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Submission of the Bourbon Dolphin report to the Norwegian Ministry of Justice

The Bourbon Dolphin capsized on April 12th 2007.
On April 25th 2007 the Norwegian Maritime Directory opened a maritime inquiry in Ålesund aiming to determine the circumstances of the capsize.
On May 4th, the Minister of Justice and Police named a Special Inquiry Commission.

The Inquiry Commission has held several public hearings and the Commission’s report was handed over today to the Minister of Justice, Mr. Knut Storgerget. The Chairman of the Commission, Mrs.Inger Lyng, presented the main conclusions.

Please consult the following documents of the Norwegian Commission for all details:

The report is available in English in a preliminary version:
Download the Norwegian Commission report
The official English version should be avalaible at the end of April.

For further information:

Consult the video of the 28th March press conference presenting the Commission’s report on the Norwegian Government website:
Watch the 28th March press conference video

Read the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police’s Press release published on March 28th:
Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police’s Press release

We will keep you informed of any relevant information that becomes available.

Bourbon Dolphin: Publication of the investigation report postponed till April 1st, 2008

Following the capsize of the Bourbon Dolphin on April 12th 2007, off the Shetland Islands, the findings of the Special Inquiry Commission, exceptionally named on May 4th 2007 by the Minister of Justice and Police to guarantee rigor and independence in the analysis of this accident, were originally set to be released on February 1st, 2008.

At the request of the judge in charge of the Special Inquiry Commission, the handover date of the investigation report was postponed to April 1st, 2008.

BOURBON will release any new information as soon as it is available and checked.

Bourbon Dolphin: update on the ongoing Public Hearings Process

Following the capsize of the Bourbon Dolphin on April 12th 2007, off the Shetland Islands, BOURBON is still committed to communicate on progress made in the ongoing investigations.
In order not to disturb the ongoing procedure until the Commission has submitted its conclusions, BOURBON will only divulge official elements of the inquiry, in line with the Group’s inherent duty to preserve confidentiality.

On April 25th 2007, the Norwegian Maritime Directory opened a maritime inquiry in Ålesund that aims to determine the circumstances of the Bourbon Dolphin capsize.
On May 4th, the Minister of Justice and Police exceptionally named a Special Inquiry Commission to guarantee rigor and independence in the analysis of this accident.

So far, the Special Inquiry Commission has held several public hearings, with its official scripts now available in English:

Public Hearings of August 7, in Oslo

Oslo, four persons of Bourbon Offshore Norway

Download Public Hearings of August 7, in Oslo, pdf file

Public Hearings of August 20, in Oslo

One person from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Foundation

Download Public Hearings of August 20, in Oslo, pdf file

Public Hearings of August 21, Oslo

Four persons of Gulf Offshore

Download Public Hearings of August 21, in Oslo, pdf file

Public Hearings of September 25 to 27, Oslo

Five persons of Trident

Download Trident Public Hearings of September 25 to 27, in Oslo, pdf file

Four persons of Transocean

Download Transocean Public Hearings of September 25 to 27, in Oslo, pdf file

Two persons of Chevron

Download Chevron Public Hearings of September 25 to 27, in Oslo, pdf file

Public Hearings of October 24, Oslo

Three persons of Ulstein Verft:

Three persons of the Norwegian Maritime Directorate

Download Public Hearings of October 24 in Oslo, pdf file

BOURBON will continue to disclose any new information when available and verified about the accident, whether it concerns new Public Hearings or the conclusions that the Commission would submit at the latest by February 1st 2008.

Bourbon Offshore Norway creates a Bourbon Dolphin Foundation named “Bourbon Dolphin Etterlattes Fond”

Paris, Wednesday 6th June 2007 – 2.30 pm

In its continued support for the families of the victims of the Bourbon Dolphin accident, BOURBON is creating a Foundation specifically devoted to the families of those who perished at sea in order to maintain their standard of living and in particular guarantee the education of their children.

The Foundation will be managed by a Board of Directors comprising 3 to 6 representatives of the Fosnaväg community (Norway) and Bourbon Offshore Norway who will be skilled in several domains such as social, administrative, legal or financial.

