Bourbon

BOURBON innovates, standardizes and intensifies its training policy for seamen

Development of two anchor handling simulators for modern offshore vessels

In line with the BOURBON Horizon 2010 strategic plan announced in February 2006, which provides for 1.2 billion euros in investments in its Offshore Division, BOURBON is in the process of doubling its workforce. By recruiting over 4,000 seamen by 2010, half of whom will be officers, BOURBON will meet the very strong growth in the offshore market, for which 110 service vessels have already been ordered.

Apart from recruitment, BOURBON’s second big challenge is training.

In line with the BOURBON Horizon 2010 strategic plan announced in February 2006, which provides for 1.2 billion euros in investments in its Offshore Division, BOURBON is in the process of doubling its workforce. By recruiting over 4,000 seamen by 2010, half of whom will be officers, BOURBON will meet the very strong growth in the offshore market, for which 110 service vessels have already been ordered.

Apart from recruitment, BOURBON’s second big challenge is training.

Leading-edge technology to train crews using 2 anchor handling simulators

Technical training in near-real conditions

Two simulators developed by BOURBON in collaboration with the Offshore Simulator Center in Aalesund, Norway, one in France and the other in Singapore, will train captains, chief engineers and bridge officers in all maneuvers and exercises in almost-real conditions.

Thanks to the use of leading-edge products and processes, the recreation of a real bridge and realistic visual supports, this simulator can reproduce an almost real situation on both visual and sensorial levels. In partnership with the Aalesund University College, Offshore Simulator Center AS provides IT development and all display systems.

Relevant and realistic interactive simulation is the key to successful improvement and innovation. The simulator systems allow “full mission” training, where crew members on deck and operators may engage in the simulation in addition to the navigators and other bridge crew such as winch operators. Critical operations may be tried and investigated under safe conditions before they actually take place. The relevance of new ideas and technologies, and novel modes of operation, may be adequately explored.

Special BOURBON programs

BOURBON is using this technology and developing special training programs in anchor handling operations on tug supply vessels (AHTS).

These 2 simulators facilitate standardized training programs worldwide for all BOURBON crews in a context in which the fleet is increasingly standardized because of long series of identical vessels.

This standardization guarantees customers greater efficiency, increased safety, and identical service quality throughout the world.

"These simulators are a major innovation," stresses Thierry Buzulier, BOURBON Human Resources Manager. "They will allow our officers, after an initial training period at sea, to master onshore BOURBON operational standards, in addition to the safety training course. The Offshore training centers which will be based, among other components, on these 2 simulators, will very rapidly become essential, not only for new employees, but also with a view to the promotion of officers already in service."

A global training policy developed by BOURBON

As the leading recruiter of French merchant marine officers, and convinced that shipbuilders must be the drivers in modernizing marine training, BOURBON has made an innovative commitment to "public-private" partnerships, which are an exceptional vector to support and develop excellence in French training and its influence internationally.

Creation of 2 offshore training centers: Marseilles (France) and Singapore

After initiating in Marseilles, in 2004, in partnership with local and national institutions, the first training center for Dynamic Positioning¹ accessible to all shipbuilders and seamen, BOURBON is intensifying its effort by creating the BOURBON-Hydro Offshore Oil Training Center.

This training center, dedicated to offshore oil and gas marine services, will be fully operational by the end of 2007 and will include, in addition to the existing programs (DP¹, HL0², Safety, etc.), an anchor-handling operations simulator for AHTS specialized vessels.

In 2008, an identical system will be developed in Singapore. This center will give BOURBON a centralized and standard training policy in its recruitment and operational zones in Asia.

An international training policy based on a complete system

Three BOURBON “school-vessels" will accelerate training in the operating zones of West Africa, Asia and Latin America. Certified by the Nautical Institute of London, they will be true mobile training centers that give BOURBON maximum flexibility in meeting training needs in these high-growth zones.

In order to contribute to the development of its presence and reflect its values of professionalism, excellence and solidarity, BOURBON is also working to set up partnerships with local training centers, such as in Cameroon with the private GEPMARE marine training school supported by BOURBON.

Generally, in the zones in which BOURBON operates, a policy of recruitment and training adapted to the local context is studied, set up and put in place. In the absence of certified local structures, the training for Angolan officers is, for example, organized in the best schools in South Africa and Nigerian officers can receive training in dynamic positioning in Singapore.

"Our goal is to offer the most demanding customers, everywhere in the world, excellent services on a full range of new-generation vessels. To achieve this, and in line with the Horizon 2010 strategic plan, recruitment and training will comply with BOURBON highest standards of quality and excellence," said Christian Lefevre, BOURBON Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO of the Offshore Division. "Through its many international sites, BOURBON is developing a major recruitment program and active management of international careers. Our goal for training is to establish, for all seamen of the offshore service fleet, a BOURBON standard of excellence through an international unit for training in the operations of the offshore oil and gas businesses, which will become a benchmark in the industry."

March 28 Press Release