Bourbon joins forces with Bureau Veritas in digitalization push

French shipping company Bourbon Offshore and certification agency Bureau Veritas have into entered a strategic partnership, which will be working towards digitalization of Bourbon’s vessel operations. 

The two companies have signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop and deploy automation and real time monitoring fleet applications, developing digital technologies, while mitigating cyber risks, Bourbon informed on Thursday.

The partnership will thus deliver advanced automation of dynamic positioning systems to enable improvement of DP operational safety through real-time advisory tools for bridge operators and remote support for onshore teams; streamlining of onboard organization leading to potential reduction of manning; and a reduction in fuel and DP maintenance costs.

A pilot has been implemented on the Bourbon Explorer 508 operating in Trinidad waters. Developed with Kongsberg Maritime, already a strategic partner of Bourbon, it is certified by Bureau Veritas. It collects data from the DP system and drives the development of novel decision-making and verification applications for both offshore crew and onshore support teams.

Cyber threats

According to Bourbon, another vital element of the project is addressing cyber security threats. Thanks to a global partnership with Bureau Veritas, APSYS, an Airbus company specialized in Product Security, is helping in identifying and mitigating risks linked to data collection and communication between Bourbon’s vessels and onshore infrastructure.

Based on this risk assessment relying on best practices from APSYS’s aerospace experience, Bureau Veritas is able to issue cyber security certification on products and class notations for ships meeting global industry security standards.

Gaël Bodénès, CEO of Bourbon Corporation, said: “We have decided to innovate with Bureau Veritas in the way we operate vessels in order to bring a response to this new cycle focused on operational excellence at optimum cost. Streamlining work organization onboard vessels, this project will have a significant positive impact on our operations. In this digital era, we also have a common will to deploy innovative technological solutions offering tangible benefits to our customers.”

Jean-François Segretain, Technical Director, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, commented: “At Bureau Veritas, we know the value of strategic partnerships such as this. They are a key to supporting our Marine & Offshore clients like Bourbon to integrate new technologies while mitigating the risks of our increasingly digital and connected world.”