Tangiers, March 22nd 2007, pdf file
At the end of a major international tender in which the world’s leading towage operators participated in 2005, Les Abeilles won the 25-year concession for towage and port assistance services in the new Mediterranean port of Tangiers.
Les Abeilles Tanger Med is ready to launch its operations in the port of Tangiers Med on schedule.
Hervé Lefèvre, Chief Executive Officer of Les Abeilles Tanger Med explains: "We have a structure ready with the personnel, equipment and resources necessary to successfully conduct our towage and assistance mission in the new port of Tangiers Med, both in terms of quality of service and safety, and to satisfy our customers with the BOURBON conditions for excellence."
Four tugs and 2 pilot boats have arrived in the port of Tangiers Med in recent weeks.
Built on the basis of a well-known design appreciated by BOURBON customers, the 4 compact and highly maneuverable tugs, measuring 28 m long and 10 m wide, develop a bollard pull of 58.5 tons. They are equipped with Azimutal Stern Drive propulsion and fire-fighting capacity.
In order to successfully perform our operations in this new port complex, Les Abeilles has implemented a specific training program in compliance with BOURBON standards to meet the expectations of the most demanding customers in the market.
As announced by Les Abeilles in October 2005, the company will employ 83 officers, seamen, technicians and administrative staff, all Moroccan, at the Tangiers Mediterranean site.
All the officers who will be operating the tugs in the port of Tangiers Med received three weeks training in Le Havre (France) in order to ensure efficient control of the vessels and to be completely trained in Les Abeilles procedures, particularly handling and safety.
Some of the chief engineers monitored the final phase of construction of the vessels for several weeks in the Netherlands and Romania. As a result of conducting the trials, they acquired an in-depth knowledge of the vessels, both handling and maintenance. The other chief engineers recruited received training in Le Havre (France) on their own vessels before transfering to the port of Tangiers Med.
The pilot boat "captains" received training in operations and maneuvers at the pilot station in Rouen (France), which uses exactly the same equipment.
Hervé Lefèvre, the former Director of Operations for Les Abeilles Le Havre has been Chief Executive Officer of Les Abeilles Tanger Med since January 2007.
Eric Marty, Chief Operating Officer, who served for many years as a vessel Captain with the BOURBON Offshore Division, has been on site since August 2006.
The team also includes Omar Khamlichi, Chief Administrative and Finance Officer, and Bouchra El Khabbaz, Executive Assistant, and a payroll and accounting specialist will be soon recruited.
To ensure efficiency, quality of service and safety, the entire fleet is positioned along a dedicated service dock, near the operational buildings, in the new port. A modern complex of operational buildings (reception, offices, shops, etc.) will be delivered in the second half of 2007.
In conclusion, Yves Rastoin, BOURBON Managing Director Towage & Salvage Division, states: "The installation and deployment of the towage and assistance operations in the port of Tangiers Med are, therefore, completely on target with Les Abeilles announcement in October 2005. Apart from the facilities and the vessels, all our personnel are ready for the first towage operation, namely a vessel carrying the gantry cranes for the first container terminal. This operation, which will take place in a few days, will be an opportunity to demonstrate the excellent service that we will be offering the clients of Tangiers Med as from July."
Les Abeilles, a BOURBON subsidiary, is one of the world’s leading operators in towage, assistance and salvage, operating in the largest ports and terminals of France, in the Indian Ocean and the African coasts. Its mission is to guarantee its clients the best marine safety conditions and help them handle their business-related risks, and protect the environment. With a regularly renovated fleet of 67 tugs worldwide (+16 on order), the company is internationally recognized for its expertise and employs over 1110 people.
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.
By 2010, in line with its strategic plan BOURBON intends to become the leader in modern offshore oil and gas marine services by offering the most demanding international clients worldwide the services of a full line of new generation, innovative and high-performance vessels.
Classified by Euronext in the "Oil Services" sector, BOURBON is listed on Eurolist Paris, Compartment A and is included in the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD) and the SBF 120 and Dow Jones Stoxx 600 indices