Bourbon, International leader in marine services for modern offshore

Opening of a BOURBON Training Center in Manila: approved training center for operators in Dynamic Positioning system in Philippines

Paris, October 12, 2007

In order to answer the ambitious development objectives of the BOURBON Horizon 2010 strategy as it relates to Human Resources, and more precisely training, BOURBON reinforces its international training policy with the opening of a new Dynamic Positioning1 training center in September.

All BOURBON new generation vessels for offshore services, except passenger vessels, are DP2 classified to answer the high requirements for reliable and safe operations.This equipment standard for BOURBON vessels requires that all the bridge Officers from now on be certified in Dynamic Positioning.

The opening of this BOURBON Training Center will make it possible for BOURBON to guarantee the quality of its training program in the Asia zone which is under strong development.

The training center of Manila is certified by the Nautical Institute of London, the only recognized authority for the certification of DP centers. The training program in dynamic positioning alternates between phases of theoretical instruction and practice on a simulator. The 3D simulator gives a very realistic experience to the trainee, whom must be thereafter be validated by periods of navigation on board vessels in DP operation.

Four operators stations equipped with the simulation software, "BEIER ICVS 2000 DP software system", and two instructors, themselves certified DP operators, will train more than 150 trainees per year. Mainly open to BOURBON seamen to contribute to its ambitious recruitment program in the offshore maritime services, the center will be able to accommodate Officers of other maritime companies.

The opening of the BOURBON Training Center in Manila contributes to the standardization of training for all BOURBON seamen around the world; this in the context of a standardized fleet vessels built in series.This standardization guarantees customers greater efficiency, increased safety, and identical service quality throughout the world.

BOURBON initiated the first training center for Dynamic Positioning in 2004. This center is accessible to all shipbuilders and seamen, in partnership with the Merchant Marine school of Marseilles.

1 The "DP" dynamic positioning system keeps a vessel perfectly positioned in relationship to a fixed point and/or accurately ensures a course and a relative position on the surface to another mobile object.

A trainee on a dynamic positioning simulation station

Instructors of the BOURBON Center Training of Manila: Edward De La Cueva and Homer Gloria, both DP certified operators