The Board members will be responsible for of the strict adherence to the rules of governance and the management of the Foundation.

The contribution to the fund was made by Bourbon Offshore Norway, whose involvement will be strong and permanent.

The Foundation is also open to contribution from third parties (individuals or companies) and is encouraging all public and private contributions to the fund.

BOURBON applies the first measures decided following the Bourbon Dolphin accident

Paris, Wednesday 6th June 2007 – 2.30 pm

Following the accident of the Bourbon Dolphin on 12 April 2007 off the Shetland Isles, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate has just announced the first measures designed to prevent any other accident of the same type.

On 16 May 2007, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate announced a series of specific measures applicable to Norwegian registered ships. These measures were prepared in coordination with maritime parties such as designers, shipyards, captains and experts in anchor handling.

Pending the final conclusions of the enquiry, which will shed light on all operational consequences of the accident, BOURBON immediately applied these measures to its entire worldwide fleet of Anchor Handlers:

  1. Study and inform about the limits of stability of boats based on the recommendations of the Norwegian Maritime Directorate,
  2. Define the actual bollard pull available during anchor handling operations,
  3. Improve knowledge of emergency release system on the winch,
  4. Establish procedures on anchor handling operations particularly on those managed in tandem, based on the recommendations of the Norwegian Maritime Directorate.

Please consult the following document of the Norwegian Maritime Directorate for all detailed measures : Consult document

We will keep you informed of any relevant information that becomes available.

For further information:

Link to the Norwegian Maritime Directorate website: http://www.sjofartsdir.no/en

Bourbon Dolphin: inquiries and proceedings to date

Paris, Friday 4th May 2007, 4:00 pm

On April 25th the Norwegian Maritime Directory opened a public Maritime Inquiry on the loss of the Bourbon Dolphin. It was held in Sunnmøre District Court, in Ålesund, and based on a public hearing of witnesses, was destined to determine the circumstances of the accident.

4 people gave evidence, 3 of whom were survivors:

Other eye-witnesses (crew members of other ships present on the scene, rig staff, tow master…) were not interrogated by the Norwegian Maritime Directory. The inquiry produced an exhaustive transcription translated here in English.

Records of the Sunnmøre District Court Maritime Inquiry relating to the loss of the Bourbon Dolphin on 12 April 2007 (English translation of the Norwegian records): Records of the Sunnmøre District Court Maritime Inquiry [Pdf version]

Normally the classic procedure for maritime inquiries in Norway is the responsibility of the Norwegian Maritime Directory.
However for the first time in Norway, and with a view to obtaining the most precise analysis of the disaster possible, the Ministry of Justice and Police set up a Special Governmental Commission reporting directly to the Minister Mr. Knut Storberget consisting of the following members:

This governmental Commission’s mandate is extremely wide and the inquiry will require several months’ investigation. The Commission’s report will be released on 1st February 2008 latest.

The Bourbon Offshore Norway teams remain committed to working closely with the authorities.

We will keep you informed of any relevant information that becomes available.

BOURBON pays its last respects to those lost at sea

Marseilles, Wednesday 18th April 2007 – 1:30 pm

In sympathy with the families, friends and relatives of the victims of the Bourbon Dolphin accident, the entire BOURBON fleet worldwide will fly the company flag at half-mast on Thursday 19th April.

On the same day, and so that all BOURBON staff can collectively pay their last respects to the victims, 2 minutes silence will be observed at 12h00 GMT, 14h00 French local time, in BOURBON offices and on board BOURBON vessels.

A ceremony in memory of the victims will be held at a later date in Norway, in which a delegation of BOURBON seamen and sedentary staff will participate.
The memorial service will be held after the funerals have taken place this week in the strictest privacy.

The Norwegian Maritime Directory’s inquiry to be held in the aftermath of the accident will begin its hearings shortly. It should enable us to understand how the accident happened.
An independent Special Governmental Commission will also be set up by the Norwegian government, with the objective of determining the causes of the accident.

BOURBON will disclose any new information when available and verified.

