Cornes Chart Group buys digital navigation provider

Two leading suppliers of navigation charts, software and equipment have joined forces to create what is claimed to be the largest charts supplier in the world. Cornes Chart Group has acquired navigation systems supplier GNS. The deal follows Cornes’ acquisition of US and Singapore-based Safe Navigation earlier this year to create the largest provider of these products in the world.

It is claimed that the Cornes and GNS deal is a natural extension of the already close working relationship between the two companies that has been established over many years in areas such as navigation management software and digital service delivery.

Toshiyuki Kamoshita, director of Cornes and COO of Cornes Maritime Division, says: “We are very pleased to be able to welcome GNS and its employees into the Cornes Group. Cornes is one of the leading chart businesses in the world whilst GNS has the highest quality software in the sector and has pioneered the use of data analytics in the delivery of digital solutions to its customers. There is a great geographic fit between the two businesses and Cornes looks forward to investing in GNS and developing the customer proposition even further in the coming years.”

Paul Stanley, CEO of GNS, says: “Over the last four years GNS has invested heavily in developing the market-leading suite of digital products for marine navigation, Voyager. GNS’s combination with Cornes will accelerate the development of Voyager and GNS’s other services and will maintain GNS’s strong culture around the safety of life at sea.”

Japan-based Cornes now has international coverage and supplies charts and equipment to over 10,000 vessels around the world, including many superyachts that are required to maintain up-to-date chart products and systems.