The four Stone Marine companies offer a complete package of shaftline maintenance services for vessel operators and owners.
From the shaft itself to bearings, couplings, lubri- cants, shaft sealing devices, CP & FP propeller maintenance along with marine electrics and propeller & thrust unit controls and dynamic positioning systems we offer a cohesive package. We are also highly experienced with steering gear and deck machinery. With highly experienced propeller
technicians, service engineers, seal technicians and controls engineers we can offer a one-stop approach. Again, developing relationships with partners and customers is essential.
Our facilities in the UK & Africa allow us to provide geographic flexibility in the services we provide. We can mobilise from a number of bases allowing us to respond more rapidly. We can operate on vessels, in shipyards or move equipment to our repair bases for repair and storage until required.
After beginning his career in 1997 with Stone Manganese Marine as an apprentice, Fran Johnson was appointed Managing Director of Stone Marine Shipcare, Birkenhead, UK in 2019. Recently he was also appointed as Managing Director of Stone Marine Services Ltd. to oversee marine service centres in Inverkeithing - Scotland, Cape Town – South Africa and Walvis Bay - Namibia.
With 25 years of working with propulsion systems, Fran Johnson brings a wealth of experience to the Stone Marine brand with exciting times ahead.
With the continued success of Stone Marine Ship- care Fran Johnson’s appointment offers a unique opportunity for both companies to bring together
their expertise and work closely to provide complete service support packages to vessel owners & oper- ators globally. On his appointment, Fran said ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to develop all four companies and to create a stronger presence in the Maritime Service Sector. The expertise we can offer and the scope of our work will allow us to rival any major service company.’
How will your company be able top achieve greater growth and stronger presence in the field of Shipping Services in the near future?
Moving the combined skills and work scopes of the four Stone Marine companies together is a key element of our strategy. Operating as a cohesive unit to combine the strengths of all our personnel is a huge opportunity that we are investing in.
How high on your agenda is the strengthening of your existing partnerships with manufacturers and operators around the world? Are you going to announce new partnerships soon?
Its right at the top of the list. Long term partnerships are key to agency development and the success at Stone Marine Shipcare.
Our strong partnership with Nakashima Propeller Co. Ltd. has operated successfully for over 30 years and continues to grow from strength to strength.
Over the past few years, developing & strengthening partnerships has been the cornerstone of growth at Stone Marine in both the UK and global markets. Amalgamating the managing director position for both the Services and Shipcare divisions will only allow these partnerships to be developed further.
We are very pleased to have recently announced a new partnership/agency agreement with KTE, South Korea. Our experience and ongoing work with CP propellers and in thrust unit maintenance aligns perfectly with KTE’s requirements for customer support and spare parts supply in the UK & Europe and it will be a great pleasure to work with them in the coming years.
Do you believe that STONE MARINE’s personnel have the perfect combination
of experience and skills needed to drive your company’s performance and meet your targets?
We have undergone a substantial overhaul of the management structure during the past 18 months and developed a greater cohesion between the four Stone Marine companies. These changes are bringing both economies and a greater return.
Also, we have recognised that many staff were underutilised and after a review of our existing skill set, a few simple changes have brought new insights and a clearer direction for us to move forward.
Johnson said ‘It is a huge strategic mistake to focus on what personnel are doing now at the expense of being aware of how those personnel can develop.’ Listening to staff and allowing ideas to evolve has also brought several new approaches to issues that we were facing.
Our personnel are the foundation of our strength. I’ve heard so often that the reason for not training staff is that they could move away to new jobs and the investment could be enjoyed by someone else, but I argue that companies must consider what would happen if personnel aren’t developed and they stay in place? New skills & new ideas are essential and the feeling that any member of a workforce has when a company invests in them and shares their goals brings such a difference to the commitment that person has to the business.
That said we do recognise that there are times when key skills are identified as essential within the immediate future, and we look carefully at recruiting the right people.
Managing Director Stone Marine Shipcare & Stone Marine Services