The Norwegian police have released the identities of the 3 deceased people

Paris, April 16th 2007, 6:05 pm

Further to the accident of the Bourbon Dolphin, BOURBON has with great sadness, received confirmation of the death of the three following crew members:

Five seamen are missing:

BOURBON will release any new information as soon as it is available and checked.

Bourbon Dolphin sinks soon after the beginning of salvage operations

Paris, April 16th 2007, 10:45 am, Pdf version

Situation of the ship

Following the accident of the Bourbon Dolphin, which occurred on April 12th off the Shetland Islands, claiming 8 lives, the ship sunk at 9:16 pm Local Time and is lying at 3,600 feet.

SMIT SALVAGE started the salvage operations in the middle of the day on April 15th after a complete survey of the situation.
The Salvage Team was composed of 2 tugs with crew and material, 4 specialized divers and one Salvage Master in charge of the operations.

The ship was first disconnected from the rig, and as the weather conditions became bad (25 knot south-westerly wind and 4 meter high waves), it became destabilized and then sunk before towage was possible.

For the time being, most of the SMIT SALVAGE teams have left the zone, except for one tug that remains for the moment on the zone to monitor the current situation.

BOURBON’s Management fully stands by the seamen’s families

Right from the start BOURBON’s teams have done all they could to help, support and comfort the families in this painful situation. Jacques de Chateauvieux and Christian Lefèvre, respectively Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of BOURBON and Trond Myklebust, Managing Director of Bourbon Offshore Norway, were also present immediately with the families and are still by their side.

Yesterday, to give support to the seamen’s families, religious services were held on the Shetland Islands and in Norway. In Norway the representative of the King of Norway, the mayor of the commune of Heroy and Jacques de Chateauvieux spoke at the service alongside church ministers.

The Management of BOURBON and Bourbon Offshore Norway wish strength and faith to those who suffer today. They also address their personal thanks to all those who, in Scotland, in Norway and in France, took part and helped to carry out the operations in the best possible way.

All BOURBON’s staff is now waiting to learn of the detailed circumstances and the probable causes of this accident, to understand how such an accident could have occurred. This will no doubt take several weeks of official investigations.
The responsibility of the police Inquiry has been transferred from the British to the Norwegian authorities who have appointed a Commission of maritime affairs.

BOURBON will release any new information as soon as it is available and checked.

Paris, Sunday April 15th 11.45 pm

During the salvage operations of the Bourbon Dolphin conducted by Smit Salvage and in the face of deteriorating meteorological conditions, the ship has sunk and is lying at 3,600 feet.

BOURBON will release any new information as soon as it is available and checked.

Start of the salvage operations by SMIT SALVAGE

Paris, April 15th 2007, 3:00 pm

Following the tragic accident of the Bourbon Dolphin that occurred on Thursday, April 12th, salvage operations of the ship are starting with the SMIT SALVAGE Team.

Before the salvage operations themselves started, SMIT SALVAGE began a full survey of the ship’s situation to determine the means necessary and decide precisely how to proceed with operations.

At the present time, the Salvage Team is composed of 2 tugs with crew and material, 4 specialized divers and one Salvage Master in charge of the operations.

All the BOURBON teams are waiting to know the circumstances of the accident and how it could have happened. This information will only become available after several weeks official investigations. Only then might we understand how such an accident could have occurred.

It will then be BOURBON’s duty to missing crew members and the whole offshore industry, to ensure that such an accident can never happen again. By doing so, BOURBON reaffirms its total mobilization for safety.

New information will be released as soon as relevant facts are available and checked.

Ceremony today at 6pm in Norway

Paris, April 15th, 2007, 2:00 pm

A prayer ceremony will take place today at 6pm in the church in Heroy, Norway, with representatives of the Norwegian State and local authorities, to support the families of the seamen during this tragic period.

Start of the Bourbon Dolphin salvage operations

Paris, April 14th 2007, 8:15 pm

Following the tragic accident of the Bourbon Dolphin, which occurred on Thursday, April 12th, salvage operations of the ship should start on Sunday, April 15th at noon local time.

