Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Bourbon-Topaz

The Maritime Authority of Suriname has released an important Notice to Mariners regarding upcoming exploration activities off the country's coast. The drillship Maersk Developer is set to commence its exploration drilling operations from September 19 to December 3, 2020, positioned at the coordinates 07° 21’.270 N and 055° 33’.247 W (WGS 84). Vessels in the vicinity are required to maintain a safe distance of at least 1,000 meters from the drillship to ensure safety during these operations. Supporting the Maersk Developer will be several Offshore Support Vessels (OSV), including MV Bourbon Topaz, MV Gerard Tide, MV Felton Tide, and MV National Energy Explorer. Mariners are advised to communicate via VHF channels 16 and 77. Additionally, a designated SAFETY ZONE of 1,000 meters from the drilling site has been established to prevent any potential hazards. It’s important to note that the Maersk Developer is not maneuverable and will be exhibiting the appropriate signals. All vessels are urged to heed this notice for their safety.

On March 1 at 8:50 p.m., the Blue Water Shipping agency welcomed the supply vessel "Bourbon Topaz" at the northern pier of Brest's fifth basin. The ship made its way from Holyhead and had to make an unscheduled stop in Brest due to complications with its autopilot system, necessitating immediate repairs. Spare parts essential for the repair process were anticipated to arrive from Norway on March 2. After the necessary electronic repairs were successfully completed, the Bourbon Topaz departed Brest on March 5 at noon. The vessel has now resumed its journey from Peterhead to Varna, with an estimated arrival time of March 16 at 9 p.m. For further details, you can view the original French report along with a photo here: https://www.letelegramme.fr/finistere/brest/port-de-commerce/bourbon-topaz-pilote-automatique-defaillant-03-03-2019-12221308.php

On February 26, 2019, at approximately 5:10 PM, the Bourbon Topaz encountered a thruster malfunction while on its journey from Peterhead to Vaina, carrying a crew of 12. The incident took place at coordinates 52°24'31'' N, 001°47'30'' E, prompting the vessel to drop anchor off the coast of Lowestoft. After conducting temporary repairs to address the thruster issue, the Bourbon Topaz is set to continue its voyage to Brest, where it is scheduled to arrive on March 1 at 3:00 PM to obtain the necessary parts for a complete restoration.