Page 30: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (August 2018)

Thought

Leadership

CLASS

Matthieu

DE TUGNY

COO, Bureau Veritas

As the cruise industry continues to boom, so too does

Bureau Veritas’ (BV) marine division, which has a long history and promising future in the sector. Mari- time Reporter & Engineering News met with Mat- thieu de Tugny, COO, BV to discuss recent activity and future prospects in cruise and beyond.

By Greg Trauthwein

Bureau Veritas has a long history in things to assemble, and so many things the cruise sector, dating back to when to manage with European equipment

France’s Chantiers de l'Atlantique was suppliers.” de Tugny said that assembly a formidable power in the cruise ship is the biggest challenge, “as you are pull- building sector, but also based on strong ing many pieces from European coun- and long relationships with cruise ship tries to be connected at the yard. From a owners in the U.S., France and Europe. structure point of view, they know how “Today, we have diversity of clients to do it. They have been building ships within the cruise industry, with com- for many years now.” While it is hard panies such as MSC where we classify to put a dollar amount on the additional about 90% of its ? eet,” said Matthieu de investment of money and resources to

Tugny, COO, BV. build effectively in China, de Tugny said

But the relationship does not stop with BV started by educating its own sur- the big ships, and BV is actively involved veyors (in China) relying on European in the fast-growing expedition class staff to train them. “We have to work ships, counting French Ponant and the very closely with them and the yards to

U.S.’ SunStone among its clients. In fact make sure that they adapt and adopt new in SunStone BV is involved in the ? rst passenger vessel construction criteria,” cruise ship orders in China, as featured said de Tugny. But it’s also a ship owner in the June 2018 edition of Maritime story, too. “They (ship owners) need a

Reporter & Engineering News (“Cruise very strong supervision team locally to

Ship Construction: China Rising; https:// ensure that the ship specs are met. It’s a www.marinelink.com/news/cruise-ship- partnership.” construction-china-rising-438788) Today BV has 400 marine personnel

But with opportunity comes challenge, in China, and 10,000 personnel in China particularly the quest to build cruise across the entire BV group. “It is our big- ships in China. “It is a challenge for gest area of operation. China is an area them and it’s a challenge for us because of real strength.” With its experience in we have to educate the shipyard,” said the cruise sector BV is a rich source of de Tugny. “As you know, building a pas- information, but as de Tugny points out, senger vessel is not like building a bulk “classi? cation is a certi? cation body, it is

Photo: Class NK carrier or a tanker; there are so many not our role to advise.” As the maritime 30 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • AUGUST 2018

MR #8 (26-33).indd 30 MR #8 (26-33).indd 30 8/6/2018 9:59:23 AM8/6/2018 9:59:23 AM