New Energy Part 3D-8 Using Zero Point Energy to Clean up Radioactive Waste
Meet the Heroes: Colm Power's Journey to Mastering the Seas
1.
2.
3. MEET THE
HEROES
Exploration comes in many different shapes and sizes; from Sir
Ranulph Fiennes trekking the Arctic Circle, to Ellen MacArthur
breaking the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the
globe. Through these adventures, discoveries have been made and
stories have been formed; similar to the stories that have been
collated for this magazine.
That same sense of adventure and discovery is threaded throughout
the Energy and Marine industries and from the professionals that
make them happen. From the discovery of gas reservoirs in the
Black Sea to transforming the landscape of Egypt, our professionals
have been at the heart of these ambitious projects, dedicating a
lifelong career to this innovative and challenging industry.
With a constant stream of news from industry leaders, oil giants and
international conglomerates, sometimes the thoughts and careers
from the people behind these projects can be lost.
This magazine introduces you to those people, giving you a real
insight into the Energy and Marine industries.
Get ready to become inspired,
Atlas Professionals
4. INDEX
Alexis Deloge. A Field Geophysicist on a Lifelong
Adventure
Colm Power. How to become the Absolute Master
Neil Carey. Investigating the Seabed:
A Geophysicist in Offshore Survey and Construction
Igors Bistrovs. How to Guide a Team as a Chief
Engineer
Kyla Graham. Living to Raise Awareness of Marine
Wildlife
Carine Lima. Feeling the Weight of Responsibility
as a Dynamic Positioning Officer
Aleksei Mitrokhin. Operating Cranes; a Physical and
Mental Challenge
Per Atle Flytlie. Discoveries of a Senior Drilling Engineer
in the Oil Industry
Chris Chambers. Witnessing the Challenges Offshore as
a Client Representative
Joeri van den Steen. Understanding the Machine:
The Mindset of an Offshore Crane Operator
Henk Schlüter. Working in the Belly of the Beast:
A Mechanic in the Offshore Industry
Luciana Suman. Dedicated to Training the Next
Generation: A Technical Director at the Heart of Oil
Exploration
Thorun Watne. Working in the Norwegian Sector: Radio
Operation on Norway’s Oil Rigs
Vinay Sawant. Exploring the Frontiers: A Mechanical
Engineer in the Offshore Industry
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5. Earth Fanatic
When going to preparatory school for engineering was
once the most common way of becoming an engineer,
nowadays most technical professionals go to university.
In recent years, an increasing number of young men and
women have been specialising in Geophysics - many of
them with the aim of discovering seabed secrets deep
underground. Alexis Deloge is one of them. Aged 26, he
is already a promising field geophysicist who lives life
offshore or, as he describes it, he lives “the true
adventure”.
In 2008, the field of Geophysics unexpectedly appeared
at Alexis’ doorstep and he was immediately enthusiastic.
“Before I had heard about this study, I would never have
thought about it. But I remember that as soon as I started
researching, I discovered that Earth Studies were very
intriguing. Learning about Earth’s features, structures
thousands of feet underground and about the technology
employed to identify and find out more about Geology - it
just completely fascinated me. In France, there is only
one university that specifically focuses on the field of
Geophysics. So as I became more and more enthusiastic,
I decided to register at L’École et Observatoire des
Sciences de la Terre (EOST) at the University of
Strasbourg, a decision that I’m still very happy with today.”
No Office Mouse
Alexis’ first work experience only reinforced his
enthusiasm for Geophysics. “Although I enjoyed studying
a lot, I realised that I liked the contrast between the
theories I had learned at university and the “real life”
practical elements I encountered on the job even more.
My first internship was with an oil and gas company,
which was far more exciting than I had expected, and it
gave me a big thirst for challenging jobs offshore.
ALEXIS DELOGE
A FIELD GEOPHYSICIST ON A LIFELONG ADVENTURE
8
I noticed that I no longer only had a desire to go abroad;
I had developed a hunger to discover. This led to my
decision to do my Reservoir Geophysics internship in
Indonesia. It’s too much to explain, but let’s say that while
travelling throughout Asia during this second internship, I
realised with certainty that office work just wasn’t for me.”
In recent years, Alexis has gained a remarkable amount
of experience in the Seismic and Hydrographic industry,
and he is still strongly devoted to what he does. To him,
one of the most important aspects of working offshore is
the challenge of going beyond ordinary work. “Although
it’s mainly caused by monetary pressure, I like the hectic
activity that comes with the geophysicist position.
I can’t help but think that working onshore would be
monotonous and boring to me. The offshore world is run
by billion dollar enterprises, and time means big money.
Therefore the stress level gets quite high at times, but
what helps is that everyone offshore is 100% committed
to their job. This makes you want to work just as hard as
the others, as teamwork is just as indispensable here.
The offshore setting is an ongoing series of unexpected
situations that depend to a large extent on external
factors. Shallow water, for example, significantly shortens
operation times as it enables you to receive data very
quickly. But very bad weather can easily lead to issues
9
6. with equipment, which results in operations taking more
time than expected.Yet problems are what they are,
and there is always a solution. In general, I love what
I do; I love the variety of being in Mexico one day and
in Malaysia the other. All-in-all, my life in one word is
‘adventure’.”
Optimistic Outlook
While Alexis is enjoying his exciting career journey,
he also realises that the industry is moving forward at
breakneck speed and that he has to keep up. “It is of
vital importance to see your career as a business. I like
to think that you never know what the future will hold,
and that you only have a small window, this moment in
life, to progress. The time for me is now, and I’ll continue
to develop new skills and obtain new knowledge every
day. In the future, I want to become a senior geophysicist
and the simplest way to get there, I think, is by gaining
more and more experience – but also by maintaining my
positive attitude.”
10 11
7. A Family Tradition
For generations, his family have been involved in fishing;
in fact all the inhabitants of the Irish village where Colm
Power grew up were in some way involved in the fishing
industry. “Ever since I was young, I wanted to become
the captain of a fishing boat. I was brought up as a
fishermen’s child, and from all the tales that I had been
told and the various trips that my father had taken me on,
I couldn’t imagine myself becoming anything else than a
skipper on a fishermen’s boat.”
However, not long after Colm had worked his way up from
mate to skipper, the fishing industry collapsed. In 2002,
Colm got the opportunity to go offshore with a mini-
supply vessel owned by an Egyptian company. In the two
years that followed he was awarded all the certificates
necessary to work on multipurpose vessels, such as
ROV, Pipe-laying and Seismic surveys. In Colm’s duty as
master his main responsibilities involved the day-to-day
running of the vessel and the safety and management of
the crew.
