Project:

Rudnap group development strategy

Country:

Serbia

Client:

Team D.O.O.

Year:

2008

On the recommendation of an existing client, First Marine International (FMI) was engaged by the Rudnap Group of Belgrade to prepare a development strategy for a group of four small shipyards on the River Danube in Serbia, in preparation for privatisation.

The overall aim was to set targets for the development of the business and its performance, and to provide a summary of investments and changes needed to enable the group to achieve those targets. This included consideration of the synergies between the shipyards, indicating how they could best work together, as well as considering the requirements of the two main yards separately as potential stand-alone businesses.

The work was based on FMI’s proprietary benchmarking system which was used to evaluate the current position of the shipyards, to set targets and specify the actions necessary to achieve the goals. In addition to this, FMI undertook a thorough review of costs and the organisation of the business and recommended changes to streamline operations. Work included market evaluations for small coastal and river vessels and the market for hulls.

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Project:

Development of restructuring plan

Country:

Croatia

Client:

Viktor Lenac Shipyard

Year:

2007-2008

First Marine International (FMI) was asked by an existing client, a shareholder in the Viktor Lenac ship repair yard, to produce a restructuring plan to assist the yard in emerging from bankruptcy and preparing for privatisation. To develop the plan FMI undertook a market study and a current position review. The results of this work were discussed with the yard’s management to agree on the actions required to take the business forward.

The market study looked at the market and competitive positioning of the shipyard in the Adriatic and the wider Mediterranean areas. The marketing methods used by the yard were also reviewed. A marketing strategy was developed on the basis of the results of this study, including targeting of key customers and targets for market share and throughput. The current position review looked at all aspects of the business including facilities, equipment, management, human resources and production methods, with the aim of proposing developments needed for competitive operations. Proposals included changes in all areas of the business to improve operations and to return to profitability. The credibility of the proposals made relied on FMI’s extensive experience of ship repair marketing and operations and successfully gained buy-in from the yard management.

Following approval of the plan, FMI played an ongoing role in implementation through regular visits to the yard and review of progress and issues with the implementation team.

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Project:

Performance improvement and facility development

Country:

Croatia

Client:

Uljanik Shipyard

Year:

2003-2004

Founded in 1856 as an Austro-Hungarian Naval Shipyard in Pula, Ukjanik is now one of the oldest and most successful commercial shipyards in Croatia.

In 2002 Uljanik were receiving significant government subsidies. With Croatia poised to join the EU, the management of the shipyard embarked on an aggressive performance improvement programme aimed at becoming a profitable company without subsidies by 2008.

First Marine International was commissioned to assist Uljanik with the development and implementation of a performance improvement plan that addressed expanding the product mix, raising the level of production technology, developing the facilities and reorganising and developing the pre-production operations.

FMI was able to demonstrate that, within the confines of the Uljanik site, they could readily achieve an increase in throughput from four vessels per annum to seven. The study defined the expanded product mix, the changes required in production operations technology, facilities development and changes in preproduction organisation and operations.

Following this initial project, FMI provided on-site assistance with the reorganisation and training of the technical staff to meet the required increased shipyard performance.