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After several years dedicated to developing a sailing-based maritime transport business in the Mediterranean, the leaders of Bourlingue & Pacotille wish to hand over the cooperative?s operational responsibilities. This move aims to ensure the project?s continuity while allowing a new team to bring its vision and expertise to an organization that is already up and running.
A handover organized to ensure the continuity of the project
The cooperative is celebrating its sixth year in operation, including three years as a nonprofit organization and three years as a Cooperative Society of Public Interest.
During this period, the company has developed a food transportation business serving several Mediterranean regions. The founding team now wishes to hand over the reins within a structured framework. The future management team must be approved by the board of directors before being presented at an extraordinary general meeting.
The current team also plans to provide support to help new staff get up to speed on various projects and ensure the transfer of knowledge acquired over the years.
A maritime network centered on the Mediterranean
Bourlingue & Pacotille?s operations are based on maritime routes connecting several Mediterranean ports. These routes have included Marseille, Sète, Corsica, Sicily, Sardinia, and Catalonia. These crossings have made it possible to transport agricultural products from producers committed to short supply chains and local trade.
Over time, the cooperative has also built up a network of partners in various regions, making it easier to organize shipments and onshore distribution.
A collectively owned cargo sailing ship
One of the project?s key features is its organizational structure. The 18-meter sailboat used for operations is collectively owned by 280 members. This governance model brings together citizens, volunteers, employees, and partners around a shared working tool.
The transfer currently underway does not, therefore, involve the sale of assets or equipment. The infrastructure, communication tools, and various resources developed over the past few years remain the property of the cooperative. For future leaders, this offers the opportunity to build upon an existing and already operational structure.
A business that combines shipping and logistics
Beyond its shipping operations, Bourlingue & Pacotille has gradually expanded its logistics operations.
In particular, the cooperative operates a hub at the commercial port of Marseille and works with various stakeholders in land, river, and bicycle logistics. This structure ensures seamless transport between production areas, ports, and distribution networks. It highlights the importance of complementarity among different modes of transport in local food supply chains.
Training and an introduction to sailing are at the heart of the project
The initiative has also given many volunteers the opportunity to learn about sailing. Nearly 200 crew members have participated in the voyages since the organization was founded. These experiences have helped raise awareness of the unique aspects of sailing as applied to cargo transport.
Future leaders will thus have the opportunity to continue both the logistics operations and this aspect of raising awareness about the maritime world, which has been an integral part of the project since its inception.
With this transition, Bourlingue & Pacotille is embarking on a new chapter in its development. The cooperative now has a boat, a logistics operation, a network of partners, and a community of members. The search for a new leadership team is now aimed at sustaining this momentum and ensuring the long-term viability of the business.
