In fact we have no ship of this type in command

In June, you launched a great strategic plan, even though the oil offshore market was down cycle. The situation is recovering

The recovery is slower than expected, as the rates of use. Especially since a few months, 13 of our ships have temporarily immobilized by disputes between customer Petrobras and the Brazilian Government. This has degraded our utilization rate. But the matter is now resolved.

EC stagnation you a-t-il led to differ from the projects

Non. On the $ 2 billion of investments planned by 2015 to increase our fleet, we have hired to date 580 million. In the current economic context, we are prudent and we adapt the rhythm of our investments. We analyze the market permanently. Take for example the very large AHT, ships anchoring and towing platforms. They are net global overcapacity. In fact, we have no ship of this type in command.

The current economic context does not call into question your strategy

Not at all! Our strategic plan 2003-2007 enabled us to acquire a beautiful deep offshore market share. Plan 2012, we we are positioned on the market of the continental offshore in substitution of old and obsolete ships, providing the deep offshore technology. We have also expanded our offer of services by offering "subsea" of inspection, maintenance and repair ships.

In the 2015 plan, we affirm our leadership position by increasing our fleet of 388 to 600 ships and our workforce of app.7.200 to 12,000 people. We focus on the oil offshore marine services and our goal is a growth of 17 per year.

How is this plan it funded

Instead of a capital increase that would have required a strong haircut, we chose to divest assets. We thus disengaged from our transport activity of bulk of our past sugar interests at Viet Nam, shares that we still had a fund developed historically with AXA Private Equity and in different societies... We also obtained a loan of 400 million Chinese Eximbank and we have negotiated with our sites only pay 25 of the price to the command of our ships and the balance upon delivery, which has a favourable impact on our debt.

How do you envisage the impact of the BP oil spill It does this not call into question your analysis

Because of the American legislation, we are not present in the United States. We have therefore not been directly affected by drilling moratorium which has been declared. Despite the disaster, this accident has at least been positive, because it has raised even more tankers to safety. The most demanding companies could go to have vessels operating on their fields. a positive element for Bourbon, which has latest generation vessels. Oil tankers are also to be more intransigent on the skills of the crews. This will raise barriers to entry into the profession and the major international companies will be the first to implement this skimming.

In Nigeria, your hostages are to be released for ransom. What are you getting this case

For obvious reasons of confidentiality and security, including for other French hostages still held around the world, we do nothing concerning the conditions of detention or release of the hostages.

That said, we are very pleased that our employees have been released. In Nigeria, the environment is difficult, even if for a year, tension had decreased. We adapt and strengthen our safety devices permanently on-site, by increasing the number of police officers and emphasizing the training of staff. We operate 85 ships in that country and there are more than 1,000 people. Most of our contributors are from Nigerians, expatriates are, for their part, all volunteers.