Vb-Abeille-Bretagne

The 'Abeille Bourbon' has just changed its name. The tug, based in Brest, has been renamed 'VB Abeille Bretagne. The new name of this tug, which ensures the safety of the entire Atlantic coast, and in particular the Ouessant rail, was inaugurated on May 22, 2025,. VB are the initials of Vicente Boluda, president of the Spanish Boluda group, the owner of the tug since June 2024. "Bourbon" referred to the previous owner, which the group has decided to change. Report with photo: https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/societe/a-brest-le-remorqueur-abeille-bourbon-devient-officiellement-vb-abeille-bretagne-5327232

After a four-week technical stop in Brest, the 'Abeille Bourbon' will have a new name. It is expected to be called 'VB Abeille BretagneÄ. On March 28 at noon, the tug left the Quay Malbert in Brest to enter dock No. 1. Under the care of Piriou Naval Services Brest, the vessel will undergo a four-week technical maintenance. The work program includes standard inspections of the propulsion engine couplings, inspections of two generator sets, and maintenance work on the two cranes. The tug will also undergo, for the first time since its commissioning, a complete repainting of the superstructures. Routine maintenance and inspections will be carried out as part of the Bureau Veritas classification. During its technical layup, the 'Abeille Bourbon' will be replaced by the 'Abeille Horizon', which has just undergone a maintenance period.

At 396-meters long and weighing in at a 250,000 tonnes, you’d think that having to do an emergency tow of the world’s largest containership would be no easy task. As it turns out, a recent exercise held March 9th off the coast of France proved that that doesn’t have to be the case. The exercise was carried out using the French emergency towing vessel, the ABEILLE BOURBON, while the CMA CGM MARCO POLO was on a four hour hiatus from regular service off the Brittany coast. During the exercise, the Marco Polo was loaded to 80% capacity and towed for an hour at a speed of 10km/h. Photos: http://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/galeries/Marco-Polo