Bourbon

What Bourbon does

Bourbon is a Marseille-headquartered offshore support vessel (OSV) operator serving the global oil and gas industry, operating a fleet of 159 vessels (AHTS, PSV, MPSV, ROV, FSIV, crewboats) across 32 countries, including AHTS, PSV, MPSV, ROV, FSIV, and crewboats. Approximately 90% of the fleet uses diesel-electric propulsion, and the company runs proprietary series such as the Bourbon Evolution 800/810 for deepwater inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) operations down to 3,000 meters with DP3 dynamic positioning. Bourbon also operates its own next-generation crewboats and supports specialized services such as pipelay EPCI and gravel pack operations. Digital layers include the Marinsights fleet-performance platform (with Opsealog), a real-time DP verification system (with Kongsberg Maritime, certified by Bureau Veritas), and MG Engine Link predictive engine monitoring.

Bourbon generates revenue predominantly through multi-year time and bareboat charter contracts with supermajors and national oil companies, including ExxonMobil (Guyana, Angola), Eni (Congo), Total (Gabon), Tullow (Ghana), and Prime Energy (Philippines), with contract terms typically of 3-5 years and vessel day-rate pricing. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by operational excellence, safety record (TRIR of 0.57 as of December 31, 2025), and modern, fuel-efficient fleet capability, with marketing support via industry content (Bourbon Partnership magazine), an active corporate news site and podcast, and sustainability reporting.

Following the 2014-2016 offshore sector downturn, Bourbon restructured through the 'Stronger for longer' (2017) and '#BOURBONINMOTION' (2018) plans, culminating in a 2025 financial restructuring in which Davidson Kempner Capital Management and Fortress Investment Group became majority shareholders via debt-to-equity conversion, reduced financial debt to below 1.5x EBITDA, and took the company private. Subsequent fleet expansion of 13 vessels ($180M+) in early 2026 and a leadership transition to Olivier Blaringhem (effective September 14, 2026) mark the start of a renewed growth phase under PE ownership.

Name

Bourbon

Legal name

BOURBON Maritime

Website

https://bourbonoffshore.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Bourbon is a Marseille-headquartered offshore support vessel operator serving supermajors and national oil companies worldwide, running 159 vessels across 32 countries for marine logistics, subsea services, and crew transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Offshore Maritime Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Water Transportation (483)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Offshore Marine & Aviation Support (PSVs, AHTS, Crew Boats, Helicopters) (EUALABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Offshore Support & Marine Logistics Vessel Operators (PSV/AHTS) (TLADABAL)

Keywords

• Offshore support vessels
• Platform supply vessels
• Anchor handling tug supply
• Subsea inspection maintenance repair
• Offshore crew transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vessel chartering and marine services: Bourbon generates revenue primarily through time charter and bareboat charter contracts for its offshore support vessels serving the oil and gas industry. Revenue is earned from vessel day rates, with contracts typically spanning 3-5 years. Services include platform supply, crew transport, anchor handling, subsea inspection/maintenance/repair, and gravel pack operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bourbon provides offshore maritime services to the oil and gas industry through a diversified fleet of 159 vessels, including anchor handling tug supply (AHTS), platform supply vessels (PSV), multi-purpose support vessels (MPSV) with ROVs, fast safety intervention vessels (FSIV), and crewboats. The company delivers three integrated service lines — Marine & Logistics, Subsea (inspection, maintenance, repair, survey, pipelay), and Passenger Mobility — primarily under 3-5 year charter contracts with super-major and national oil companies operating offshore.

Product overview

Bourbon is a French maritime services company operating 159 offshore support vessels across 32 countries, providing integrated marine services to the global oil & gas industry. The company operates through three main service categories: Marine & Logistics (AHTS, PSV vessels for towing, anchor handling, and platform supply), Subsea Services (MPSV and ROV-equipped vessels for inspection, maintenance, repair, survey, and pipeline operations), and Passenger Mobility (FSIV and crew boats for personnel transfer). The fleet includes proprietary vessel series such as Bourbon Evolution (deepwater IMR), Bourbon Liberty (multi-purpose offshore), and new generation crew boats. Bourbon also offers digital platforms including a Safety Management System and Marinsights analytics, integrating third-party solutions from Opsealog for fleet performance monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AHTS (Anchor Handling Tug Supply) vessels
• PSV (Platform Supply Vessel) services
• MPSV (Multi-Purpose Support Vessel) services
• ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) services
• FSIV (Fast Safety Intervention Vessel) services
• Crewboat services
• Subsea Services
• Marine & Logistics Services
• Passenger Mobility Services

Quantifiable outcome

• TRIR maintained below 0.75 (0.57 in 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and strategic.

