, AWS Ocean Energy, Wavebob, etc.

HydrOcean carried out the evaluation of hydrodynamic performance of the Sabella tidal turbine.

“The acquisition of HydrOcean enables Bureau Veritas to integrate an outstanding team of experts and highly innovative entrepreneurs. The Group is increasingly developing solutions combining its core testing, inspection and certification services with new technologies.

“HydrOcean fits perfectly into this strategy thanks to its simulation tools and its technical expertise. Its services will complement those offered by the Marine & Offshore business, especially in reducing ship fuel consumption,” said Didier Michaud-Daniel, CEO of Bureau Veritas.

“We have already achieved successful projects with Bureau Veritas, under the technical and commercial cooperation agreement we have had for over a year. Today, we are looking forward to becoming part of one of the world’s leading classification societies and expanding our business into the international market,” said Erwan Jacquin, President and founder of HydrOcean.

Based in Nantes, France, HydrOcean employs 18 engineers and had a revenue of EUR 2.7 million in 2014.