SMIT Salvage has been contracted by Bourbon Offshore Norway to take charge as project manager, under an assistance contract, to carry out the salvage operations.

Particular attention will be given to these operations that could lead to the discovery of the bodies of the missing seamen.

All Bourbon Offshore Norway staff remain mobilized, constantly in contact with the families of the seamen, to support and help them over this tragic period.

New information will be released as soon as relevant facts are available and fully checked.

Press Conference

Fosnavåg (NORWAY), April 14th, 2007 - 11:00 am

A press conference on the Bourbon Dolphin accident was held on Saturday April 14th at 11:00 am at Fosnavåg by Bourbon Offshore Norway and the Norwegian police. The Managing Director disclosed the names of the missing people during the conference:

3 bodies have been recovered and are in the course of being identified.

Bourbon Offshore Norway is in close contact with the families, both in Norway and the Shetland Islands and is doing their utmost to support them in every way possible.

New information will be released as soon as relevant facts are available and fully checked.

BOURBON is giving top priority to rescue operations and to crew members’ relatives

Paris, April 13rd, 2007, 3:00 pmpdf version

BOURBON is giving top priority to the rescue of the 5 missing people and support to the families of those involved. The Bourbon Dolphin accident occurred Thursday evening while the ship was on operations 75 nautical miles North West of the Shetland Islands with 15 people on board.

This accident is a terrible tragedy, with 3 people confirmed deceased and 5 people still missing. The 7 others have been treated at the hospital in Shetland Islands. None of these 7 were seriously wounded.

Rescue teams from the Shetland Coast Guards went to the zone immediately and they are still in the rescue zone with the Royal Air Force searching for the 5 missing people.

BOURBON is in close contact with the families and is doing all it can for them and a BOURBON support team is in place at Bourbon Offshore Norway headoffice. A plane has been chartered to fly relatives, officials and Bourbon Offshore Norway Executives to Shetland Islands.

Jacques de Chateauvieux, CEO of BOURBON, and Christian Lefevre, Deputy CEO of BOURBON and Bourbon Offshore CEO will arrive at Bourbon Offshore Norway Headquarters during the afternoon.

The company emergency response team in Norway, supported by BOURBON emergency management team in Marseilles is, according to the Safety Management System plan, assessing the information available at this time.

New information will be released as soon as relevant facts are available and fully checked.

Bourbon Dolphin: Relatives information

April 13rd, 2007 - 10:47 am

In the course of this morning Bourbon Offshore Norway will send a plane to Lerwick, Shetland departing from Ålesund. On board there will be relatives, police, two ministers to seamen and representatives from BOURBON Offshore Norway.

The church in Fosnavåg will be a meeting place for relatives, friends and colleagues of the Bourbon Dolphin Crew from 14.00. A team consisting of representatives from the church, public health service and the municipal administration will attend the meeting. All available information will be given at this meeting.

The next of kin telephones will continue to be open and relatives will still be taken care of at the BOURBON Offshore Norway office.

Relatives Information Phone: +47 70 08 60 25/ +47 70 08 60 21

Accident with the Anchor Handling Tug Supply BOURBON DOLPHIN
at 75 nautical miles west of Scotland’s northern Shetland islands

Paris, April 12th, 2007, pdf version

Bourbon Offshore Norway, a subsidiary of BOURBON, has been informed by Shetland Coastguards that the Anchor Handling Tug Supply “Bourbon Dolphin” has capsized.

Bourbon Dolphin was on operation 75 nautical miles North, West Shetland Islands with 15 people on board.

According to Neville Davis, Rescue Coordination Center Manager, Shetland coastguards: “So far, 10 persons have been recovered. We will continue working with the assets available to try and locate the missing crew”.

The company emergency response team in Norway, supported by BOURBON emergency management team in Marseilles is, according to plans, assessing the different available information.

New Information will be released as soon as the relevant elements will be available and fully checked.

More information: Bourbon Dolphin

About BOURBON With 4700 professionals and a fleet of 265 owned vessels, BOURBON offers, in more than 25 countries, a broad range of offshore oil and gas marine services, towage, assistance, salvage and bulk shipping.

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