Moteurs Baudouin, a renowned French marine engine manufacturer established in 1918 in Marseille, has been a pivotal player in the maritime industry. Exploring Baudouin’s ambitious plans for expansion in the Middle East and their commitment to sustainability through the development of green technologies, Mehdi Kebaili, Executive Sales Director, and Laureen Ducrocq, Senior Marketing Manager tell Robban Assafina that the company is planning to grow by 30% in the region, bringing new products to the market to reach new applications and new types of vessels. More on the company’s plans is in the following interview which was held during the International Tug and Salvage Convention 2024.

First of all, we would like to introduce Moteurs Baudouin to our readers.
Moteurs Baudouin is a French marine engine manufacturer which has been in the market since 1918. Established in Marseille, the busiest city in South of France, third largest harbour in France, and one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean region, Baudouin manufactures marine engines for various types of applications, fishing, passenger boats, and oil & gas. Our HHP engines span up to 3500HP. Since 2009, Baudouin became part of a very big company called Weichai Group, a big engine manufacturer, and they are supporting the company in terms of development and investment.

How important is the Middle East region for Baudouin’s vision and strategy?

We have been active in the region since 2016, we have a local sales representative, and our network has increased in the region. The significance of the Middle East region is great to the company; with the help of our branch in Dubai we became a recognized brand. We are specialized in spare parts inventory for technical support, and we have a team of technical aftersales engineers to offer full support to our clients.

How has the journey been for Baudouin through many maritime changes?

Since the acquisition, Weichai has invested over 120 million dollars to develop new products, certification and emission strategies. And since this is the main topic in the maritime industry today, we have our engines IMO Tier II and III complied, and we have also developed full range of hybrid solutions, diesel & electric. Our engines have HVO compliance, and we are looking into developing engines for methanol and hydrogen.

What can you tell us about the company's continuous developments as Baudouin is highly connected to the shipyards in the region?

Indeed, we have a direct approach with shipyards in the region, our network is supporting the aftersales services. We are well connected with Grandweld, our number one partner in the region and they have shown their satisfaction for our local support. They wanted someone to manage their projects and we have dedicated a project manager to make sure we have the technical matters under control. We address these matters very carefully, customizing solutions to their exact needs.

Are there any plans to enhance Baudouin’s exposure in the region?

UAE is our primary market, Saudi Arabia as well; we have reinforced the distribution network in the Kingdom. This year, we intend to enhance our presence in other markets such as Qatar, Kuwait and Oman through our distribution network.

Sustainability, zero emissions and green fuel. From your experience, how do you envision the future of this industry? 
We seek to be greener, more responsible towards the environment. Following the Group’s strategy, we have a dedicated new energy company to drive all the future changes. For the maritime, the change is coming very fast, we see that the demand on new energies is at a very fast pace, as a result we need to catch up and be dedicated to the specialized sectors of the shipping industry. That is why we are exploring different solutions to make sure that they match the technologies and infrastructures.

When was the official training academy inaugurated, and what types of training does it provide?

We have inaugurated the official training academy in January, a 750m2 facility in France recognized by official schools and governments to provide trainings on any range of engines. We also organize webinars to provide training to all teams around the world.

How do you evaluate Baudouin’s 2024 performance? And what plans are ahead?

2023 was a record year for Baudouin in the Middle East, mainly UAE and KSA. We are following the same trend this year, planning to grow by 30% in the region, bringing new products to the market to reach new applications and new types of vessels. 2024 is going to be a very great year for Baudouin; We will be keeping an eye on shipyards and designers with governmental projects being very active in the region. 

As for our products, we will work on strategies for the medium speed engines, diversify our operations in the yachting business and applications. Our next event stop is SMM Hamburg, where we will unveil new products specialized for yachting and other applications in the pipeline. 

What can you tell us about your participation in the International Tug and Salvage Convention and the company’s display at the event?

We wanted to showcase the HVO fuel solution, and we have seen a very positive feedback from ship designers and engine tug operators looking for what Baudouin could offer in that aspect, and we had our technical team to explain all the inquiries. We have noticed that the region is driving the change since the demand is high and the clients are requesting greener solutions.

Robban Assafina, Issue 92, July/ August 2024, Maritime Host, pg. 73

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	Issue 92 of Robban Assafina (July/Aug. 2024)