Bourbon Takes Delivery of First Crewboat
Bourbon received the first of two 34-metre crewboats built by Grandweld Shipyards, with the second still to follow.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cruises
Bourbon took delivery of the first of two 34-metre crewboats from Grandweld Shipyards, officially delivered on 3 November 2026 after sea trials. The vessel, named Surfer 341, was formally handed over at Grandweld's Dubai shipyard.
Why it matters
The crewboats add capacity to Bourbon's offshore support operations, which span a fleet of 153 vessels serving more than 30 countries. The delivery marks an incremental expansion of the company's offshore personnel transport capabilities.
The crewboats carry up to 60 offshore personnel at cruising speeds of up to 38 knots, with 18 square metres of deck space, compared with the 32-metre vessels of the previous generation. The delivery date for the second vessel has not been specified.
The players
Bourbon
Bourbon is a maritime services company operating a fleet of 153 vessels and providing services in more than 30 countries.
Grandweld Shipyards
Grandweld Shipyards is the shipbuilder that constructed the crewboats and hosted the handover ceremony at its Dubai facility.
The details
Each crewboat includes an electronic fuel monitoring system installed during construction and a redesigned bridge with improved visibility and ergonomics. The first vessel was formally handed over at Grandweld's Dubai shipyard following successful sea trials.
Timeline
3 November 2026: Surfer 341, the first crewboat, is officially delivered to Bourbon.
Roadmap
The 34-metre Surfer 341 continues a shift toward larger, faster offshore crewboats with built-in electronic fuel monitoring, replacing the 32-metre vessels of the previous generation. Bourbon's order positions the company to expand its offshore personnel transport capacity across its international service areas.
Travelers booking offshore or maritime-linked itineraries will see little direct change from this delivery. The crewboat is a service vessel, so no passenger booking or pricing impact is described in the source.
The takeaway
Vessel deliveries like this one show how offshore service fleets expand through incremental, specification-driven orders rather than sudden shifts. Tracking delivery schedules for ordered vessels offers a clearer picture of fleet growth than individual launch announcements.
Further reading
Explore more cruise and maritime travel coverage for context on vessel operations.
