Nico Bertels

TLDR

Nico Bertels is the founder of Bernico and Bernico Vanguard, the Willebroek-based high-performance vessel and USV builder.

Background

Bertels is a multiple world champion in offshore powerboat racing and founded Bernico in 1991 south of Antwerp. The Bernico Vanguard arm extends the same composite engineering and high-speed hull expertise into defense and maritime security applications.

What They Do

He leads vessel design and engineering at Bernico, with Bernico Vanguard applying that lineage to surface vessels, USVs, and autonomy-ready platforms for defense customers.