Making the Switch
After six years of working on a variety of oil and gas
projects, Colm decided it was time for something new.
Not without reason, he made the switch to the Renewable
COLM POWER
HOW TO BECOME THE ABSOLUTE MASTER
industry: “My brother was working in offshore wind
energy and what he had told me about it was appealing.
What attracted me most was that this new industry
was about clean energy. I liked the idea of working in a
durable energy business. The switch has given me a good
feeling. The Oil and Gas industry is rather old school to
me.”
Although Colm has mastered a number of vessels over
the years, he will probably never forget his first time on a
cable-laying barge. “We had to lay a cable from Wales to
Ireland. I remember that I had to get the barge onto the
beach and set it on the ground, literally on the bottom.
I felt like I was doing the total opposite of what I was
supposed to be doing.” That wasn’t the only thing that was
different from being the captain of a fishing boat. “Steering
a barge is mostly about relying on its stability. If you’re
used to sailing a fishing boat, then being the captain of
a barge is living life in the slow lane. Naturally, different
vessels require different skills. As a captain you must
always have the skills to manoeuvre the vessel without
using the anchors and measure the natural forces that
help or hinder the vessel. For me, moving about with all
the anchors is quite a different experience. Being able
to move the barge a half-meter or even a quarter-meter
is very challenging; luckily, I enjoy the challenge and the
results even more.”
The Fun Part of the Job
The next challenge that awaits Colm is working with
Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems, relatively new
computer-based systems currently used to maintain the
stability of a vessel. “Now, when working with cable-laying
barges, we simply use five anchors-one on each corner
and one in the middle. This makes manoeuvring quite a
bit more difficult compared with a DP system.
8. “BEING ABLE TO
MOVE THE BARGE A
HALF-METER OR EVEN
A QUARTER-METER IS
VERY CHALLENGING;
LUCKILY, I ENJOY THE
CHALLENGE AND
THE RESULTS EVEN
MORE.”
9. 17
Imagine moving an entire vessel based on
experience and feeling rather than on a
computer system that does everything for
you. Although anchors are old-fashioned, you
can’t really go beaching with DP, you have to
know how to operate things when the system
fails.” Colm refers to the difficult situations as
“the good fun of the job”. “What you could be
dealing with, for example, is bad weather.
When the tension increases, you need to
prevent an anchor from breaking because
this could split a cable in half. We always
work with two thrusters on the barge so we
can move the anchor again, but in these
situations you need to keep your head.”
Becoming the Master
After years of experience in the fishing
industry and having worked with a number of
companies in the Renewable industry, Colm
has learned what it takes to become a good
master. “Being a good communicator is very
important; a good master has to have
excellent social skills to allow him to
communicate well with everyone on board.
Also, you have to be able to stay in control
under all circumstances and to know how
to behave and act in threatening situations.
Staying calm is the main task, really.”
The years of experience in the fishing
industry have given Colm the advantage of
acquiring extensive knowledge of vessels.
“Back in the early fishing days in Ireland,
fishermen had to develop more skills than
only manoeuvring a ship. Learning about
electricity and machinery was vital, and
although I have no official qualifications, I
have gained a lot of engineering experience.
As a fisherman you have all kinds of
technical problems that you need to solve
yourself. That is just the way it is on fishing
boats because when you are at sea, there is
no workshop nearby.You have to fix things
then and there, with the few tools available.
These experiences brought me to the
position where I am now, and are still
beneficial every day.”
A Home Away from Home
In addition to his love of the sea and the
various technical challenges, Colm likes his
work for another reason as well. “I like the
rosters that allow me to be home as much as
I am away. Every time I come home feels like
a holiday. I don’t always like being away for
longer periods, but when I come home I can
totally relax without having to worry about
work.” Colm has been always grateful for
having a great family that supports what he
does. The communication systems of today
make things easier as well. “It is quite
effortless to communicate with my family
because there’s almost always a good
internet connection as most of the work that
we do is close to shore, or even in harbours.
Besides, by now my family is used to me
being away for longer periods; my oldest
daughter is sixteen and all she’s ever
known is me being away from time to time.
Sometimes there have been problems while
I’ve been away and then it’s difficult that I
can’t be there for them, but the long periods
when I’m home fulltime make up for a lot.”
Having followed such a long and varied
career path, and having seen how the
industry has grown over the years, Colm is
very interested in two new developments. “I
would love to play a role in the further
development of Tidal energy. I strongly
believe we have to keep investing and
believing in new alternatives to traditional
ways of producing energy.” Until there’s
an opportunity allowing him to take his
next step, Colm wants to become more
experienced in using DP systems. “I’d
like to get involved with DP in the future
because that’s the way forward; I’m sure
that in the end everything is going to be on
DP. Whatever happens, the simple feeling
of being on a vessel that responds to my
steering in whatever way is something that I
will never tire of.”
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10.
11. 20
As many graduates have experienced, it’s not only the
lectures at university that they have to listen to, but also
from their parents. The ‘when are you getting a real job’
discussion is a common one for most students, especially
for geophysicist Neil Carey. Neil talks to Atlas about his
career offshore and exploring the oceans worldwide.
The Phone Call
“After I had left university, I was working in bars and
restaurants and leading a typical student life. I remember
my Dad calling me one day and asking me what I wanted
to do with my life,” laughs Neil. “As I was studying Geology
at St Andrews University my Dad found an advertisement
in our local paper that he thought would be of interest to
me. The advertisement was for Svitzer (which has now
been taken over by Fugro) who at the time were hiring
trainees, so I went to the interview. I soon found out that
I had got the job and I spent the next two years with the
company.”
Identifying the Hazards
Since then, Neil has built a 15 year career in the offshore
industry and has even formed his own consultancy
company, Carey Offshore Services Ltd, “When I’m on a
project I usually get up for 6am ready for the handover;
we are then briefed in the events from the previous
night and take a look at the collected data. On my last
project, I was involved in the visual eventing for a pipeline
inspection. As the ROV scans the pipeline, my job is to
look out for any man-made or environmental issues that
may cause damage to the pipeline. Damages can come
from a variety of things such as fishing trawler boats or
fish scouring underneath the pipeline and eradicating
the support for the pipeline. With software we can place
markers at the site of damage which helps us to keep
track of its location.
When we do site surveys for the pre-installation of a rig or
a pipeline we may also conduct some field work such as
soil and core samples. I quite like those jobs as you get to
go out on deck and get involved with the testing: it’s better
than being sat in front of a computer all day.”
