BOURBON commits to training future French maritime officers

 

In a context of transformation of the maritime industry, BOURBON is making training a key lever for the sector: contributing to a new generation of French officers, supporting the attractiveness of offshore careers and anticipating the evolution of skills. 

As a founding member of the ENSM* Foundation since 2023, BOURBON has chosen to make a long-term commitment to French maritime training. ENSM, the leading public institution for the training of merchant navy officers and maritime engineers, has created its university foundation with the aim of raising awareness of maritime careers among young people and promoting social mobility and diversity. 

Through the ENSM Foundation, BOURBON is contributing to a strategic objective for the French maritime sector: doubling the number of officers trained by 2027. In 2025, 352 officers graduated, with a strong increase in attractiveness (+17% of candidates), illustrating the growing interest of young people in these promising careers. As a member of the Management Board, BOURBON also takes an active part in the governance of the Foundation. 
 

Onboard internships at the heart of the operations 

As a continuation of this commitment, BOURBON is relaunching a program of onboard internships for cadets, with 15 positions open in 2026 and embarkations planned before the summer and through early 2027 in Angola and Guyana. 

These internships go far beyond simple immersion: in a logic of supervised assumption of responsibility, students are gradually integrated as full members of the crew, taking on operational responsibilities comparable to those of a junior officer. It is a unique experience on an Offshore Support Vessel (OSV), offering a close-up look at the realities of the job. 

To date, on average, 80% of young people in work-study programs have joined BOURBON’s team at the end of their contract, both on deck and in the engine room. 

“As a founding member of the ENSM Foundation, BOURBON has chosen to make a long-term commitment to supporting French maritime training. The onboard internships offered from the first to the final year provide field experience at the heart of the operations. They are a concrete way to help train the next generation of French officers”, says Marie Valmalle-Fradet, Human Resources Director France at BOURBON. 

*Ecole Nationale Supérieure Maritime