“Every year we send hundreds of Ukrainian seamen to our vessels”

Bourbon Offshore is a global brand, known not less than Exxon Mobil, Chevron, or other giants of oil seas. However, they all need to rely on each other. And on our seamen, who are also involved in this global business.

In our vocabulary the word “offshore,” used in an economic or political context, tends to have mostly a negative connotation. Yet Bourbon Offshore Ukraine brings us back to its origins: exploitation of offshore gas and oil deposits. Despite the fact that the firm is working in the maritime industry, it is closely connected with oil and gas production. Bourbon Offshore’s office in Odesa recruits seamen for the vessels serving offshore oil and gas rigs in 45 countries. Below is our interview with Bernard ANGELVY, managing director of this French company.

How do mariners experience the energy crisis and the price collapse in this sector? Are they having problems, too?

“Of course, if the crisis is felt on the rigs, it is also felt on the servicing vessels. Many producing companies have suspended their work: the cost of offshore oil today exceeds its nominal market price. However, you cannot hang a lock on the rigs and vessels and send everyone on holiday. This is why they are working in the stand-by mode. Today the lease of ships for oil firms has become considerably cheaper. I can say that mariners have lost 5 to 10 percent of their usual earnings, while the duration of their work contracts has increased from 60 to 70 days. Yet given the fact that our salaries are among the highest in the fleet, this austerity does not hit people hard.”

How many and what kind of vessels are necessary to service one oil or gas platform?

“Everything depends on the distance between platforms. As a rule, two vessels are enough for servicing two nearby rigs. However, tankers and special vessels are necessary, up to submarines. Bourbon Offshore works worldwide. Besides our office in Odesa, we have another 34 branches. Our up-to-date standardized park boasts of 510 vessels of various types. We offer a full range of services to producing companies and the countries where they are based. This includes towing and anchoring platforms, their precise positioning in the production zone, supplies of maritime equipment and specialized vessels, for instance, distantly operated robot manipulators. And of course, the support of production self, storage and unloading of blocks – in a word, all transportation services, including transportation of personnel and delivery of food and various goods. Besides, we provide environmental remediation in case of pollution and perform rescue missions. Just recently one of our ships was hired by the Red Cross to rescue Syrian refugees at sea.”

Now it is clear why the cost of offshore oil is quite high. Can you find specialists for all these operations here in Ukraine?

“Every year we send hundreds of Ukrainian seamen to our vessels, providing them with insurance and social security according to MLC standards (Maritime Labor Convention 2006). It must be noted that we at Bourbon Offshore are really punctilious when it comes to everything going on with the vessels. Captains send in written reports of any incident that might affect the operations. Even a mere cut on a finger will be immediately reported to the regional office.”

Does it mean that working as a mariner for your company differs considerably from working on other ships? How interesting is it for officers and sailors?

“It is a very interesting, unconventional job. Being a captain with 40 years of experience, I know what I say. At the same time it harbors many risks related to highly inflammable substances and the complexity of maneuvering. Mooring to a rig is very different from mooring to the shore. We call this operation ‘docking,’ just like astronauts do. The ship’s systems must be connected to the platform’s systems, and the latter must be connected with the pipes and cables on the shore. All this requires meticulous precision and the ability to work in complex weather conditions. Our specialists operate not only ships, but also underwater vehicles and deep-see manipulator robots. Not every seaman can work on the shelf. First he must complete a special training course, obtain a certificate, and then follow our company training program to consolidate this knowledge with practice. We are very careful with our staff, also because training requires so much time and effort. Despite the strict selection criteria, we have no lack of applicants. The work is prestigious, well-paid, there are company bonuses.”

Do you offer average two-month contracts?

“Yes, two months at sea and two months on shore. Many find it very suitable. Not everyone is prepared to leave their family for a long time, like it happens in the merchant navy.”

As a man related to servicing the gas and oil industry, you are better informed about expectations in this industry. Are current oil prices going to stay low for a long time?

 “I suppose not. I am not a market expert, but I see how hard it is to keep offshore platforms in this hibernation. It can last a year, or a year and half, but not longer. Otherwise it will mean total freezing of offshore production, which is detrimental for business and for very many countries. It is most likely that the prices will gradually begin to rise.”

 If Ukraine begins production on the Black Sea shelf, does it have a reliable partner and a ready pool of specialists?

 “Bourbon Offshore indeed is one of the world’s leading firms in servicing the platforms. Americans come second after us. We will probably be very useful to Ukraine. Our employers are very demanding. As we say in France, they want the purchased sheep to have five legs. So we are quite used to fastidiousness.”

 How is it for captains to work with such picky customers? Doesn’t it mean double subordination, to ship owners and to owners of platforms?

 “The captains have very clear instructions which have been developed over many years. They define which risks are justifiable and which are not, or when you must listen to the customer or only rely on yourself. And of course, our specialists are not only skippers. They need to be able to communicate fluently with partners and the crew, have a smattering of several languages and have a knack of business correspondence and record-keeping. Professionalism is a rather broad category, incorporating erudition and experience.”