Plan B
In some circumstances, the Geophysics teams need
to think of a plan B for the offshore construction, “I
remember on one project, I was overlooking some 2D
digital data and we found some pockets of shallow gas,
only 700 meters or so below the surface. Locations such
as this can cause problems to the operations as they
start to drill into the pocket it can cause an uncontrolled
release of gas to travel back up the well they are drilling.
So from this observation, we created a hazard analysis
chart where the client could select an alternative location.
We always have a plan B where we can use data taken
from the site or from the client to identify the best location
for construction.”
Growing a Thick Skin
“I would say that you would need to have an outgoing
personality to be a part of this industry, there’s a lot of
banter around the boat so you need to learn how to deal
with that,” laughs Neil. “You need the ability to get on with
people; while you’re not working on a small boat it’s not
massive either, so you will be in close proximity with
people. I think my time at university working in restaurants
and bars developed my customer service and people
skills which helps a lot when you’re working in a team. I
have been very lucky in my career as I get to meet new
people every day, travel to some of the most exotic and
remote places on Earth and explore the elements of the
oceans, what could be better than that?”
NEIL CAREY
INVESTIGATING THE SEABED: A GEOPHYSICIST IN
OFFSHORE SURVEY AND CONSTRUCTION
12. Igors explains how he engages his crew in a regular
routine when they board a new vessel. “The first thing we
do is learn all of the systems in the engine room and
inspect their condition. Usually the vessel will be fitted
with new technology and so the first steps are just to
familiarise yourself with the vessel. I’m also constantly
learning about new pieces of equipment. However, every
time we learn how to use it they change it.”
Mental Preparation
Guiding the crew through all of the new systems is just
the start of Igors’ duties. “The crew has to be trained and
informed about emergency procedures on each vessel.
We practice this twice a month through a fire drill, this
keeps all the members of the crew informed if this
situation arises.” Igors has gained a lot of experience
working on Liquefied Petroleum Gas carriers (LPG).
As being one of the more hazardous vessels in the
industry, especially for the environment, Igors explains
his responsibilities in an emergency situation. “The first
thing is to always avoid panic and instruct the crew as
quickly and calmly as possible. If you keep the commands
short then the problem can be solved faster. My duty is
to control the risk of pollution and to make sure that this
is checked regularly and is recorded in the report book.
On the current ship that I am working on we have a new
water system that cleans the used water and pumps it
back overboard.”
Ambitions for the Future
With over 10 years of experience in the industry, Igors
explains how some of the most memorable experiences
in his career happen on a daily basis, “every day I have to
be prepared to solve a problem and I know that if I work
hard at this then it will be resolved. I find a real sense of
achievement from these scenarios.”
With experience comes knowledge, and like many of our
professionals they use that knowledge to encourage
others in their field. Chief engineer Igors Bistrovs is one of
those professionals.
Following in his Father’s Footsteps
From an early age, Igors realised that his ambition was to
work offshore, “my father was a sailor and when I told him
that I wanted my future career to be at sea he
recommended the role of engineer. His experience guided
me to this decision, as he knew that if I changed my
mind about working offshore then I could always be an
engineer onshore. The job is very versatile, I can work
anywhere and I can mend anything.”
Captain of the Engine Room
“The chief engineer is the leader, like the captain of the
vessel I am the captain in the engine room. On a day-to-
day basis, I would usually assist in the finding of spare
parts then it’s just the general maintenance of the vessel.
Throughout the day I manage the engine room and the
crew. In a crew there will usually be four people including
myself, the chief engineer, the second engineer, the
third engineer and the electrical engineer or ETO. As
chief engineer I also help graduates who are new to the
industry, just like my father I use my own experience
to help them to find the best solutions in solving these
problems. This not only helps them as an individual but
also for learning how to work in the crew.”
IGORS BISTROVS
HOW TO GUIDE A TEAM AS A CHIEF ENGINEER
2322
“THE CHIEF ENGINEER IS THE
LEADER, LIKE THE CAPTAIN OF
THE VESSEL I AM THE CAPTAIN
IN THE ENGINE ROOM.”
13. 25
Now that he has reached his dream of becoming a chief
engineer, Igors’ ambitions are focused on his crew’s
mentality, “the most important thing to me about this job
is having a good team that always has a positive attitude.
Also when you have a good ship it makes the experience
more worth while, ships are like cars when it’s good it’s
good but when it’s bad you have to change it.”
It’s professionals like Igors that make the engine room
team run smoothly, “an engineer should always have a
theoretical outlook to their role and apply this to the
different engines that they will encounter. Every day you
must read all the documentation that is provided, as it will
improve your knowledge and skills in your role. Finally,
always pay attention, if you decide to take your job
seriously then the people will respect you and your
accomplishments.”
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14. Without a doubt people have love for the ocean and its
magnificent sea creatures. However, many people in the
offshore industry, despite the hype of their job, don’t
understand that these activities can have impacts on
marine mammals. Kyla Graham is a marine mammal
observer who lives to raise awareness of marine wildlife
in the offshore industry.
Magnificent Creatures
Being a proud Canadian, Kyla studied her Masters in
Marine Mammal Science at the University of St Andrews,
Scotland. She emerged as a marine mammal observer
(MMO) and passive acoustic monitor operator (PAM) in
an industry where she never would’ve imagined working
for. “I always imagined myself working in non-profit and
voluntary work, which I did for years. The reality is that
people with the knowledge can make a career in this
industry and do a good job applying the skills they have
gained from their experience in non-profit work to help
mitigate the potential impacts to marine mammals from
this industry”.
Benefits of being an Offshore MMO
Many marine mammal observers like Kyla appreciate the
rare opportunity to collect data on offshore marine wildlife
in locations (Renewable energy sites) where it would
KYLA GRAHAM
LIVING TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MARINE WILDLIFE
normally be very expensive to do research. Nonetheless,
data collection is not the only benefit; Kyla is fortunate
to witness rare and unexpected marine species on a
regular basis. “I get to observe wildlife! Including birds,
fish, sea turtles and even bats! I love the travelling and
the opportunities my job provides for me. I jump out of
bed most mornings in anticipation of what I will see that
day. I spend many hours looking at the sea but it’s those
special moments when I spot dolphins or a whale blow
on the horizon that truly keep me going! I will never forget
my first sighting of beaked whales; imagine observing a
rare species of beaked whales travelling with dolphins
and pilot whales off the coast of East Africa. Or humpback
whales during the breeding and calving season off West
Africa”.
