BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268) Table Bay, Cape Town
BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268): Offshore Supply Vessel
Explore BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268), a modern offshore supply vessel with DP2 dynamic positioning and FIFI 1 firefighting capability.
BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268) is a 2015-built offshore supply vessel combining PSV operations with DP2 dynamic positioning and FIFI 1 firefighting capability.
BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268)
The vessel was constructed by Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co. in China and is based on the SPP35 design. Her propulsion arrangement comprises four Caterpillar 3512C diesel engines driving azimuthing propulsion units, providing the manoeuvrability required for offshore support work. Her design includes approximately 716 square metres of working deck space and accommodation for up to 50 persons. (ship-db.de)
Vessel Specifications
- Vessel Type: Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) / Fire Fighting (FiFi 1)
- Length Overall (LOA): 78.55 meters
- Beam (Width): 17.20 meters
- Gross Tonnage: 3,147 GT
- Summer Deadweight (DWT): 3,703 tonnes
- Dynamic Positioning: DP2
- Builder: Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co. (Fenghua, Ningbo, China)
- Operator: Bourbon Offshore
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A particularly interesting aspect of BOURBON EXPLORER 511 is her DP2 dynamic positioning capability. Dynamic positioning allows an offshore support vessel to maintain a controlled position and heading without relying solely on conventional anchoring. For operations around offshore installations, this provides an important combination of precision, manoeuvrability and operational flexibility. (Ijetty)
Although her primary classification is that of an offshore supply ship/PSV, BOURBON EXPLORER 511 also has an important emergency-response capability. Vessel data identifies her as FIFI 1 equipped, meaning that firefighting forms part of her operational capability. This is particularly significant in the offshore environment, where a supply vessel may be required to provide assistance during an emergency involving an offshore installation or another vessel. (Ijetty)
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This combination explains why the vessel is visually interesting from a ship-spotting perspective. Her overall configuration reflects her principal offshore-support role: a broad working deck, substantial superstructure and equipment arranged for the movement of personnel, stores and other materials. At the same time, her firefighting equipment gives her a secondary emergency-response function that is not immediately apparent from the basic PSV classification.
The distinction is worth noting. BOURBON EXPLORER 511 is not primarily a fire-fighting vessel; she is an offshore supply vessel with firefighting capability. Maritime databases consistently identify her as an Offshore Supply Ship or PSV, while specialist vessel information records her DP2 and FIFI 1 capabilities. (VesselFinder)
Table Bay Maritime Environment Through Photography
As a photographic subject, BOURBON EXPLORER 511 provides an interesting example of how modern offshore vessels combine several functions within a single platform. What initially appears to be a conventional supply vessel reveals, on closer observation, a sophisticated multipurpose working ship capable of supporting offshore industry operations while also contributing to emergency response and maritime safety.
Photographic Equipment
Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark III
Lens: Canon RF 800mm f/11 IS STM Lens
Photographic Genre: Maritime Photography / Ship Spotting
Post Processing: Adobe Lightroom Classic Version 15
Location: Table Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
References
IJetty. (n.d.). BOURBON EXPLORER 511: PSV, DP2, FIFI 1. (Ijetty)
Maritime Optima. (n.d.). BOURBON EXPLORER 511 — Oil service/PSV, IMO 9654268. (Maritime Optima)
Rynda. (2026). BOURBON EXPLORER 511 (IMO 9654268) — Offshore Supply Ship. (rynda.io)
Ship-DB. (n.d.). BOURBON EXPLORER 511 — vessel particulars. (ship-db.de)
VesselFinder. (n.d.). BOURBON EXPLORER 511 — IMO 9654268. (VesselFinder)
