HEROES (Wind Edition) 2018/2019 by Atlas Professionals

HEROES AT THE FRONTIER OF ENERGY, MARINE & RENEWABLES

2018/2019 WIND EDITION, ISSUE 4

Maxim van der Mast, Wind Technician

Climbing to the top! Joost Pellis, Strategic Manager Renewables at Atlas Professionals

15.000 wind jobs in the Netherlands alone! John Halfweeg, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Mammoet

As offshore wind takes off in Australia Joris Wijnhoven, Campaign leader at Greenpeace

Who would have predicted that you could do offshore wind in 2018 without subsidy. Nobody. HEROES A

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Welcome to the latest edition of Heroes Magazine! On this occasion we are highlighting our many wind energy Heroes given the surge in growth of the renewables industry, both on- and offshore. This ramping up of capacity can be seen from the Netherlands to Australia. Atlas Professionals is aiming to become the leading recruitment agency in the wind industry and already we have played a role in nearly all of the wind farms built in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark since 2008. In this magazine, several of our professionals are in the spotlight, from experienced geophysicists to mechanical engineers who spend their days climbing 100 m plus turbines, to those that sail on one of the most pioneering Walk-to-Work vessels in the industry. Atlas and its clients want to play their role in helping to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goals and many fascinating projects are highlighted. Leading companies in the sector such as POSH, Mammoet, NWEA, Scalda, North Sea Port and Greenpeace outline their thoughts on the opportunities coming up. Atlas itself is also expanding. In February we opened a Renewables Recruitment Hub in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, and we recently established a dedicated Renewables Unit in Australia. As our clients turn their attention to wind energy in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam and the US, we aim to support them in achieving their ambitions wherever they are in the world. We hope you enjoy reading the exciting plans outlined in Heroes and would very much like to thank our clients and professionals for their contribution. We look forward to supporting them in the years ahead. Atlas Professionals

MAXIM VAN DER MAST Climbing to the top!

DINGENA PEDDIE-THEUNISSE The advantages of the Atlas Competence Programme

Table of Contents

40 ANDY DUNCAN Integrated solutions across the entire offshore wind project cycle

HANS TIMMERS // NWEA The Netherlands set to see huge increase in offshore wind energy in the next decade

MAXIM VAN DER MAST // WIND TECHNICIAN A relative newcomer to Atlas Professionals and to his new career as a wind technician

JOHN LEEMAN // SCALDA Training institute Scalda and Atlas Professionals sign letter of intent!

PETER GEERTSE // NORTH SEA PORT New North Sea Port authority sees bright future as offshore wind hub

JOOST PELLIS // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS 15.000 wind industry jobs to fill in the Netherlands alone!

BRAM KEIJZER // SERVICE AREA MANAGER From wind tunnels to wind turbines! Bram outlines his varied career

MARTINE RONDEEL & PETER WIT // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS Global assistance throughout the entire wind supply chain

DINGENA PEDDIE-THEUNISSE // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS The advantages of the Atlas Competence Programme

LARRY THORSTENSEN // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS Atlas Renewables Business Unit launches in Australia

JOHN HALFWEEG // MAMMOET As offshore wind takes off in Australia Mammoet’s wind specialists are busy transporting & installing components across the country

CRISTINA SERRA RUIZ // GEOPHYSICIST Driven by the thrill of discovery whether this is on land or on the seabed

ANDY DUNCAN // POSH POSH Kerry JV provides integrated solutions across the entire offshore wind project cycle

VLADISLAVS BELATKO // BOSUN Being promoted to Bosun of the ‘Bibby Wavemaster 1’ was a career milestone

JORIS WIJNHOVEN // GREENPEACE Who would have predicted that you could do offshore wind in 2018 without subsidy. Nobody.