A World Ruled by Men
One question that comes to mind for many prominent
professionals within this industry is what women think of
it. How do these women feel to be working in an industry
that is made up, by a great majority, by men? This could
be challenging especially being the person that often
calls for the project to be stopped for (20-40mins) to
mitigate for the presence of marine wildlife. Despite
many assumptions, Kyla, who has worked offshore
for over five years plus another nine years in marine
research, explains her point of view. “In spite of what
people might think, I’ve hardly been in a situation where
companies don’t comply with mitigation procedures. The
non-compliances I’ve experienced have mostly been due
to either environmental conditions, e.g. currents, human
error or mechanical problems. Moreover, I find that the
men are very respectful because they take better care
of themselves. I think the days are mostly gone when it
was considered odd to see women offshore. I’ve even
been told that many of the crew even prefer when there
are women onboard because other crew take better care
of themselves. Also, they are usually very willing to help
women with setting up our equipment especially if we are
unfamiliar with the vessel.
15. 2928
Of course, that being said, it is a world of men and I do
have to adapt. I must say, that after a few weeks offshore
with the guys I am quite happy to come home and spend
time with my girlfriends again”.
The Industry & HSE
The offshore industry has faced many changes over
the years and in her time Kyla has not just seen
these changes but also a continual emphasis in the
development of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE)
measures, much of it voluntarily. “It appears that more
companies are taking on MMOs and PAM operators,
even in regions where they are not even required. As
well, many seismic companies have started to work on
integrating PAM systems within their hydrophone cables;
which will help both seismic crews and PAM operators do
a better job with marine mammal mitigation. The downfall
to this however is that the PAM cables can become
entangled with the vessel’s cables during periods of
high swell or strong current resulting in loss of time and
equipment”.
Raising Awareness
There is no doubt that certain sectors within this
industry can harm marine wildlife (e.g. Seismic &
Electromagnetic). The vessels used for most of these
ventures transmit what Kyla calls an Anthropogenic, or
human made, noise; this noise can cause either direct
physical impacts (in close proximity to the sound source)
or behavioural impacts (both close and further from the
source) to marine wildlife. For example, behavioural
impacts could occur when the sound source is louder
than marine mammal calls thus creating a barrier, or
masking the communication between members of a
population. In other words, if mitigation measures are not
carefully applied the noise can alter their environment and
have impacts to their habitat. “I have never felt stressed
working with these companies because they frequently
comply with the mitigation measures.
The most frustrating part of my job might be explaining
why we are actually there. Most of the crew don’t
understand why the mitigation requirements are
important, especially when they have seen marine
mammals purposely approaching the sound source.
I often tell the crew this could be compared to going
to a rock concert; even though we voluntarily expose
ourselves to loud noise at a concert, such exposure can
still result in hearing loss even though we weren’t aware
of it at the time. I’ve been quite happy teaching the crew
about marine wildlife and it makes me feel like I’ve done a
good job, especially when I see the crew get enthusiastic
and interested in the wildlife. Once the crew start to
appreciate and understand the animals then they will
also have a better understanding of why it is important to
mitigate”.
“IT’S THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WHEN I
SPOT DOLPHINS OR A WHALE BLOW ON THE
HORIZON THAT TRULY KEEP ME GOING! I WILL
NEVER FORGET MY FIRST SIGHTING OF BEAKED
WHALES; IMAGINE OBSERVING A RARE SPECIES
OF BEAKED WHALES TRAVELLING WITH DOLPHINS
AND PILOT WHALES OFF THE COAST OF EAST
AFRICA.”
16. 3130
Since childhood, Carine Lima has had an ambition to
work at sea, “I wanted to follow in the same footsteps as
my Grandfather, who was an engineer in the Merchant
Marine industry. He used to tell me stories about his trips
offshore and the different types of vessels and platforms
he would work on; he was the idea of the true explorer to
me.”
Choosing a Career Path
In 2008, Carine graduated with a Bachelors degree in
Nautical Sciences at the Instruction Center Almirante
Graça Aranha (CIAGA). “I had two career options that I
could have chosen; a chemical engineer where I would be
working on the chemical ingredients that would deal with
the operation and the design of the machinery or a deck
officer and manage the navigation and communication of
the crew onboard. I decided to become a deck officer.”
Being in Control
“As I gained more experience in the industry I decided to
develop my skills and become a dynamic positioning
officer (DPO). A few years after my graduation, I attended
a basic and an advanced DP course and gained my
certification for this discipline. As DPO you have to
calculate external forces (such as wind) and use the
thrusters to counteract these forces to stay in position and
on course.
Being in an industry such as this you get to be a part of
some challenging projects. One of the biggest challenges
that I had to face was having the responsibility of
managing a platform. Atlas signed me onto the project
and it was my responsibility to ensure the safety of the
crew on a big semisubmersible platform. I think the most
important aspect about my job is to stay observant, keep
alert and make sure you are ready for any emergencies
that may occur.”
Professional Growth
Since the discovery of oil reserves in South America,
Brazil has become a hotbed for oil exploration. Carine
explains how this has affected the local content in Brazil.
“I have seen a lot of industry leaders bring in international
professionals for these types of projects, but I don’t think
that this has had a bad affect on offshore personnel in
Brazil. By all means, not only does it allow the local
content to work with international companies but it also
helps develop our professional growth. Working with
international personnel has been essential for my career.
For anyone who wishes to pursue a career in this industry
I would say that sometimes you may feel lonely in the
offshore life, especially when you are faced with a difficult
situation however, once you have found the strength to
keep going you’ll find that being at the heart of this
industry is worth while.”
CARINE LIMA
FEELING THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY
AS A DYNAMIC POSITIONING OFFICER
17. operator, he got the opportunity to go from operating deck
and level luffing cranes to work as a main and ROV crane
operator on diving support vessels (DSV). “Being a crane
operator on a diving support vessel is completely different
from operating cranes on any other vessel. On a DSV, the
crane operator needs to bridge the gap between the
divers and the vessel. To me, that’s much more
challenging, especially because it requires a great deal of
responsibility and technical skills. Imagine the
consequences for a billion dollar project when video
cameras fail for almost two hours while divers are
hundreds of meters below the surface. In these kinds
of situations, stress levels hit the ceiling and you, as a
crane operator, have the important task to keep the cage
in place and provide the divers with the right tools at the
right moment. In those conditions you really need to feel
the crane, because losing control, even for the shortest
moment, can have immense consequences for the divers
and the entire operation.”
