Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Pierre Balmer, Chairman Iskandar Safa, Managing Director & CEO |
| Products | Warships, Luxury yachts, Ship repair |
Number of employees | 400 (2010) |
| Parent | Abu Dhabi MAR |
| Website | www.cmnyacht.com cmn-group.com |
Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) is a shipbuilding company located in Cherbourg, France, with a workforce of approximately 400 experts specializing in the production of luxury yachts and military vessels.
Since its inception in 1945, CMN has constructed more than 350 ships and currently functions as a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi MAR holding company, which is under the ownership of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
History
CMN was founded in 1945 by the French aircraft engineer Félix Amiot. Its initial production included a wooden trawler launched in 1948, followed by an expansion into manufacturing minesweepers, coast guard ships, fishing vessels, barges, patrol boats, and fast attack crafts.
During the 1960s, CMN focused on vessels utilizing its proprietary "glued laminated wood technique," producing minesweepers mainly for the French Navy and the West German Navy. A notable project from this era was the series built between 1970 and 1972, recognized for their non-magnetic and sound-dampening hull designs.
Starting in 1967, CMN broadened its portfolio to include fast attack crafts featuring wood-cored laminated hulls. This development was influenced by the 1967 sinking of an Israeli destroyer by Egyptian missile boats, which underscored the need for sophisticated missile-equipped vessels.
In 1962, the German shipbuilder Lürssen initially agreed to deliver twelve fast attack crafts to Israel but ceased after supplying three units due to political pressures. Subsequently, CMN took over construction of the remaining nine vessels, which were designated as La Combattante II class (known in Israeli service as Sa'ar-1-class).
Throughout the 1970s, the German Navy commissioned 20 La Combattante II fast attack crafts. The resulting class is derived from this French design with modifications.
In 1992, entrepreneur Iskandar Safa acquired CMN. The company later became part of Abu Dhabi MAR in 2007, enhancing its role within both naval and luxury yacht sectors.
Operations
With a staff count near 400 employees, CMN operates as part of Abu Dhabi MAR’s portfolio, which is governed by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Its affiliated companies include ADMShipyards, Nobiskrug Shipyard, ADM Kiel (the civilian division of HDW), and Hellenic Shipyards SA.
CMN builds and refurbishes vessels up to a length of , all conducted indoors within protected halls that cover . The entire site spans .
The shipyard houses expansive construction sheds measuring by .
Launching methods include a slipway designed for yachts weighing less than 700 tons or a Syncrolift system capable of lifting up to 3,000 tonnes over an area of .
Prior to its acquisition by Abu Dhabi MAR in 2007, CMN was fully owned by Iskandar Safa.