NWEA

HANS TIMMERS

Chairman of The Netherlands Wind Energy Association

The Netherlands set to see huge increase in offshore wind energy in the next decade

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Perhaps more than any other country in the world, the Netherlands is about to see a huge ramping up of wind energy in the next few years, particularly offshore, bringing plenty of career opportunities throughout the supply chain. Hans Timmers, Chairman of The Netherlands Wind Energy Association (NWEA), comments: “The Netherlands is blessed with a lot of wind, a lot of sea and with a roadmap devised by the government concerning the development of offshore wind.” Hans admits that the Netherlands does have some catching up to do when it comes to European renewables targets. Currently, the Netherlands is ranked close to the bottom regarding European onshore wind energy production. For offshore wind however, it is in fourth place, only behind the UK, Germany and Denmark.

International supply chain Describing himself as a change manager, Hans explains that one reason NWEA hired him is to help strengthen the visibility of the sector - to improve the position of wind energy. Whereas the NWEA members typically used to be farmers with a few turbines, the sector organisation now acts on behalf of the whole supply chain, including international operating companies. NWEA represents about 300 members and has industry giants such as Shell, Siemens and NUON/Vattenfall on the board. The new impetus in the wind energy sector is tangible. The Netherlands is working hard to achieve the goals of the Energy Agreement, which means 4,450 MW of new offshore wind capacity has to be in place by 2023. To realise this an annual concession tender of around 700 MW is planned for the coming years. This spring the Dutch government announced the Offshore Wind Roadmap 2030 outlining the next goals for offshore wind production. This roadmap ensures 1 GW will be annually tendered directly after the Energy Agreement, resulting in an additional 7 GW of offshore wind being realised before 2030. On top of this, the government is negotiating a Climate Agreement. On July 10th the preliminary headlines have been presented and these look positive for Dutch offshore wind, Hans says. “The Climate Agreement will be the base for the future roadmap. According to the current planning by the end of the year the Climate Agreement should be signed and we will have certainty about the offshore wind targets on top of the already auctioned 4.5 GW, and the additionally planned 7 GW of the Roadmap 2030.”

7 GW by 2030 He explains that it is likely to be another 7 GW coming up to 2030. “This means annual tenders of an additional 1,000 MW between 2020-2027. Combined with the Roadmap 2030 that amounts to 2 GW of offshore wind tenders per year! This would set the Netherlands on course for the COP21 Paris Climate Agreement and create 18.5 GW of installed offshore wind by 2030!” Hans stresses that the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is projecting that the Netherlands can have more than 60 GW of offshore wind energy in the Dutch North Sea. “Although we are saving energy by electrifying previous fossil processes, economic growth is expected to offset this so at the end of the day more gigawatts will be required. We are just at the beginning today with installed capacity of around 1000 MW offshore and 3.5 GW onshore.” This means that currently there is way more onshore wind installed than offshore. Even though the Netherlands is a densely populated country, onshore wind energy production is expected to grow quite a bit, reaching 6000 MW- 6800 MW by 2022 and it might even double towards 2030, he points out.

Employment opportunities This surge in wind energy capacity also leads to a surge in demand for qualified personnel. This has significant implications for employment opportunities and educational/training requirements. Atlas Professionals can play an important role in facilitating this, Hans adds. “I think Atlas can help change the image of the sector. People need to understand the energy transition. Atlas can help raise awareness of the work it requires and people start appreciating the job and career opportunities the sector provides. We need more people in all aspects of the industry and more people choosing technical careers.” Hans is optimistic things are starting to change. He feels the industry is gaining a buzz. He points to Delft University of Technology, which has 3,500 students directly and indirectly involved in wind energy and a staggering two million all over world. “We need highly educated people and a lot of craftsman - the technicians constructing, operating and maintaining the turbines.”

Transferring O&G staff to renewables Atlas can also support oil and gas staff facing unemployment to switch and be re-educated into the renewables sector. “Those people know the offshore environment. Helping these people transfer could be an interesting business for Atlas.”

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ST A M R E D N A V MAXIM

Climbing to the top!

Maxim van der Mast is a relative newcomer to Atlas Professionals and to his new career as a wind technician 10 HEROES

After studying mechanical engineering for four years in the Netherlands, Maxim completed an internship, where he was working on lighting for airfields and helipads. “I didn’t think the lighting job was challenging enough for the longer-term but it allowed me to save enough money to travel.” Full of wanderlust, Maxim then embarked on a world trip.