A Talent
The offshore industry has always been in development
and Aleksei has witnessed all sorts of advances for over a
decade now. “In this industry even the most experienced
lack experience. On-going technological advances require
you as a professional to keep developing yourself.” While
he is always on the lookout for self-development
opportunities, he also takes pleasure in helping
newcomers to progress in their careers.Years ago, Aleksei
had always believed that hard work was the only thing
necessary to become a crane operator. Now he holds a
different view and believes that becoming a competent
crane operator takes a bit more. “It’s common that new
operators can’t cope with difficult situations because
they don’t know how to anticipate the risks that could
potentially harm operations. Although nowadays most
cranes are equipped with cutting-edge technology that
foresees and detects most threats, dangerous situations
could arise if one blindly relies on what the systems
say. It is of vital importance that crane operators sense
when something’s wrong. Of course, this feeling grows
with time. It’s hard to explain what you should exactly
feel when operating a crane; it is not something that
you can easily teach someone. Anyone can learn how
to operate the controls, but knowing when and how to
respond correctly in a variety of situations mainly comes
down to common sense and responsiveness. I’ve seen
many people get confused; they miss the feeling and end
up moving things they shouldn’t. This job can get very
stressful and therefore a crane operator has to be fit,
physically and mentally.”
From an early age, Aleksei Mitrokhin wanted to operate
heavy machinery. Since leaving university, Aleksei has
fulfilled that ambition by becoming a crane operator in the
offshore industry.
A Mighty Machine
In the late summer of 2005, Aleksei Mitrokhin began
Naval Architecture study at the State Marine Technical
University in Saint Petersburg, Russia. To help pay the
tuition he started working in a harbour not far from the
university. Two years after Aleksei started university, he no
longer wanted to assist the crane operators; he wanted
to become an actual operator himself. Still wanting to
make his family proud, he continued to attend classes at
university, but now in combination with studying for his
first crane operator exam. “Ever since I had first seen
the big machines, I always wanted to climb up top and
operate them. The thrill of looking out over everything
below and the excitement of controlling a machine this
powerful-well, I think it’s just something you have to
experience to fully understand.”
Technological Adventure
Although Aleksei sometimes thinks about his university
degree and the potential career opportunities that come
with it, he still enjoys being on the crane every day.
Technological developments play a significant role:
“Recently I was on a crane with special TTS
compensation, which ensures that the hook attached to
the crane maintains its exact position, even with the most
extreme currents. It’s very unlikely that my work will ever
get boring because of technical feats such as these are
inherent in the offshore industry.”
Bigger and Better
Not long after Aleksei started to work as an offshore crane
ALEKSEI MITROKHIN
OPERATING CRANES;
A PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGE
32 33
18. “THE THRILL OF
LOOKING OUT OVER
EVERYTHING BELOW IS
JUST SOMETHING
YOU HAVE TO
EXPERIENCE.”
19. In the late nineties, Norwegian Per Atle Flytlie decided to
switch his working environment and enter one of the most
challenging and innovative industries on the planet.
Teaching the Basics
Leaving university in 1999, Per Atle Flytlie was a
substitute teacher at the Godalen High school in Norway,
awaiting an upswing in the Oil industry. Within one year
Per Atle changed his career for good, and became a part
of the offshore industry, working his way up to his current
position as a senior drilling engineer (SDE).
“With teaching you could be dealing with children who
don’t want to work because they get bored or decide
to be disruptive, I find it’s a lot easier to deal with more
technical calculations then teaching,” laughs Per Atle.
“Teaching was a good base but I wanted to see where the
future could take me. I decided to move into the offshore
industry as I had studied Petroleum Engineering at
university.”
Like many other senior positions in the industry, the
role of SDE is a versatile and challenging one. The SDE
oversees the whole drilling process from start to finish
and will work with a team of engineers on the project.
The SDE will also oversee the cost estimates of the
project and make sure that all Health and Safety
procedures have been carried out.
PER ATLE FLYTLIE
DISCOVERIES OF A SENIOR DRILLING ENGINEER
IN THE OIL INDUSTRY
36
Since leaving the classroom, Per Atle has been a part of
some innovative projects in the industry, including a
substantial oil discovery in the Havis Prospect in the
Barents Sea. In 2011, Statoil together with its partner
Eni Norge AS and Petoro AS discovered an oil reservoir
with the volume of 200 to 300 million barrels of
recoverable oil equivalents. The well was drilled to a depth
of 2200 meters below sea level. “This was a very positive
and exciting experience for me.”
Following Guidelines
During these projects, Per Atle implemented the
JobSMART methodology to guide the team through the
planning process. The JobSMART methodology is the
planning process that can be used to guide a team.
Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and
Time-related (SMART) criteria guides the project
manager throughout, setting and following objectives
throughout operations.
“This is the overall approach in the engineering package
so when you start the entire process of designing the well
you need to plan the different stages from its design to
execution. The difficulty is not just to take the model from
a theoretical design to the finished product, but to take
on all the different design ideas and calculations. Every
team member comes up with different solutions for the
design. Everyone has their own opinion, coming from
different backgrounds and having different responsibilities
can make the job more difficult when coming up with a
final solution. As an SDE you have to be structured and
disciplined and open to different solutions, this can be
contradictory but this is one of the best methods for this
role.
This is only one of the challenges when working in a team
of like-minded people. I have to decide the best practical
procedure then write out a plan for how to progress with
this. For instance, when the design is passed onto the
execution team sometimes it can be difficult to fully
understand this; the challenge is to make sure that
everyone is on the same page. By following the project
timeline not only does this help me to keep track of the
team but also the objectives of the project.”
Dealing with the Downturn
The recent downturn in the Oil and Gas industry has
meant a decrease in production as Per Atle explains. “One
of the main issues of this downturn is that it affects the
pace of operations and how projects are being matured
and progressed. This is mainly due to the guidelines of
approval; they have become a lot stricter in recent years.
You need to show that the design will be beneficial for the
company and that it’s cost efficient. I think that this has
also affected the relationship with partners and clients.
Before you could travel out to meet face to face, but now
your interaction with them is more through emails and
conference calls, this is a shame as I think you risk
missing important elements on the way.”
Although the issues of the downturn have affected Per
Atle’s interaction with partners and clients this hasn’t put
him off in finding new discoveries in the Oil industry.
“I would say to anyone who plans to work in the Oil
industry, get your hands dirty and get the feel for what it’s
all about. There will be plenty of time to sit in an office and
deal with the theory of everything however, being out on
the rig and seeing how it works in real life is the biggest
advantage you could have whilst working offshore.”
37
“ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES OF THIS
DOWNTURN IS THAT IT AFFECTS THE
PACE OF OPERATIONS AND HOW
PROJECTS ARE BEING MATURED AND
PROGRESSED.”
