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Our environmental commitments

BOURBON addresses global environmental issues by using a pragmatic, progressive and measurable approach to ensure its activities are sustainable for the environment. The group takes this approach with the offshore floating wind energy market, as it is convinced of its importance for the energy panorama in future decades. Moreover, to reduce the energy footprint of our activities, we take accurate easurements of all our greenhouse gas emissions and are continuing with actions to preserve the environment and revent climate change by controlling the emissions from our fleet of services vessels.

At the heart of the energy transition

BOURBON has undertaken to both support its clients with their energy transition and also to be a company that cares about its impact on people and the environment. In this respect, the group does everything possible to reduce its impact on the ocean and to be an active player in the energy transition.

- Committed to the development of floating wind turbines Offshore wind energy will be a future component of energy decarbonisation for many countries. It is BOURBON's ambition to become a key player in the offshore floating wind energy market. The feasibility of these types of installations was demonstrated as early as 2011.

Since then, Bourbon Subsea Services has successively rolled out a number of projects in various European regions, particularly off the French coast, Scotland, Portugal and northern Europe.

To find out more: Support for the development of wind farms | Bourbon (bourbonoffshore.com)

 

Goal: Reduce the carbon footprint

Aware of the impact of its activity and that of its clients on climate change, BOURBON aims to reduce its carbon footprint. However, to undertake a proactive approach in the fight against greenhouse gases, it is important to start by measuring them before determining a road map.

Emissions: 3 scopes Greenhouse gas emissions are classified into three scopes:

  • Scope 1: direct emissions. At BOURBON, these are essentially off-hire vessels emissions.
  • Scope 2: indirect energy-related emissions. At BOURBON, these are head offices electricity consumption emissions.
  • Scope 3: indirect emissions. At BOURBON, these are the on-hire vessels emissions, the transfers of our seafarers, etc.

Fuel for our vessels is paid by the clients who charter them and it is they who decide the routes and frequency of our crossings. The fuel consumed by chartered vessels thus falls under scope 3 and represents 95% of our emissions. To find out more about the measurement of our emissions in 2022, click here.

In terms of scope 3, we will work together with our customers to provide practical and technological solutions to gradually reduce emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Rodolphe Bouchet
CEO Bourbon Marine & Logistics

A fleet of diesel-electric propulsion vessels

BOURBON took a pioneering approach in the early 2010s by investing in a series of diesel-electric vessels (Bourbon Liberty, Bourbon Evolution), essentially to reduce the fuel consumption of its fleet. Over 90% of the fleet is now equipped with these systems. Similarly, BOURBON is working on other solutions to reduce the consumption of its vessels, from LEDs to solar panels, and even frequency converters on electric engines. Other innovations are also being studied in the context of re-fitting out the vessels (Biofuels, methanol, hydrogen).

vessels

Fuel management to control consumption

BOURBON has clearly-defined directives for "fuel management" which enable it to control its consumption. Raising crew awareness is achieved through the dissemination of best practices in terms of fuel consumption management and eco-sailing:

  • a reduction in the number of engines in transit,
  • a reduction in waiting time near oil platforms, etc.

Based on the operational profiles of each vessel, a consumption analysis can identify the best behaviours to use and optimize daily fuel management. To achieve this, we rely on digital collection solutions such as on-board sensors, which provide automatic data feedback.

 

Vessel lifecycle

OSVs working in the offshore sector have limited ,lifespans, this is mainly due to the obsolescence of certain on-board systems. We are now considering the replacement of these systems for ecological reasons, despite the significant costs involved. Stated objective: to extend the lifespans of the OSVs in our fleet.

Associated document

2022 BOURBON Sustainability Report
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