Small teams

He had always wanted to see the world and in October 2016 he set off to Australia, where he was based for 10 months, partly funding his travels by working in a warehouse. South East Asia was next. After a whirlwind tour of Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Japan, Maxim laughs: “I had ran out of money so flew back home. But overall it was a wonderful experience.”

Each day Maxim teams up with his colleague. “We work in a small team. I specialise in mechanical maintenance and then I work with an electrical technician. My job is to check and fix the mechanical parts of the directdrive turbine, the oil pumps, oil itself, all the rotary parts, the engines and to assist the electrical technician.

In January this year he got on with the business of finding a job and at that stage he admits, he didn’t really have a preference for a particular industry. The renewables sector was ‘not on his radar’ but that was about to change.

Mechanical engineer His father, who is providing services for heavy offshore transport, spotted an advertisement from Atlas Professionals looking for mechanical engineers/technicians for wind turbines. “I applied to Atlas in April and a few weeks later I was hired by Enercon! Although I had never considered the industry, I thought it would be cool to work at such heights and on these types of machines. And in summer you’re outside, which is great and you don’t have a boss peering over your shoulder all of the time!” The onshore wind turbines Maxim works on vary between 60 m to 140 m but Maxim was not particularly perturbed by the thought of climbing such heights. “I guess the first time I climbed up it was a little scary. I spent a day working alongside the crew to see how they worked. But then I climbed for the second time and thought it was pretty easy. Because you are inside the turbine, you don’t really notice the height. And when you are on top there is the most beautiful view!” Maxim is working in the southwest of the Netherlands, covering a large area with around 150 turbines. But he adds, that the job might not be for everyone. “You have to be relatively fit and have a lot of energy. It is quite a heavy job, climbing up and down means that you do get exhausted by the end of the day. Coupled with this, sometimes you are working in narrow spaces so you have to get used to that.”

To check his suitability for the job Maxim underwent several courses in the first weeks including working at heights and safety training. And in the next few months he will also attend additional mechanical maintenance courses.

“We mostly work with one or two buddies. This is important for safety reasons and also so there is a combination of the mechanical and electrical knowledge.” The teams tend to be made up of mostly younger guys, which also makes it fun, he adds. “I really have been pleasantly surprised by the job and I have very nice colleagues.” Atlas too, has been very supportive, he adds, and the whole application and interview process went very smoothly.

Great prospects He sees great prospects for the future and many opportunities in the renewables sector. “This is really a job that can take you everywhere, not only different places in my home country but also abroad. Perhaps I get back to Australia! And then there is also offshore wind, which is a whole different aspect of the industry. “There are plenty of opportunities and ways to grow within the company. For example, I could also become an electrical technician, a team leader… The business is booming, it is an exciting time!” Commenting on whether he would recommend the sector to others, Maxim stresses: “For anyone who doesn’t want an everyday, 9 to 5 job, who is self-sufficient and physically fit, I would certainly recommend them to look at possibilities in the wind energy industry.”

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SCALDA

JOHN LEEMAN

Program Manager Wind at training institute Scalda Scalda and Atlas Professionals sign letter of intent!

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The wind sector is growing exponentially in the near future, which has a direct impact on the labour market. Training institute Scalda and Atlas Professionals have joined forces when it comes to sharing human capital knowledge and experiences within the wind industry.

Movement to Wind We spoke with John Leeman, tt, about the increase of professionals in the wind industry. John has taken the initiative to create and devise wind lessons that is currently being developed for MBO students in Zeeland. “With the construction of the Borssele 1 to 4 wind farms and the Krammer onshore wind park here in Zeeland, a shift is visible towards wind on land and sea. If we want to be able to meet this growth in labour demand in wind, then we as an educational institute have to respond to this”, says John. With over 8,000 students and 700 staff employees, Scalda is one of the largest institutions for vocational education in Zeeland. Scalda provides secondary vocational education (MBO) from thirteen sector-specific seminars, such as automotive, maritime or wind, and has offices in Goes, Middelburg, Terneuzen and Vlissingen.

