Who could understand the needs of a ship owner better than another ship owner? It is this understanding that forms the basis of the business of CNN MCO SAS. Offering individually tailored technical ship management solutions, ranging from emergency repairs to complete retrofits, the French company applies a ship owner mentality to every project – always with the objective of ensuring maximum availability and optimum performance of its customers’ floating assets.
CNN MCO specializes in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for all types of ships. The company was established in 2005 at the request of the French government to maintain the French naval fleet.
“Our parent company at that time, CNN – or Compagnie Nationale de Navigation – was historically a ship owner,” explains Commercial Director Céline Barazer. “So we could use its know-how as a shipping company, which enables us to understand the requirements of our customers perfectly and to provide tailored services. Our business concept is unique and distinguishes our company from the competition.”
In the beginning, CNN MCO worked exclusively for the French Navy and the French customs authorities. Over the years, the company has acquired more and more private ship owners as clients and expanded its geographical reach to international waters.
In 2015, CNN MCO was acquired by Pragma Capital, a private-equity fund, and became part of the newly founded SIMCO Group, which comprises different subsidiaries. One of them is MAJESTYS (www.majestys.fr), which focuses on MRO services for superyachts.
Today, CNN MCO provides complete technical ship management solutions including maintenance and repair services, spare parts supplies, made-to-measure retrofits, consulting and engineering services as well as management services for shipbuilding projects – all on a global basis.
“Since 2005, we have conducted maintainance, repair and overhaul work on more than 300 technical stops for vessels of all types and sizes,” states Ms. Barazer. The goal in all MRO activities is always the same, as Ms. Barazer describes: “All our efforts are targeted at ensuring maximum availability and optimum efficiency of our customers’ ships.”
Another thing which applies to all MRO projects completed by CNN MCO is its ship owner mentality, which puts the company into the position of providing truly individual service solutions. “We not only have the technical competences but also the flexibility to find the optimum solution for our customers,” says Ms. Barazer.
CNN MCO is based in Brest and has subsidiary operations in Toulon, Réunion Island and French Guyana. The company does not provide services through its own labour workers but manages comprehensive MRO projects on behalf of ship owners across the globe.
“We look for the right shipyard, prescribe the right or adapted work to be done, and supervise the complete project, including attention to safety regulations and classification standards. We support the risk of extra costs, as we directly place the orders for work and are committed to a fixed price for our customers,” explains Ms. Barazer. “And we do this thoroughly and very quickly as every day a ship not at sea is costly. In the shipping business, it is absolutely essential to restore the vessels’ operative availability as soon as possible.”
CNN MCO provides its services to both military and commercial clients worldwide. Together with its sister companies in the SIMCO Group, the marine MRO expert wants to enhance diversification further. “Especially in the superyachts segment, we see substantial potential for growth,” states Ms. Barazer.
Other promising growth markets include expert opinions and risk management solutions for insurance companies, and MRO services for onshore and offshore windfarms. “We also aim to grow our international clientele,” says Ms. Barazer. “We have a global network of partners which enables us to offer our services wherever they are required.”
Interview available at www.european-business.com.