20. 38 39
These courses also include training on the main software
used by professionals in this industry. “As a client rep you
need to be computer literate and have the knowledge of
all the basic Microsoft packages, as well as those used in
the industry such as EIVA and QINSy. Packages such as
EIVA’s NaviSuite software are what contractors are
using nowadays. I would say that although you gain an
understanding of the software at university, you can learn
so much more when you’re working offshore. As a client
rep you need to have a good understanding of all the
different types of software, to identify what you are looking
for when observing operations.”
Observing Workmanship
One of the many responsibilities of the client rep is to
also observe the workmanship on a project along with
the operations manager. Chris explains whether his
relationship with the crew is affected by his role,
“Personally, I try and interact with the crew as much as
possible. When I was working out on the Orman Lange
Project in Norway, we had a very good team on board
who were really on the ball with the operations and
another good support team onshore, because of this
I was able to provide the support for the team and the
project was a success from start to finish. Although I’m
there acting as the eyes of the client, working as a team
works better than working individually.”
A Versatile Role
“The most challenging aspect about the role is that you
have to be versatile, every job is different and you need
to be able to face the various challenges and learn how
to overcome them. It’s one of these industries in which
you’ll either love it or hate it. The plus side is the freedom
to travel and the pay, but obviously the downsides are that
you can’t come home when you want and you have to
leave your family and friends behind. It’s not a normal life.
However, you’ll never know until you try it.”
Atlas’ Offshore Management and Quality Control office
based in Exeter provides clients with the expertise and
knowledge that’s needed for their offshore Survey,
Construction and Seismic projects. Atlas’ Survey client
rep Chris Chambers has worked in the offshore industry
for over 15 years, starting out as a project engineer; Chris
progressed into one of the industry’s higher roles.
Communicating with the Client
“An average day usually consists of mainly checks and
inspections of the project, vessel and the crew. HSSE
is a priority that we all take seriously. Firstly it’s just a
general overview, so I would usually check progress
throughout the evening; answer any urgent emails that
may have come in overnight and address any issues
that need attending. I also work very closely with the
offshore managers and the senior supervisor onboard
to make sure that things such as the weather forecast
have been reviewed and that we are prepared for it. The
client rep also needs to inspect the quality of the data
that’s received from the project and be in regular contact
with the client onshore to keep them up-to-date with the
progression of the project.”
Experience is Key
“I have always been interested in the offshore industry
and other marine activities such as deep sea diving.
That’s why I decided to study Hydrography at Plymouth.
There were only two institutions in the UK that teach
the course.” Plymouth University offers a combination of
courses that are recognised to industry standards and
that of the International Hydrographic Organisation and
the International Federation of Surveyors.
“THE MOST
CHALLENGING
ASPECT ABOUT
THE ROLE IS THAT
YOU HAVE TO BE
VERSATILE, EVERY
JOB IS DIFFERENT
AND YOU NEED
TO BE ABLE TO
FACE THE VARIOUS
CHALLENGES AND
LEARN HOW TO
OVERCOME THEM.”
CHRIS CHAMBERS
WITNESSING THE CHALLENGES OFFSHORE
AS A CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE
21. 40 41
Throughout our network of professionals it
seems that the varying skill sets and thirst
for knowledge is only half of what you need
to work in the offshore industry. Experienced
crane operator, Joeri van den Steen explains
how developing a mindset keeps you
focused in pushing yourself to the limit.
Looking for the Challenges
“In 2006 I went to work for Mammoet as an
onshore crane operator. I learnt how to
operate different cranes such as Mobile
Towers and Crawlers. Eventually I wanted to
train for a SOMA licence,” a qualification for
the infrastructure sector and vertical
transport, “I decided that I wanted to work for
Onstream and they paid for my training.
However, after working onshore for so long
I realised that the challenging aspects from
my previous career weren’t there for me
anymore.”
Military Precision
Before starting a career in the offshore
industry, Joeri served in the military, “I was in
the Navy for ten years so I had developed a
different mindset to others. I knew how to
deal with difficult situations and learning
not just to say no, but to find an alternative
solution.You also need to listen to others and
be willing to compromise if someone else
has a better suggestion.” Joeri explains how
this has helped him to develop a control
during a crane manoeuvres, “you have
to have feeling for the machine. We call it
feeling in your fingertips, it’s a feeling that
you have or you don’t. If you have transferred
from onshore to offshore work, you need to
adapt to a new working environment. In my
experience from working on land then to
offshore you become confident with the more
difficult manoeuvres. At the end of the day I
am responsible for the lift, if I don’t trust it I
don’t lift it.”
Knowing the Limits
As a regular employee of Seafox, Joeri has
gained bigger aspirations for his next job with
this company. “One day I want to work on the
Seafox 5 as this has a bigger crane. It’s not
only the challenge with the crane operation
I find interesting but also putting your trust in
the crew. This can happen in situations such
as lifting something out of my line of sight,
you have to trust that the crew will move
accordingly otherwise I can put them in
danger.”
After ten years in the Marine industry, Joeri
has gained the experience to know his
limits, even if they may seem extraordinary
to others. “The last trip I was on, I did 30-35
lifts in two hours. When I got out of the crane
the deck foreman was shocked, there were
seven or eight important lifts but I was just
on a roll. If you can use your experience
to improve how you work on the job then
the compliments you receive can be really
satisfying.”
“IT’S NOT ONLY THE CHALLENGE
WITH THE CRANE OPERATION I FIND
INTERESTING, BUT ALSO PUTTING
YOUR TRUST IN THE CREW.”
JOERI VAN DEN STEEN
UNDERSTANDING THE MACHINE:
THE MINDSET OF AN OFFSHORE
CRANE OPERATOR
22.
23. For the last 30 years, Henk Schlüter has developed his
passion for mechanical engineering into a diverse career
in the offshore and Maritime industries. After spending the
last eight years working through Atlas, Henk has had
opportunities to work on some of the industry’s most
complex machinery; opportunities that would make any
mechanic jealous.
Figuring Things Out
“When I was a teenager I started to work on fixing things
such as my bike,” says Henk, “I found that my interest was
in figuring out how these mechanisms worked and the
best solutions to fix them. When I knew how to fix my bike
I moved onto bigger things such as my motorbike or my
car, I like to work with my hands. I tried to do an office job
once, drawing engine designs, but I couldn’t stick it out,”
laughs Henk, “I felt the walls were closing in on me. After
I left school I wanted to become a car mechanic, but this
was back in the 80s and there wasn’t any work for car
mechanics at that time. So I went to the local job centre,
where they found me some work in a ship building yard.
