Compagnie du Ponant, French Luxury Liner, Picks BASSnet™ Software to Manage Its Growing Business

OSLO, NORWAY, 13 MARCH 2013: French luxury liner, Compagnie du Ponant has picked BASSnet™ software solutions to drive key functions on its superior liners and flagship yacht¸ in a maiden contract for BASS in the cruise liner business.

The choice of BASSnet™ integrated fleet management systems reflects the importance that the prestigious liner places on ensuring safe and reliable operations in a premium market where passengers expect the highest safety and quality standards.

The hallmark of the BASSnet™ software is that they provide a comprehensive solution for all important areas of Compagnie du Ponant’s maritime operations, are built on an up-to-date technology platform that makes them future-proof and that they win accolades for their outstanding user-friendly experience. This is enhanced by the proven ability of BASS to deploy the new systems rapidly through a structured implementation process.

Compagnie du Ponant’s CIO, Jean-Louis Cambert,strongly endorsed the BASSnet™ solutions.

“The BASSnet™ strategy of building one, integrated solution for all maritime operations makes outstanding business sense. We look forward to enjoying the benefits of process improvements across all our operations with the implementation of BASSnet™ software solutions,” he said.

“With the structured implementation process adopted by BASS, we are confident that rapid conversion to the new software will be achieved in minimal time,” said Jean-Louis Cambert.

The two 132-cabin mega-yachts Le Boréal, L’Austral, and the third sistership Le Soleal which is due to be delivered in June 2013, being fitted with the BASSnet™ Procurement, Maintenance, Operations (Certificates modules) and Document Management modules. Dry-Docking module for those three ships will be added in a second phase.

The three-masted yacht, Le Ponant, which is limited to 64 privileged passengers, will be also equipped with the same modules this summer during global deployment on the fleet of Safety and Improvement Reporting Systems (SAFIR) and KPI Dashboard.

The integrated BASSnet™ software suite will optimise the liners’ core functions in asset management, purchasing, safety management, dry-docking projects and document and content management through streamlining and automation for enhanced efficiency and profitability.

BASSnet™’s award-winning applications provide management overview, transparency and process efficiency with a modular structure that allows its solutions to be customised for maximum operational benefits and returns on investment.

BASS’ Vice President of Sales Haakon Dalan noted that the deal with Compagnie du Ponant, the first luxury liner under the French flag, opens an exciting new market segment for BASS, which has Norwegian roots.

“As a pioneer in the French cruise business, Compagnie du Ponant has made its mark in the luxury liner segment. We are proud to partner the renowned company to enhance its growing business with our future-proof software solutions,” Dalan said.

With the efficiency improvements that Compagnie du Ponant can expect with BASSnet™ software solutions, Dalan was confident that more cruise operators will be opting for its fully-integrated fleet management systems.

Compagnie du Ponant offers all-season cruises to locations that are inaccessible to larger cruise liners, in South America, Asia, the Caribbean and around the world. It can expect to see significant savings all year long with the efficiency gains that will accrue through BASSnet™ software solutions.

Dalan noted further that as the cruise line business is very capital intensive and has high operating costs, process optimisationis crucial for commercial success. In this regard, BASSnet™ fleet management systems provide an ideal solution, he said.

At present, a majority of BASS clients are in the shipping sector and offshore support services for the oil and gas industry.

Among BASS’ larger clients are Neptune Orient Lines, IMC Shipping, Stolt Tankers, Hapag-Lloyd, Oldendorff Carriers, CMA CGM, NYK, K-Line, Wilh.Wilhelmsen, Sandigan Shipping, Grindrod Shipping and Jasa Merin, to name a few.

About BASS

BASS, founded in 1997, is a leading global provider of fleet management software for ship owners and ship managers as well as operators of rigs and floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) and offshore units.

More than 110 customers, including many of the world’s leading shipping companies and offshore service providers, run fully-integrated BASSnet™ Fleet Management Systems on more than 1,400 vessels around the world in order to manage their assets, operations and human resources, ensure regulatory compliance and improve financial results.

For more information, please contact news@bassnet.no or visit www.bassnet.no

On Compagnie du Ponant

COMPAGNIE DU PONANT is the only French cruise line and is part of France’s great maritime tradition offering a combination of both great destinations and sophistication.  It was founded in 1988 by Jean Emmanuel Sauvée with the help of a dozen other officers from the French Merchant Navy.

The company offers cruises to the six continents including Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Europe and Oceania.

In 2012, COMPAGNIE DU PONANT carried more than 20,000 passengers and generated a €80 million turnover. In 2013, COMPAGNIE DU PONANT will operate four vessels: LE PONANT (a three-mast sailing ship) with 32 staterooms, L’AUSTRAL, LE BOREAL and the soon-to-come third sister ship LE SOLEAL each hosting 132 stateroom and suites.

For more information contact http://en.ponant.com