BALCO Boats: A Breton shipyard that combines tradition and innovation

After graduating from high school and a brief stint in preparatory classes, Teys realized he needed something more concrete. He switched to a mechanical and manufacturing engineering program at the IUT in Rennes and completed his second year through a work-study program at a major French aerospace company. “I’ve always been drawn to complex systems,” he says. But the work-study experience at a large company disappointed him: “Too many people to deal with, too much red tape.”

At the end of that year, he applied and was accepted by ENSTA, Brest campus.

“The specialization, the school’s reputation in the maritime field, and its roots in Brittany were decisive factors.”

His three years in the work-study engineering program at ENSTA gave him scientific rigor, methodological skills, and the ability to analyze complex problems.

“Teamwork, long-term projects, and interactions with people from diverse backgrounds—the work-study students come from all walks of life—were highly formative and served me well later on, particularly in an entrepreneurial context. Participating in the Dream Project (a project involving the design and flight of a drone in a zero-gravity environment) was, in particular, an incredible human and scientific adventure.”

“The BALCO Boats project really took shape during my studies at ENSTA. Even though the company wasn’t formally incubated by the school, ENSTA played a formative role in my career path and in establishing my technical credibility, and I was fortunate to receive financial support from the alumni association.”

Founded in June 2025, BALCO Boats is a small-scale shipyard offering custom-built boats, naval engineering, repair projects, and the integration of electric propulsion systems.

“We aim to blend tradition and innovation with designs inspired by classic boats and meticulous craftsmanship, while using modern materials and paying special attention to energy efficiency,” explains the founder.

It is also developing projects to decarbonize maritime transport, particularly in Africa. “We’re working to make maritime transport more sustainable, even in contexts where infrastructure is limited,” he adds.