Paris, July 24, 2008, pdf file
BOURBON is announcing that its company "Les Abeilles International", which includes protection of the French coastline, as well as assistance and salvage operations handled by five tugs chartered by the French Navy, is changing its name to "Les Abeilles".
BOURBON, although it sold its port towage activity to Boluda in 2007, kept the name "Les Abeilles". Since ”Les Abeilles” was founded in 1864 in the port of Le Havre, this mythical name has been at the forefront of the navigation companies that helped to build the excellent reputation of the French Merchant Navy.
Christian Quillivic, Managing Director of Les Abeilles, says: "Under this name, we will carry on the tradition of excellence and passion that is our trademark. Thus the men and women of BOURBON who, on land and at sea, work daily to protect the French coastline and the marine environment will continue to keep this name and its rich history alive."
This name change became effective on 30 June 2008
Under contract with the French Navy since 1976, Les Abeilles is responsible for around-the-clock prevention and protection of the French coastline. Its missions are to prevent wrecks, assist and rescue vessels in distress, and fight pollution risks. A member of the International Salvage Union (ISU), Les Abeilles has a fleet of 5 salvage and assistance tugs (Abeille Bourbon, Abeille Liberté, Abeille Flandre, Abeille Languedoc and Carangue) and is backed by the skills of 130 employees. Les Abeilles has conducted more than 400 salvage or assistance operations, 400 damaged vessel escorting operations and more than 600 stand-by operations near vessels in trouble.
With 4,300 professionals and a fleet of 236 owned vessels with 204 units on order, BOURBON is present in more than 25 countries.
BOURBON offers a broad range of offshore oil and gas marine services. Under the Horizon 2012 plan, BOURBON intends to become the leader in modern offshore oil and gas marine services by offering the most demanding clients worldwide, a full line of innovative, high performance and new-generation vessels and an expanded offer of
Subsea Services.
BOURBON also specializes in bulk transport and protects the French coastline for the French Navy.