Bourbon Liberty Series
A new generation of vessels

Testimonial

Bourbon Liberty 101: Feedback from the first successful operations for the first PSV in a long series

Given the operational capacities of the Bourbon Liberty series, clients used to conventional supply vessels will be completely convinced [...]. This series is really going to revolutionize the offshore continental market.

Delivered by the Sinopacific shipyards in Dayang (China) early in February, the PSV Bourbon Liberty 101 has been managed since March 2008 by Bourbon Offshore Asia under a long-term contract with the oil company Talisman Malaysia Limited in the Gulf of Thailand.

The tests after leaving the yard and the training period were completed without problem. And the inaugural voyage from China to Thailand was an opportunity to take control of the vessel. Finally, the initial operations of the Bourbon Liberty 101 in Malaysia were highly satisfactory for the client and the crew.

Sheikh Ali, Marketing Manager for Bourbon Offshore Asia and Brian Prince, Corporate QHSE / Operations Advisor, discuss their impressions and feelings during the first operations …

How is the Bourbon Liberty adapted to the operations conducted in the Asia zone?

S.A.: The advantage of the Bourbon Liberty 101 is that it can operate in deepwater offshore as well as on continental offshore sites, which is perfectly adapted to the many oil fields operated in Asia...
For example, in the first operation, the field on which the Bourbon Liberty 101 operated, was in the Gulf of Thailand between Malaysia and Vietnam, in depths of 56 meters, and the vessel successfully supplied the platforms to support a drilling campaign.

The first client feedback confirms the potential of the Bourbon Liberty

B.P.: During its first operation, the Bourbon Liberty 101 proved that it offers extreme maneuverability, thanks to these three azimuth thrusters and its lateral thrusters coupled with the dynamic positioning system (DPII). The captain and crew truly appreciate the excellent capacity of the Bourbon Liberty 101 to maintain its position during the operations. From the very first maneuvers, the client and the crew perceived how much the Bourbon Liberty improved safety conditions, particularly near the platforms. .
The diesel-electric engines are a real plus! After watching fuel consumption during the first months of operation, we can see real fuel savings, which the client particularly appreciates…with the immediate corollary of reduced CO2 emissions.
The increased loading capacities of the vessel were also appreciated by the client. With a cargo capacity 30% greater than a traditional vessel of the same size, the Bourbon liberty can load up to 4,000 barrels of liquid mud and reduce the number of trips that have to be made.
Finally, the extraordinary practicality of the oval mud tanks was appreciated during the loading/unloading operations, combined with the permanent agitator and automatic cleaning system. They are as effective for operations to transfer dry material, like cement, barite or bentonite, as they are for transporting muds or liquids like Fuel oil or Drill Water.

Given the convincing operational capacities of the Bourbon Liberty series record during its operations, I'm confident in the success of this series!
Clients used to conventional supply vessels will really notice and appreciate the difference.

The specific training given to the crew guaranteed rapid and completely safe operations.

S.A.: The crews assigned to the first Bourbon Liberty PSV unanimously confirmed the maneuverability of the vessel...
On the vessel, the engineers and electricians adapted rapidly to the diesel-electric propulsion. In accordance with BOURBON Standards of Competence, they had all been previously trained on the engines using the simulator set up at the supplier EPD, near Yangzhou (China). This simulator replicates the exact configuration of the Bourbon Liberty, so that they could learn this new engine system and the essential responses to normal breakdowns in complete safety. This training was completed onboard, with the embarkation of engineers-trainers from EPD during the inaugural voyage to Singapore.
And the bridge officers, all of whom are DP certified under the BOURBON Standards of Competence, received specific training on the DP simulator at the Bourbon Training Center in Manila.

B.P.: This standardized simulator training course is a real advantage, the direct result of series construction. Because of the standardization and the large number of vessels built, training can be planned on a large scale and specifically adapted to the Bourbon Liberty so that the crews can take control and master efficient operations in complete safety.

Other Bourbon Liberty vessels are impatiently awaited in the Asia zone.

S.A.: Many PSV and AHTS are already scheduled for delivery to the zone by the end of 2009.
Based on the highly satisfactory performance and the operating potential they offer our clients, I am confident about the signature of future contracts.

I am certain that this Bourbon liberty series will truly revolutionize the continental offshore market in Asia and accelerate the obsolescence of the older conventional vessels currently in the market.