• White & Case LLPmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 January 2025Global law firm advised Bourbon on financial and capital restructuring, including debt-to-equity conversion and negotiations with creditors. Also advised on five transactions that received 2025 Marine Money 'Deal of the Year' awards.
• OpsealogmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Partnership for Marinsights digital monitoring solution deployed at scale following 2024 pilot on 25 vessels. Platform provides real-time fuel consumption, activity, routes, and standby time data with monthly reports to crews and management.
• MG Marine Power SolutionmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Partnership for engine maintenance and reliability solutions. MG provides safety stock arrangement for critical components, long block engine solutions, and MG Engine Link monitoring tool. Partnership has demonstrated significant reductions in unplanned vessel downtime.
• Bureau VeritascoreTechnology or Integration · 11 January 2018Strategic partnership for digitalization of vessel operations under Bourbon's Smart shipping program. Bureau Veritas provides classification of connectivity systems and cyber security certification. First application is real-time verification of dynamic positioning operations, with pilot on Bourbon Explorer 508 in Trinidad waters.
• IdeolstrategicTechnology or Integration · 27 July 2017Engineering collaboration for floating wind turbine mooring installation. Ideol designed the innovative synthetic mooring lines used in the FLOATGEN project for Ecole Centrale Nantes' SEM-REV test site in France.
• Kongsberg MaritimecoreTechnology or Integration · 31 May 2017Strategic agreement for collaborative development on connected and autonomous vessels. Kongsberg provides digital technology enabling BOURBON to access high-quality aggregated vessel data and develop new operating methods. BOURBON provides Kongsberg access to fleet data and client operations insight.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Solstad Offshore: Norwegian OSV operator with global fleet focused on AHTS, PSV, and subsea construction vessels. Comparable scale and global operating footprint, particularly in West Africa and Brazil where Bourbon also operates.
• DOF Group: Norwegian offshore service vessel operator providing PSV, AHTS, and subsea IMR/construction services globally. Direct competitor with similar subsea capabilities and supermajor customer relationships.
• Vroon Offshore: Dutch offshore support vessel operator with substantial fleet of PSVs, AHTS, and subsea vessels serving North Sea, West Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Closely comparable business model and customer base to Bourbon.
• Edison Chouest Offshore: Privately held global OSV operator with a large modern fleet including PSVs, AHTS, and subsea vessels. Directly comparable to Bourbon in vessel classes served, customer base (supermajors), and operational geography.
• Tidewater Inc. Tidewater is the largest global operator of offshore support vessels serving the oil and gas industry, with a fleet of ~200 vessels. Direct competitor to Bourbon across PSV, AHTS, and crewboat segments in West Africa, Americas, and Asia-Pacific.
• Seacor Marine Holdings: US-based offshore support vessel operator with PSV, AHTS, and crewboat fleet serving Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, and West Africa. Direct competitor to Bourbon in PSV and crewboat segments.
• Harvey Gulf International Marine: US-based offshore support vessel operator specializing in PSVs, fast supply vessels, and subsea vessels, primarily serving Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Comparable vessel classes and oil & gas customer focus.
• Siem Offshore: Norwegian-headquartered OSV owner/operator with PSV, AHTS, and subsea construction vessels. Comparable vessel types and customer base to Bourbon, particularly across West Africa and South America.

Broad incumbents

• Subsea 7: Larger subsea engineering, construction, and services company with vessel fleet including IMR, pipelay, and heavy construction vessels. Overlaps with Bourbon's subsea MPSV/IMR capabilities but operates as integrated subsea contractor with broader scope.
• Saipem: Major integrated oilfield services and engineering company with offshore vessel fleet for pipelay, heavy lift, and subsea services. Overlaps with Bourbon's pipeline installation and subsea capabilities as part of broader EPCI portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=ndn7fWaLUaY
• Facebookfacebook.com/bourbonoffshore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bourbon

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bourbon