Press Release
BOURBON joins Automated Ships Ltd and KONGSBERG to deliver
groundbreaking autonomous offshore support vessel prototype
Following further developments in its design, Hrönn will now be
a monohulled vessel of 37 m length, better suited for the intended
operations.
Marseille, France - Kongsberg, Norway, 11
July 2017 - Leading marine Offshore services company, BOURBON
has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Automated
Ships Ltd to support the building of the world's first autonomous,
fully-automated and cost-efficient prototype vessel for offshore
operations, in collaboration with the project's primary technology
partner, KONGSBERG.
BOURBON will leverage its expertise in building
and operating a standardised fleet to provide detailed input to the
development and design of the Hrönn project, ensuring flexibility,
reliability and cost efficiency to operate safely and effectively
in the demanding offshore environment. Based on its customer
experience, BOURBON will thus help to match client demand.
In the second phase of the project, BOURBON and
ASL will join forces to search the subsidies to finance the
effective construction of the prototype.
Hrönn is a light-duty, offshore utility ship
servicing the offshore energy, hydrographic & scientific and
offshore fish-farming industries. It can also be utilised as a ROV
and AUV support ship and standby vessel, able to provide
firefighting support to an offshore platform working in cooperation
with manned vessels. Automated Ships Ltd has progressed the
original catamaran design of Hrönn since the project launch on 1st
November 2016, opting for a monohulled vessel of steel
construction, to provide more payload capacity and greater
flexibility in the diverse range of operations.
BOURBON's entry to the Hrönn project, follows
the recent news that it has joined forces with KONGSBERG in a new
collaboration to develop digital solutions for next generation
connected and autonomous vessels. The two companies will execute
joint projects to develop new ways of efficient operations in the
offshore services industry, with a fast time-to market.
KONGSBERG will contribute its technology
expertise and deliver all major marine equipment necessary for the
design, construction and operation of Hrönn, including all systems
for dynamic positioning and navigation, satellite and position
reference, marine automation and communication. Its vessel control
systems including K-Pos dynamic positioning, K-Chief automation and
K-Bridge ECDIS and Radar will be replicated at an Onshore Control
Centre, allowing full remote operations of Hrönn.
Hrönn's Sea trials will take place in Norway's
officially designated automated vessel test bed in the Trondheim
fjord and will be conducted under the auspices of DNV GL and the
Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA). The Hrönn will ultimately be
classed and flagged, respectively.
"In this era of digitalization of industrial
services, we are pleased to join this forward-looking project thus
demonstrating the positioning of BOURBON as a world reference in
terms of operational excellence and customer experience," said
Gael Bodénès, Chief Operating Officer, BOURBON
Corporation.
"BOURBON is a world leading marine services
company and we are confident that alongside KONGSBERG as technology
lead, they will provide a valuable contribution to the design and
operation of Hrönn," said Brett Phaneuf, CEO, Automated Ships
Ltd.
"We are pleased to be collaborating with such
expert partners in the development of Hrönn, a vessel that will
show how digitalisation and autonomy have the potential to
revolutionise the offshore services market," said Stene Førsund,
EVP Global Sales and Marketing, Kongsberg Maritime.
ABOUT KONGSBERG MARITIME
Kongsberg Maritime is a global marine technology
company providing innovative and reliable technology solutions for
all marine industry sectors including merchant, offshore, subsea
and naval. Headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, the company has
manufacturing, sales and service facilities in 20 countries.
Kongsberg Maritime is part of Kongsberg Gruppen
(KONGSBERG), an international, knowledge-based group that
celebrated 200 years in business during 2014. KONGSBERG supplies
high-technology systems and solutions to customers in the oil and
gas industry, the merchant marine, and the defence and aerospace
industries.
www.km.kongsberg.com
ABOUT BOURBON
Among the market leaders in marine services for
offshore oil & gas, BOURBON offers the most demanding oil &
gas companies a wide range of marine services, both surface and
sub-surface, for offshore oil & gas fields and wind farms.
These extensive services rely on a broad range of the
latest-generation vessels and the expertise of more than 9,300
skilled employees. Through its 37 operating subsidiaries the group
provides local services as close as possible to customers and their
operations throughout the world, of the highest standards of
service and safety.
BOURBON provides two operating Activities
(Marine Services and Subsea Services) and also protects the French
coastline for the French Navy.
In 2016, BOURBON'S revenue came to €1,102.6
million and the company operated a fleet of 514 vessels.
Placed by ICB (Industry Classification
Benchmark) in the "Oil Services" sector, BOURBON is listed on the
Euronext Paris, Compartment B.
www.bourbonoffshore.com
ABOUT AUTOMATED SHIPS LTD
Automated Ships Ltd, is a subsidiary of M Subs
Ltd, that will focus on the design, construction and operation of
the first full-sized, commercial, unmanned ship. Built in Norway,
the construction of this market-making ship-type will be a
world-first and watershed moment for the maritime industry and will
leverage the world-leading technology and expertise of numerous
Norwegian companies and academic institutions.
www.automatedshipsltd.com
CONTACTS
BOURBON Investor Relations, analysts, shareholders
+33 140 138 607
investor-relations@bourbon-online.com
Corporate Communications Christelle Loisel
+33 491 136 732
christelle.loisel@bourbon-online.com Media
relations agency Publicis Consultants Vilizara Lazarova
+33 144 824 634
vilizara.lazarova@consultants.publicis.fr |
KongsbergGunvor
Hatling MidtbøKongsberg MaritimeTel: +47 9921
4209gunvor.hatling.midtbo@km.kongsberg.com Saul
TrewernSaltwater StoneTel: +44 (0)1202
669244s.trewern@saltwater-stone.com
Automated Ships Ltd ContactsBrett A.
PhaneufAutomated Ships LtdTel: +44
(0)7490296916admin@automatedshipsltd.com |
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