French offshore services provider Bourbon has taken delivery of the first of two new 34-metre crewboats from Grandweld Shipyards of Dubai.
The delivery followed the completion of sea trials. The two vessels, Surfer 341 and Surfer 342, were designed by French naval architecture firm Mauric for the transport of offshore personnel.
Bourbon ordered the pair to fulfil a five-year charter with ExxonMobil announced in September 2025, covering personnel transfers between Soyo and Block 15, located off Angola.
Each crewboat has 60 business class-style passenger seats and a cruising speed of up to 38 knots. Bourbon said the vessels offer lower fuel consumption compared to the preceding 32-metre series, which it attributed to an electronic fuel monitoring system integrated during construction, as well as greater operational redundancy.
The boats also have 18 square metres of deck space fitted with compartments for passenger luggage, a redesigned bridge with improved visibility and ergonomics, and satellite communication systems that link the vessel and its equipment with Bourbon's onshore teams.
