Since last summer, BOURBON has accompanied the DRASSM (French Underwater Archeology Research Department) by ensuring the ship management of its two vessels, the André Malraux and the brand new research vessel, the Alfred Merlin. This partnership has been set up at a time when this department of the French Ministry of Culture is at a turning point in its history by taking delivery of a second vessel that will enable it to considerably extend its field of action. Some explanations from Arnaud Schaumasse, Director of the DRASSM, and Frédéric Leroy, Deputy Director and Heritage Curator (Ministry of Culture & DRASSM).

PartnerShip: Why has your department entrusted the management of its vessels to BOURBON, a leader in offshore marine services?

Arnaud Schaumasse: I believe we have made the most rational choice and I am very happy with that. Our aim is to be able to focus entirely on our core profession, with all its particularities, with total confidence and safety. In the past, we handled the questions of ship management empirically, but the doubling of our fleet led us to question the sustainability of our organization. A new vessel means more crew, supervision, resources, recruitment, etc. So we asked ourselves about the most pertinent option to meet this need, to procure reliable crews in which the entire department, and above all the archeologists and scientists on board, could have total trust, both for navigation but also to meet their needs.

Frédéric Leroy: Ministry of Culture considered using government services before deciding to bring in professionals with a more global vision for the seafarers, crews, and technical management of our vessels. In this specific context, it seemed that BOURBON was particularly qualified to complete this mission.
 

PartnerShip: How did the two worlds of oil & gas and archeological research come together?

A. S.: In a very natural and fluid way. On one hand, I have seen the professionals at the DRASSM do everything necessary to facilitate the transition. Our crewing manager, for example, was able to formulate the expectations of one group so that they could be understood the other. On the other hand, I have seen an extremely attentive crew at BOURBON that listens to the needs and expectations of the science teams, focusing on the essence of the task: enabling the science teams to accomplish their missions.

F. L.: Personally, I met BOURBON's teams for the first time just a few days before the crews came into service. I was struck by their teamwork in their way of handling a task. As Arnaud said, everything was very natural. Another very important point was the fact that all the crew are volunteers. That was decisive! I remember a young officer on the Alfred Merlin who was very motivated and enthusiastic about the idea of sailing on this specific research vessel. Seeing him talk with such enthusiasm and curiosity made me understand that we were going exactly where we wanted to go, toward a real synergy of skills. In fact, it was a rational choice that leads us to a fine project and a great adventure to build together. A shared adventure.

A. S.: I would also like to underline the human aspect of this partnership. BOURBON welcomed some of our former seamen into its crews, and I believe that this also played a role in our relations, because these men have experience and knowledge. Seeing them integrated into this transition is highly appreciable and beneficial for everybody.
 

PartnerShip: The major challenge with oil & gas operations is safety. How important was this criterion for the selection of BOURBON?

A. S.: Concerning these questions, we share a common objective and speak the same language. On board the André Malraux, the crews were already very vigilant over questions of safety, but the idea of entering into a partnership with a major company, whose expertise in the field is recognized worldwide, gave us a true guarantee of excellence. While our new vessel, the Alfred Merlin, is finishing its preparatory phase, it is very important that all the remarks that can be made concerning the safety of our operations are taken into account. The dialogue has been rich and, due to the risks of their profession, our scientific teams and divers are sensitive to this.

PartnerShip: The DRASSM is at a turning point in its history. How do you view this?

A. S.: In the current budgetary context, the fact that a few years ago the Ministry of Culture chose to commission a second sea-going archeological research vessel was a very assertive decision. It is now up to us put this choice, commitment and trust into action. First, we must deploy the new spatial coverage that this equipment enables us to carry out and structure ourselves to manage our future operations, which will probably double, or even triple, compared with today. This means succeeding in a scientific program that proves that operating two sea-going vessels is a meaningful decision. We must also be able to respond to the needs of our overseas territories. The Alfred Merlin will be able to serve our territories in the Americas and Indian Ocean. In this budgetary context, we have a very strong and symbolic short-term mission to establish scientific partnerships in France and around the world. The most emblematic of these is with Stanford University, the realization of an important commitment by my predecessor that will be materialized by the design of a humanoid robot capable of descending to a depth of 1000 meters.
 

PartnerShip: What are the stakes for the scientific community?

A. S.: This humanoid robot equipped with very sensitive gripping tools, offers archeologists a new continent, depths that have previously been inaccessible, and we will have access to a cultural heritage that is sometimes mentioned in the literature or which is sometimes simply unknown. It will multiply the field of scientific investigation!

F. L.: Today, it is in our DNA to contribute to the design of robot tools that don't exist on the market but which meet our needs. It is one thing for a robot to dive, but it is quite another thing for it to have a hand that is capable of grasping a fragile object without breaking it. We enter the world of tomorrow. It's a mission we have steadfastly followed for several years with a great deal of commitment. It's a giant step for the entire discipline.

A. S.: We will also continue to develop the field of preventive underwater archeology in the context of installation programs, for which we will have a voice to guarantee the preservation or the knowledge of our shared heritage that could be impacted by these works. Our vessels, and their BOURBON crews, will have a major role to play — they will enable us to extend our scope and take possession of new territories. It's a very exciting challenge!