Bourbon teams up with vessel firm to offer offshore wind maintenance in France

French marine services group Bourbon has teamed up with Oslo-listed Integrated Wind Solutions ASA (IWS) to serve the offshore wind commissioning and maintenance market in France.

Under a strategic partnership agreement announced on Thursday, Bourbon will be able to market and operate IWS’ Skywalker class wind farm specialised support walk-to-work vessels, with ship management to be provided by Bourbon Offshore Surf.

IWS has four vessels currently under construction, two of which will be delivered next year and the remaining two in the first half of 2024.

Bourbon said it would also be able to provide complementary below-water services, while IWS’ subsidiary ProCon Wind Energy A/S could offer relevant above-water services.

“Bourbon’s extensive experience with the installation of floating wind as well as having local presence in France will benefit wind farm developers, operators and owners to get high-quality vessels operated by French seafarers,” according to IWS chief executive Lars-Henrik Roren.

France just recently saw the generation of first power by the 480-MW Saint-Nazaire wind farm off its western coast, which marks the first time electricity has been produced by a commercial offshore wind park in French waters.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!