Human Capital in Wind Currently there are an estimated 4,000 people working in the wind industry in the Netherlands. In the period up to 2023, employment in wind is expected to grow to more than 12,000. The offshore wind chain can be roughly divided into four phases: development, construction, operation and decommissioning. Employment arises mainly in the construction and operation phase of wind farms. “The majority of the labour required in the wind chain does need to have a MBO level 3 or 4 graduation. The ratio is about 10 FTE MBO students compared to 1 HBO”, says John Leeman. A large part of this will be directly operational in the Zeeland region, because of the hinderland (offshore business activities) and the realization and exploitation of (new) wind farms off the Zeeland costs.

Education and business The ambition to make Zeeland a pilot project in the field of innovative techniques for delta management and the energy transition is a process that education together with the business community and government must address. “My philosophy is that you always have to work with a network of business partners when implementing innovations in the vocational education. Only via this way it can succeed”, says John.

Everything that is taught at Scalda is therefore first tested by their business partners. “Once they have given their approval on the teaching material and model, we will start giving the lesson materials. This ensures close collaboration between education and the industry. And in this way we certainly know that the teaching material is tailored to the demand from the industry.”

Practical lab With the financial support from the province of Zeeland, the government and business partners, it is possible for Scalda to realise education in wind and design of the practical lab at their location in Vlissingen. In very short notice, Scalda developed the education model for the wind industry that will be introduced to all vocational schools in the Netherlands. At this moment a practical lab is being set up whereby a simulation wind turbine is being built to be able to provide Basic Technical Training and most probably in the future as well safety training courses based on the GWO certificate in order to better meet the expected growth in professionals in wind. “With the start of the new school year this September, everything will be ready and we will start providing training students in the field of wind in both regular education (BOL and / or BBL) and in adult education”.

Atlas partner in DeltaLAB Scalda recently invested heavily in its network, including Atlas Professionals as one of the partners in the field of human capital in the wind industry. Through the signed letter of intent between Scalda and Atlas Professionals, Atlas will be committed to conducting educational and training activities on the theme ‘ Energy and Water’ whiting the MBO DeltaLAB. Scalda wants to strengthen the quality and quantity of human capital with the establishment of the MOB-DeltaLAB in the area of delta management and energy transition. Atlas is a nice addition to the network of companies that Scalda already has. “Atlas supplies personnel to the entire wind chain – from development to dismantling – and has built up a large network and track record over the years. This knowledge is very important to us. After all, with only graduates, the demand from the industry for professionals in wind cannot be met. Working together with business partners is therefore crucial”.

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E S T R E E G R E T PE

New North Sea Port authority sees bright future as offshore wind hub

When the Dutch and Belgian port authorities, Zeeland Seaports (Vlissingen and Terneuzen) and Port of Ghent, decided to merge in December 2017 they set a bold new course for their future. The resulting combination, named North Sea Port, was born officially on January 1st 2018.The new port authority is jointly owned and will have a combined turnover E103 million per year and will handle 123 million tonnes of cargo. There are 525 companies present in the ports and direct employment totals 100,000 people. Peter Geertse, Commercial Manager North Sea Port, outlines the reasons why two became one. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have always cooperated closely with Ghent Port. Essentially we are two medium-sized ports between the giants of Rotterdam and Antwerp. It made sense in terms of economies of scale, and we have the same language and culture. The move also gives us even more financial strength for investments like the new seagoing lock. And all of this in turn, helps us to attract new investors.â&#x20AC;?

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Atlas in Vlissingen And one of those new investors is Atlas Professionals, which established a new branch in Vlissingen in February 2018. Peter comments: “Right now the economy is booming. We are seeing a growth in handling and attracting new investors. This merger makes us an interesting party to do business with. 1+1 is more than 2!” Offshore wind particularly is a star player, Peter explains. “Offshore wind farms representing energy production of 1400 MW are being built before our coast in Zeeland. The wind business is booming.”

