3. Reconversion

In 1995, the Ministry of Defence announced, as part of its restructuring plan, the abandonment of the Lorient submarine base. This decision became effective in February 1997 with the departure for Toulon of the Mermaid, the last submersible present at Keroman. Lorient Agglomération then becomes the owner of the site and undertakes its reconversion. To do this, an international competition is launched in 1999. Among the 192 projects submitted, that of the Luxembourg team Paczowki-Frisch, which proposes arrangements highlighting the link between man and the sea, is finally the winner. The reconversion was organized around a three-dimensional site. Tourist and heritage, on one hand with in point
d'orgue the construction of the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly inaugurated in 2008. Economic, on the other hand with the reception of a hundred companies in the nautical field. Port and sporting, finally, with the presence of many skippers and more than a dozen international teams.