I started out as a pipe fitter and then eventually I started
to work on installing engine rooms on newly built ships. I
worked in ship building for 25 years. This experience
allowed me to develop my skills and gain the certifications
that I needed, such as welding and engine design, to start
my career offshore.”
Working with Atlas
During his time at Atlas, Henk has been working on
different kind of projects for example on the Seafox 2 and
4 as an all round mechanic.
“I think that there is a big difference working on a platform
and on a vessel,” says Henk, “I much prefer working
on a platform, as there is more production on board
and you never know what challenges you may face
each day. The Seafox 2 has four diesel engines that we
need to maintain; it’s all one big engine so I get to work
on different types of machinery such as pumps and
compressors and one day is never the same. I’ve worked
both onshore and offshore; I see it as, onshore, there’s
a greater sense of urgency whilst offshore everything is
carried out with care, making sure that you fix things to
the highest standard.
Atlas signed me on a project in 2007 and since then my
experience with Atlas has been very good, if I have a
problem they will try and solve it directly. When I was
working for a company called TAQA, one of Atlas’
directors personally called the company to inform them
that their offices were moving to Hoofddorp. This was
helpful to me as I could carry on with my job while Atlas
solved all the administration and paperwork.
The most memorable experience in my career was when
Atlas put me forward to a Dutch company called Kenz
Figee. I was hired to install and commission cranes, so I
would be installing the booms as well as working in the
engine room. In this role I was able to travel everywhere, I
went to China, Azerbaijan and South America, it was the
first job that I had outside of Europe; it’s one of the great
advantages working in the offshore industry you get to
see so much of the world.”
Watch and Learn
“The best advice that I could give to someone who
wanted to work in this industry would be to watch and
learn; don’t be afraid to ask questions, I would rather that
my trainees ask a question and get something right other
than doing it wrong. I’ve been working in this industry for
30 years and I still don’t know everything; from asking
questions not only can you improve your knowledge
about the machinery that you’re working on, but also how
to execute your role to the highest standard.”
HENK SCHLÜTER
WORKING IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST:
A MECHANIC IN THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY
24. Luciana Suman Jardim is a determined and ambitious
woman; starting out as a second engineer in the
Marine industry, she has worked her way up to becoming
a Technical Director of her own company, Marmec
Training (Marmec Treinamentos). Luciana talks to Atlas
about her career in the Marine industry and her goals to
improve HSE standards in Brazil.
From Engine Room to Classroom
“I joined the Brazilian Merchant Marine School of Officers
when I was 17 as a trainee engineer,” says Luciana,
“my first experience offshore was a memorable one,
as we were travelling on the Amazon River, which was
a real treat as my first trip offshore. In 2011 I returned
to my studies and I finally got my licence to become a
mechanical engineer in Merchant Marine Shipping.
One of the first projects that I worked on was through
‘Jaymar do Brasil’, (Atlas Professionals do Brasil), as a
second engineer on a deep water submersible platform.
My role was to assist the chief engineer and supervise all
operations in the engine room.” Luciana explains how this
project helped her progress into teaching, “as a second
engineer you are also responsible for the safety and
training of the engine crew for all emergency procedures.
As I became more confident in this role I was asked
by a colleague of mine to present a series of lectures
to the Brazilian Register of Ships and Aircraft (RBNA)
Classification Society. The lectures were about Brazilian
Regulatory standards such as Security in Electrical
Installations, Pressure Vessels and Maritime legislation
for Surveyors.”
In June of this year, Luciana gave a lecture to the Atlas
office in Macaé, Brazil. She explains what the talk
discussed, “the lecture mainly discussed Brazilian safety
standards for Merchant Marine crews, the terminology
used on board and the certifications needed to work
offshore in Brazil.
Over time the demand for these classes grew and with
the encouragement from the RBNA society, I decided
to open Marmec Training in Rio de Janeiro. Our classes
are quite small, but this is good, as it allows us to gain
a better understanding of our students and identify
their strengths and weaknesses, assuring that those
weaknesses become strengths and that the strengths
remain strong.”
Putting Safety First
As well as an instructor, Luciana is also an auditor,
ensuring the safety standards ISO 9001 are being upheld
within maritime institutions, “I went through an intensive
training process to become an auditor which was
conducted by the RBNA society. During an audit my
overall goal is to establish that there is nothing that could
compromise the safety of the crew onboard. I even look at
the environmental factors, to mitigate the risk of pollution.
The purpose of the audit is to make sure that these
standards are met.”
In addition to these audits, Luciana also conducts
classification surveys on a number of different vessels.
These surveys ensure that the technical standards for
the construction and operations of the ship are being
maintained and are compliant with the rules set by
the classification society. “One of the major surveys I
conducted was with a delegation of the Brazilian
government to inspect a vessel from China. We had
to bring the vessel from Cape Town to Brazil and I had
to train the whole crew in safety procedures for this
particular vessel, this was one of the more memorable
experiences in my career.”
4746
LUCIANA SUMAN
DEDICATED TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION:
A TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE HEART OF OIL
EXPLORATION
Working Around the Clock
Not only does Luciana have to manage her own company
and attend audits, but she is also a full time mum, “As my
job requires a lot of travelling and carrying out vessel
inspections, I end up not spending enough time with my
son. At first I did feel guilty, but now my son and I
understand that it’s not the amount of time that you spend
together but the quality of time that I spend with him.
Today I seek to spend more quality time with him as this
can make the world of difference in our relationship.”
New Challenges Arise
With every new lesson, inspection and survey, Luciana is
learning new views and ideas about working in this
industry, “I find that being a woman in this industry can
be a challenge sometimes, especially when you have a
crew that is not accustomed to seeing a woman working
onboard a vessel. I’ve encountered some people who still
believe that you need brute force to operate these kinds
of machinery. However, I’ve crushed that stereotype, by
developing my knowledge and skills through my
experience. The only tool you need in this industry,
whether it’s through teaching new crew members or
learning from others, is to have ambition and
determination which will take you far.”
“THE ONLY TOOL YOU
NEED IN THIS INDUSTRY
IS TO HAVE AMBITION
AND DETERMINATION
WHICH WILL TAKE
YOU FAR.”
25. 48 49
For the last 40 years, Norwegian radio operator Thorun
Watne has dedicated her life to providing help & support
to the Merchant Shipping industry and on offshore
platforms. Since 1998, Thorun has been working on oil
rigs in the Norwegian sector. She talks to Atlas about her
career and how this industry has changed in the last four
decades.
