France's Bourbon Offshore has won a tender to run two research ships for the government.
The restructured shipowner will supply crew and manage the operation of the 46-loa Alfred Merlin (built 2021) and 36-loa Andre Malraux (built 2012) for the Department of Underwater Archaeological Research (DRASSM).
The Alfred Merlin, built by France's iXblue shipyard, will operate overseas.
Bourbon said the department wanted to bring in a "reputed professional of specialised vessels management".
Long-term partnership
It said its tender offer was based on four pillars: digital innovation, local partnership, customer focus and operational excellence.
Subsidiary Bourbon Offshore Surf will manage the vessels over an undisclosed long-term period. No financial terms were disclosed.
"Congratulations to the Bourbon Offshore Surf teams who have worked hard for several months to win this new contract," said the subsidiary's chief executive, Yannick Beley.
"We are very pleased to support the DRASSM and hope to establish a long-term partnership with this major player of underwater archaeology."
Beley said the crisis in the offshore sector spurred the group to diversify and offer new services.
"We are thus deploying our strategy by offering a ship management service on vessels that do not belong to Bourbon," he added.
"This is a step further in our transition from shipowner to marine service provider."
Banks in control
Bourbon exited court restructuring last December with €1.5bn ($1.83bn) less debt, but with plans to sell or scrap more than 100 ships.
The company is owned by its lenders after they took it over in a debt to equity swap, leaving former principal Jacques de Chateauvieux with no stake after years of losses in tough markets.
The target for the fleet at the end of 2021 is fewer than 350 vessels, compared with 458 now.
Shareholders include French banks BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole, China's ICBC Financial Leasing and UK-based Standard Chartered Bank.
