Interview of the week - Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - France

As a son of a merchant navy sailor, it was only natural for Mathias to orient his studies towards international logistics. After freight forwarding studies, he quickly jumped to shipping management at the Plymouth university in UK, after which he started as a shipping agent, mainly for breakbulk cargoes in various French ports, then as a shipbroker in Paris for conventional cargoes and few years after as a commercial manager for a French commercial port.

In 2007, he joined the shipowner Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - MN as a chartering manager eventually progressing to the position of commercial director.

Tell us about Compagnie Maritime Française.

Founded in 1882, the scope of Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - MN includes design, building, acquisition, chartering, national & international operation of vessels whose characteristics are ideally suited to its customers’ most demanding requirements.

Expert on industrial and specialised transports, MN extends its range of activities by proposing its services and experience to third parties as ship management.

Mainly concentrated on sensible cargoes transportation (IMO and high value) and pax transfer activities, MN is organised into 5 departments: Commercial, Technical, Manning, Administrative & financial and QSES.

The worldwide MN fleet is composed of 5 RO-LO vessels and 1 specific vessel:

• MN Toucan & MN Colibri: specially designed and built to transport Arianespace launcher components from Europe to Kourou in French Guiana, these assets are placed today on the spot market and continue to work among other for space industries (Italian launcher VEGA, satellites and telescopes).
   
• MN Tangara & MN Calao: Operated through a long-term time charter contract with the French Ministry of Defence, these vessels provide logistic support for the French bases in the Indian Ocean, West Africa coast, French Caribbean, French Guiana, Polynesia and Pacific for overseas exercises and military deployments in operational theatres.
   
• MN Pelican: Following her long-term time charter for French Ministry of Defence account, this vessel is chartered since 2016 by Brittany Ferries for a liner service between UK and Spain.
   
• Langevin: This vessel manages sensible missions for French Navy and is classified.

Pax transfer activity:

A MN subsidiary “Morlenn Express” has 6 passenger vessels which are employed under a long-term contract in the transportation of French Navy personnel on Brest roads. Also, these units can as well be used occasionally on other activities.

In accordance with both French and international regulations, MN has sufficient officers and seamen to man the vessels of its own fleet at the highest standards.

Demanding on the quality of its services and the satisfaction of its customers, MN is committed to a process of continuous improvement through the monitoring of recognized standards for Quality, Safety, Security and Working Conditions such ISO 9001-2015 label and ISM regulation.

As a Bimco and Armateurs de France member, MN is signatory of the Blue Charter which promotes the commitment of shipowners to socially and environmentally responsible maritime transport and services. Also, MN has the Green Marine Europe label which is an environmental certification programme for the European maritime industry.

Who owns the company?

Compagnie Maritime Nantaise is a subsidiary of Sogestran Group since 2017.

The Sogestran Group specializes in the transport and logistics of industrial goods: inland, maritime, and multimodal transport, as well as industrial services (such as tank and container repair and the conditioned storage of hazardous materials).

A family-owned company founded in 1948 in Le Havre, Sogestran now directly employs nearly 1000 staff members, both onshore and onboard, across more than 30 companies in France and Europe. Its turnover was 352 million euros in 2023.

The Group owns and operates over 200 inland and maritime vessels that navigate European rivers and all the world's oceans. Onboard, the Group transports refined products, petrochemicals, liquefied gases, dry bulk, sensitive goods for the French military and the aerospace industry, and heavy cargo. The Group also offers multimodal transport services and urban distribution of industrial and specialized products of all kinds.

For several years, the ambition guiding the Group has been to build a European group serving a more sustainable economy.

The Group’s priorities are quality, safety, and consideration of the environmental, social, and societal impacts of its activities. Its in-house engineering department provides innovative, tailor-made solutions for the Group’s clients. The Group works daily to decarbonize its activities, notably by experimenting with new technologies, including alternative fuels and propulsion systems.

Tell us a few words about your personal experience, your expertise and the company's business in general.

With more than 25 years of experience of working in the maritime industry, such as a shipbroker in Paris, my roles consist today of defining transport strategies for key global worldwide accounts and to supervise and optimise international logistics and port transit.

Constantly seeking to be competitive, I negotiate commercial contracts both with clients and subcontractors.

Where are your offices located?

The head office of Compagnie Maritime Nantaise (MN) is located in Nantes, France.

Tell us about projects that you have handled recently.

Concentrating on MN open vessels positions and always looking to employ them, my commercial target activities are thereby focused on the vessels MN Colibri & MN Toucan. Thanks to the company’s and seamen’s knowledge and experience, we work directly with AVIO on their shipments for their Vega launcher.

Furthermore, following the James Webb telescope (JWST) transportation from California to French Guiana in 2021, we have developed a new activity for satellite shipments by sea instead of by air, as done previously, for our worldwide key accounts.

Furthermore, regarding  the innovative propulsion system, the unit MN PELICAN was the test vessel in 2022 & 2023 for the inflatable and retractable sail propulsion system developed by Michelin-Wisamo, to contribute to the decarbonization of maritime transport.

Which are the main industries served in France and which one seems to be your focus point?

In France, several key industries play a central role in the economy, including aerospace with, among others, Thales Alenia Space, defence, automotive, energy, and manufacturing. The country is also home to several key suppliers of aviation components and systems. The aerospace supply chain plays a major role in ensuring the success of commercial and military aircraft projects.

Among these, the aerospace industry, aeronautics with Airbus and the Ministry of Defence are particularly significant for the Compagnie Maritime Nantaise (MN).

Is Project Cargo Forwarding a competitive sector in France? How do you ensure that you stand out? 

The project cargo forwarding is a competitive sector in France. France's central location in Europe makes it a key player in international logistics and transportation, with access to both maritime and land routes. The country has well-established ports and France's central location in Europe makes it a key player in international logistics and transportation.

As shipowners, we can provide personalized freight forwarding services, on a case-by-case basis, to our primary clients who charter our own assets. Within the Sogestran Group, we can combine maritime and inland waterway transport modes, and we can also arrange pre- or post-carriage by road to adapt to the specific needs of each client.

What parts of Heavylift project management seem to be challenging in France? Any advice to be shared as a precaution or as an important highlight to a potential customer? 

Managing a Heavylift project in France, as with any large-scale logistics and construction project, presents a unique set of challenges. Several key factors can complicate the process and understanding them in advance can help prevent issues and ensure smooth execution.

What made you personally join the industry?

I joined the industry eager to provide and deliver top-tier logistics services.

What do you like the most about your business?

What I enjoy the most of all about my business is the fast-paced nature of urgent logistics and the challenge of meeting critical deadlines. Reactivity and anticipation are the words which drive my business.

Who should be approached in Maritime Nantaise for inquiries?

For any inquiries, you should contact me at mathias.audrain@mn-nantes.fr