Keeping Track of Personnel
“I started out in this industry as a radio officer, travelling
around the world working on a wireless radio. It’s funny
to think that some people have no idea what I’m talking
about when discussing wireless radio and telegrams, now
everyone is used to mobile phones and social media.
My Ma used to tell me that she couldn’t afford to pay for
all the places that I wanted to see, so she suggested
that I find a job where I could travel and that’s how it all
started.”
Thorun’s role on the rig concerns scheduling flights,
accommodation and calling in the emergency units for the
platform, “We have 120 people onboard and I am their
travel agent, I book the helicopters, check the personnel
in and make sure that they have their luggage before
boarding. When you have the responsibility of looking
after 120 people there are a number of things to consider
such as their families, their spouses and children, if one
of their family members gets sick it’s my responsibility to
get them home.
It’s very important for me not to make any mistakes
in case of an emergency; it would be a disaster if the
rescue units are searching for a person that is no longer
onboard.”
Thorun’s role has been made even more challenging
since new regulations have come into place within the
Norwegian sector. “You must have one person in the
cabin at a time, one during the day and one during the
night,” explains Thorun. “This is often difficult as there are
many changes during an offshore period. Sometimes a
job demands a dayshift, but because of the bed situation,
some rooms also need to be occupied during the day. It’s
incredibly busy all the time on this platform and you have
to pay attention.”
The Art of Staying Alive
“I have my radio licence or my Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS) certification. Another
important certificate that I need is the basic safety
course or BOSIET. All offshore personnel are required
to complete a BOSIET, one of these courses which
you need to learn before working on a platform is the
underwater escape training, which is one of the more
energetic courses that I’ve had to partake in. When a
helicopter hits the water it’s likely that it will turn upside
down. We are trained to unfasten our seatbelt, grab the
window ledge and pull ourselves out. We will be wearing
a survival suit that allows us to float to the surface. Luckily
I’ve never experienced a real emergency situation such
as this. In this line of work it’s all about staying alive and
returning home with no injuries.”
Forming Life-Long Friendships
“I find this to be one of the more difficult challenges,
saying goodbye to your colleagues after working with
them for so long. We have a quick handover on deck, so
when the old crew leaves, you only have a second to say
a proper goodbye and greet the new personnel onboard.
It can be quite emotional as you form friendships through
your colleagues and become dependant on them. I
picture it as if we were all lying in the water with our
survival suits on. In order to stay alive and be rescued, we
have to tie ourselves together. With all our orange suits
close together we’re more visible for the rescue teams to
spot us; we are all in the same boat so if we work as a
team we can keep each other alive.”
An Advocate for the Offshore Industry
Thorun has become an advocate for all who want to
develop a career in this market. “I would say to anyone
that wanted to work in the offshore industry that you have
a great job ahead of you. In an environment such as
this, the friendships you build are stronger and are worth
saving.”
THORUN WATNE
WORKING IN THE NORWEGIAN SECTOR:
RADIO OPERATION ON NORWAY’S OIL RIGS
“WOMEN ARE EQUAL
TO MEN IN THE
OFFSHORE INDUSTRY,
THEY FOCUS
ON THE JOB AT HAND
AND CO-OPERATE
IN A TEAM.”
26. Some of the most interesting stories that come from our
professionals happen before their offshore careers begin.
Vinay Sawant’s journey into mechanical engineering is
just one of those stories.
Journey into Space
“I have always been looking for challenges and interesting
projects that I could work on. When I was studying for my
Masters in Aerospace Engineering, I was introduced to
the Indian Space Research Organisation. My first project
was to work on a light combat aircraft and to analyse the
dynamics of the aircraft structure. Then after this I worked
as the project manager for the structural analysis of
another craft and this became the METSAT (Kalpana-1)
satellite.” The METSAT is a metrological satellite that
collects data of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature.
“Actually the METSAT was the most difficult design that
I have worked on in my career however, my experience
in the space industry helped me to progress into the
offshore industry.”
From Orbit to Ocean
One of the key factors of Vinay’s role is in the detailed
analysis that needs to be calculated for each structure.
“When I had finished my PhD, the offshore industry
wanted an expert in Finite Element Analysis. My first
project was to design a heavy lifting equipment A-Frame
which would be used for anchor handling vessels. I found
that the challenge was not necessarily in the design of
the structure but getting the approval for that structure.”
Providing the analysis for each structure is a vital part of
being a mechanical engineer. By breaking down the
engineering design this reveals the state of each
component and allows the engineer to assess these in
isolation. Vinay explains how simulation software, ANSYS,
is a fundamental tool for an engineer in training.
“The software has a lot of capabilities; it offers a range of
analyses to the design of structures, such as structural,
dynamic and thermal analysis. The software also enables
you to use coupled field analysis such as electro static
analysis and acoustics. This feature of ANSYS software
helped me during my PhD, as I was building a transducer
at the time; you need electro static and acoustic analysis
for its construction. This versatile software needs to be a
key skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career as a
mechanical engineer.”
The Challenges Offshore
“An average day for me starts by looking at the drawings
that are in progress or that have been finalized,” explains
Vinay, “then we will have a meeting with the lead engineer
to discuss the final construct.” Vinay discusses the
challenges that come with working as offshore engineer.
“Currently I’m working on a project that combines
designing a Turret Mooring System in a Swivel stack. The
challenge here is to figure out the dynamic gap
calculations for that structure. This is crucial as we need
to keep these gaps within their limits so that it does not
add stress to the frame and this is what we are achieving.”
However, Vinay’s challenges are not limited to just to the
calculations of structures, “Another challenge that comes
with the role is getting approval for the final designs. With
my previous work with the A-Frame, the designs had to be
approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to
qualify safety standards. This can take time and may take
a few revisions before an agreement is reached.”
Back to Basics
“My advice to a trainee or graduate who wishes to pursue
a career in mechanical engineering is to be hard-working
and to know of the basic principles of engineering.You
have to become confident in these to be able to progress
into designing detailed structures.” Vinay continues to
explore new challenges that come in the offshore frontier,
“if you have all the basics right you can really excel in
your career.”
5150
VINAY SAWANT
EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS: A MECHANICAL
ENGINEER IN THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY
“THE METSAT WAS THE MOST
DIFFICULT DESIGN THAT I
HAVE WORKED ON IN MY
CAREER HOWEVER, MY
EXPERIENCE IN THE SPACE
INDUSTRY HELPED ME TO
PROGRESS INTO THE
OFFSHORE INDUSTRY.”
