COMPAGNIE CHAMBON.

Armements Marseillais and FOTW attribute C2 to Compagnie Marseillaise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage J. Chambon et Cie.

The Chambon family began towing in 1861 as Marius Chambon et Cie., later Chambon Frères et Cie. In 1873 it merged with smaller companies to form Société Générale de Remorquage et de Travaux Maritimes. Armements Marseillais also gives a version of this name including Sauvetage, which Rosanoski notes is not supported by Lloyd’s. The same account dates restructuring to 1971, with the creation of Compagnie Marseillaise de Remorquage et de Sauvetage J. Chambon et Cie. This joined Nouvelle Société Provençale de Remorquage [Les Abeilles SAS] and ARPEC to form Société des Remorqueurs du Port Autonome. Compagnie Sétoise de Remorquage et Sauvetage J. Chambon et Cie. was formed at Sète. Lloyd’s instead records Compagnie Chambon as formed in 1891, renamed Compagnie Marseillaise de Remorquage et de Salvage Chambon in 1989 and apparently reformed as Compagnie Chambon in 1996. These accounts are not reconciled.

The group became part of Maritime Groupe Bourbon, later Bourbon. Its operating companies included Antilles Trans Express, SURF, l’Express des Iles and Les Abeilles. Chambon Offshore International was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary in 1981 and managed part of the fleet. Société Oceanienne de Remorquage et d’Assistance was jointly formed with Les Abeilles; Lloyd’s later names Société des Remorqueurs du Port Autonome de Marseille as the Chambon-side partner.

France, Marseilles.

This supports the French family-business association but does not resolve the archive’s 1861 precursor, 1891 formation and 1989/1996 renamings. The present company is not automatically treated as uninterrupted legal continuation.