Bourbon action plan focuses on smarter shipping

The action plan called #BOURBONINMOTION, will include a reorganisation of the company’s activities and capitalising in on the digital revolution in order to increase operational excellence.

“As the market cycle has bottomed out, Bourbon must focus more than ever on operational excellence, fleet utilization rates, cost reduction program and free cash flow preservation,” said Gaël Bodénès, chief executive officer, Bourbon Corporation.

“However, we need to go even further, because market overcapacity is driving prices down sustainably and we believe that tomorrow will look very different from yesterday.”

Reorganisation

The #BOURBONINMOTION action plan will see the Bourbon Corporation reorganised into three distinct affiliates: Bourbon Marine & Logistics, Bourbon Subsea Services and Bourbon Mobility.

These three entities will be able to implement their own strategies and will focus on profitable growth changing their model to develop more integrated services.

Bourbon’s action plan will also focus on capitalising in on the digital revolution with the main objective being improving operational excellence at optimum cost.

Smarter shipping

As part of this, Bourbon’s “Smart shipping” programme will digitally connect Bourbon Marine & Logistics’ fleet of 132 supply vessels (known as the “smart fleet”). This programme will represent an investment of €75 million over three years and enable a sustainable reduction in vessel operating costs.

Within Bourbon Marine & Logistics’ traditional fleet of 65 vessels, the 41 oldest vessels, which cannot be connected, (known as the “non-smart fleet”) will be sold at current market price.

Bourbon is embracing digital technology across its operations. Just last month, it launched a pilot project to automate dynamic positioning (DP) operations onboard one of its offshore vessels.

The pilot project onboard the 3,700dwt DP2 platform supply vessel Bourbon Explorer 508, will support the development of new decision-making and verification applications, the company said.