ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products
Modern shipbuilding relies on just-in-time deliveries from partners such as ArcelorMittal
The partnership between ArcelorMittal and Chantiers de l’Atlantique began in the early 2000s, but intensified when ArcelorMittal was selected as sole steel supplier for the world’s largest cruise ship – The Harmony of the Seas. In recognition of that success, Chantiers de l’Atlantique agreed to its first multi-vessel contract for steel from ArcelorMittal.
The agreement builds further on the partnership which began back in 2014
The agreement recognises the demands placed on shipyards by cruise-ship companies as Serge Hily, Sourcing Department Manager at Chantiers de l’Atlantique explains: “Ship owners typically order a prototype and at least one sister ship. One of our major customers has placed fixed-price orders for ships to be delivered in 2025/26 with very demanding costs conditions. We need suppliers that are able to propose solutions which help us meet our targets.”
That commitment took a giant step forward when ArcelorMittal appointed a resident engineer to represent the company at Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “At the time, we thought of a resident engineer as a purely technical person who could provide practical support and help us to evolve the range of steels we use,” says Bertrand Paquet. “But the role has changed significantly. The resident engineer is now involved in quality, logistics, the supply chain, and an ongoing ‘Factory of the Future’ project. He has also proposed a new grade for the cabin modules of our vessels which could significantly reduce the effort required to install them.”