BOURBON (EPA:GBB) BOURBON - Press Release : first Bourbon Liberty 300

Transparency directive : regulatory news

28/03/2012 18:00

PRESS RELEASE

                                                          Paris, March 28, 2012

BOURBON success story continues with 54th and last Bourbon Liberty 200 vessel
                  and the very 1st Bourbon Liberty 300 vessel

BOURBON announces the extension of its flagship series Bourbon Liberty in line
with its strategy to offer a very high standard of service for the most
demanding clients.

A naming ceremony was held today at Sinopacific Zhejiang shipyards in China for
two iconic BOURBON vessels: Bourbon Liberty 254, last vessel to be delivered of
the Bourbon Liberty 200 series of 54 AHTS, and Bourbon Liberty 301, first
vessel of the Bourbon Liberty 300 series of 20 AHTS.

In June 2010, the group announced its "BOURBON 2015 Leadership Strategy" and
ordered 3 new series of vessels from Sinopacific shipyards. Bourbon Liberty 301
is the first vessel of the first series to be delivered.

"Delivery of the Bourbon Liberty 301 is an important milestone for BOURBON,"
says Christian Lefèvre, CEO of BOURBON, during the vessel-naming ceremony. "Our
strategy of building standardized vessels in large quantities, as exemplified
in the Bourbon Liberty 100 and 200 series, has been a tremendous success and a
key factor in helping BOURBON reach a position of global leader in the offshore
marine services industry. With this extension of series, BOURBON demonstrates
the efficiency and flexibility of this strategy to meet the needs and
expectations of the most demanding oil and gas clients".

The first Bourbon Liberty, Bourbon Liberty 101, was delivered to the Group in
February 2008. Four years later, all 76 Bourbon Liberty vessels (54 Bourbon
Liberty 200 and 22 Bourbon Liberty 100) are operational and provide clients
with numerous advantages:
  - low fuel consumption thanks to diesel-electric propulsion
  - greater reliability as a result of new design and equipment redundancy
    (multiple thrusters and 3 main generators)
  - maneuverability with 5 thrusters
  - greater cargo capacity since the main generators were moved to the main
    deck level.

"We operate a fleet of 76 Bourbon Liberty vessels worldwide," says Rodolphe
Bouchet, VP Business Management for Marine Services. "The concept and design of
the series is appreciated and recognized by our clients, as evidenced by their
loyalty. We continue to respond to their needs and remain closely connected to
the evolving needs of the offshore industry. The "BOURBON 2015 Leadership
Strategy'plan which calls for extending the range of this series with 20 new
Bourbon Liberty 300's and 15 new Bourbon Liberty 150's, reflects an accurate
anticipation of the evolution of the market".

"Bourbon Liberty 300 vessels are the extension of Bourbon Liberty 200 vessels.
They provide clients with a larger deck space and the capacity to carry more
liquid mud and bulk products. At the same time, they use the same key features
as the Bourbon Liberty 200 series (Class 2 Dynamic Positioning system, main
gensets, azimuth thrusters)," comments Olivier Daniel, BOURBON Newbuilding
Managing Director.

BOURBON decided to extend its fleet by offering clients a Cleanship Class AHTS.
Since innovation is at the core of BOURBON growth, the group decided
voluntarily to apply this Cleanship notation to the Bourbon Liberty 300 series
even though the deadweight of the vessels does not require it.

Nineteen other Bourbon Liberty 300 vessels and 15 Bourbon Liberty 150 vessels
will join the recently delivered first Bourbon Liberty 300 vessel, in the near
future.

In 2014, BOURBON will be able to provide clients with an unprecedented series
of 111 standardized, efficient and innovative offshore vessels.

About BOURBON

BOURBON offers oil & gas companies with the most demanding requirements a
comprehensive range of surface and subsea marine services for offshore oil &
gas fields and wind farms, based on an extensive range of latest-generation
vessels. The Group provides a local service through its 27 operating
subsidiaries, close to clients and their operations, and it guarantees the
highest standards of service quality and safety worldwide.

BOURBON has two operating Activities (Marine Services and Subsea Services) and
also protects the French coastline for the French Navy.

Under the "BOURBON 2015 Leadership Strategy" plan, the Group is investing US$2
billion in a large fleet of innovative and high-performance and built-in series
offshore vessels.

In 2011, BOURBON posted revenues of EUR1.008 billion and operated a fleet of
437 vessels.

Classified by ICB (Industry Classification Benchmark) in the "Oil Services"
sector, BOURBON is listed for trading on Euronext Paris, Compartment A, and is
included in the Deferred Settlement Service SRD and in the SBF 120, CAC Mid 60
and DowJones Stoxx 600 indices.

CONTACTS

Publicis Consultants
Jérôme Goaer        +33 (0)1 44 82 46 24 - jerome.goaer@consultants.publicis.fr
Véronique Duhoux    +33 (0)1 44 82 46 33 -
                    veronique.duhoux@consultants.publicis.fr
Vilizara Lazarova   +33 (0)1 44 82 46 34 -
                    vilizara.lazarova@consultants.publicis.fr
BOURBON
Investors - Analysts - Shareholders Relations
Patrick Mangaud     +33 (0)1 40 13 86 09 - patrick.mangaud@bourbon-online.com

Communication Department
Christa Roqueblave  +33 (0)1 40 13 86 06 -
                    christa.roqueblave@bourbon-online.com

BOURBON's latest news

12/02/2020 11:21

BOURBON (EPA:GBB) BOURBON - Press Release : first Bourbon Liberty 300

Transparency directive : regulatory news

BOURBON's latest news

Other stories