Offshore vessel owners Bourbon and Horizon Maritime are setting up a new company to bolster their harsh-environment services.
They also want to drive sector consolidation by offering ship management to third parties.
Bourbon Horizon will be incorporated in Norway and focus on North Sea and Canadian markets.
France’s Bourbon and Canada-based Horizon will run the new venture from Fosnavag in Norway and St John’s in Canada.
The “base fleet” will consist of seven modern offshore support vessels: five platform supply vessels, a large anchor-handling tug supply ship (AHTS) and a multipurpose PSV (MPSV) that is currently configured for subsea and trenching services.
Cliff Gaetz will be managing director, supported by Bjorn Remoy and senior operational leads Stale Kyrkjedelen and Colin Doody.
“The partnership builds on natural synergies and shared values between the two shipowners,” the partners said.
Rodolphe Bouchet, Bourbon Marine & Logistics chief executive, added: “Entering this strategic partnership with Horizon Maritime represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our current position in the North Sea markets.
“The Bourbon Horizon JV will also support the consolidation of the OSV sector in harsh environments, while achieving substantial economies of scale, to allow the creation of a diversified and particularly competitive offering.”
Bourbon has a fleet of 144 vessels, valued by VesselsValue at $1.1bn.
Horizon is listed with an owned fleet consisting of an AHTS and an MPSV worth $95m.
Remoy said the new operation will support customers through the market recovery and “active participation in the development of offshore renewable energy and oil and gas projects”.