Getting closer to the wind farms He points to many initiatives going on such as Ørsted (former DONG Energy) establishing an Operations & Maintenance centre for the Borssele 1&2 wind farms and Peterson adding a Heliport terminal to Zeeland Airport to serve East Anglia ONE. In September, MHI Vestas will establish a preassembly facility for the next generation turbines (8-9.5 MW) at the BOW terminal. Transition pieces, nacelles, towers etc. will come from its hub in Esbjerg and be prepared for installation for the wind farms Norther and later on Borssele 3&4.

Given the thriving offshore wind business, Peter is pleased to see an international recruitment company establish itself in the port. “The industry needs the electricians, wind technicians, welders, there is demand across the board.”

3,000 people needed There will also be the people from oil and gas who may want to switch and train for a new profession in offshore wind, he adds, saying he sees a role for Atlas here. “It is important to have global players such as Atlas, which is an innovative company and can attract people to the sector.” However, finding 3,000 people is going to be a challenge, he emphasises, but he has confidence in Atlas. Vlissingen has been crowned a centre of expertise for offshore wind by the Dutch government. And the port authority cooperates very closely with regional companies, vocational training colleges, universities and high schools to develop specific training programmes for the wind energy sector.

One-stop-shop for offshore wind Other initiatives include the new DOC-Swan Hunter storage and cable spool yard and VBMS has also opened a cable storage facility. Soon, Peter adds, 102 jackets and 306 pin piles will be prepared for East Anglia ONE and then in September the transition pieces will be prepared for Horns Rev. “Being closer to the wind farms is vital. Components don’t have to travel thousands of miles from China for example, they can be assembled on site, which reduces the risk of damage and is much more cost effective.

“We want to be a one-stop-shop for offshore wind. We have no locks, unlimited access, a draught of 17 m, unlimited air draught… We now have some 4km of quay for only the wind sector. I believe we are the market leader in northwest Europe, handling 30 different wind projects in last eight years!” He is also optimistic for future prospects. “I am pretty sure we will be full of vessels with the projects coming up. Concessions are being granted for 2022/23, which gives us comfort for the coming years.”

Investments in strengthening quay “As turbines get bigger, transporting a 1000-tonne piece of equipment 2-300 km from the hinterland becomes more of an issue. In Vlissingen they can build them up in a specifically reserved space on the waterfront, which is very advantageous.” The port has also made substantial investments in remodelling its quayside so it can handle larger and heavier pieces as the turbine size continues to increase, he points out. For example, it carried out strengthening work at the MHI Vestas facility so now it has a capacity to handle 15 - 20 tonnes per sq m.

Atlas opening an office in Vlissingen is a shrewd move, according to Peter, because the port is going to be the offshore wind hotspot for the future. “Atlas did the right thing locating here because it can start early recruiting people, anticipating demand and making the investments needed in personnel. We should all promote Vlissingen as the place to be for offshore wind! “We have no locks, no limits, no fear!”

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SIONALS S E F O R P S A L T A

JOOST PELLIS

Atlas Professionals Strategic Manager Renewables 15.000 wind industry jobs to fill in the Netherlands alone!

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With an estimated 15,000 new jobs expected to arise in the wind industry in the Netherlands by 2023, Atlas Professionals has made sure it is addressing the issue in plenty of time through a range of different initiatives. Atlas made a major move in February when it opened an office in Vlissingen (Flushing). Atlas is also teaming up with the Dutch government, educational and training establishments, as well as leading industry players to ensure that it has the right people for the many different roles in the renewables sector in the Netherlands. Joost Pellis, Atlas Professionals Strategic Manager Renewables, says certainly these are exciting times, with many opportunities, but also this comes with some significant challenges too. “Considering the Paris Climate Agreement, it is clear that the world needs to make sure we have enough green energy. In the Netherlands alone, wind power capacity is being ramped up by more than 11 GW in the coming years.”

Dedicated wind office This demand for wind specialists spurred Atlas on to establish its own dedicated renewables branch in the Netherlands. Commenting on why the company chose Vlissingen at this stage, Joost says it was almost a ‘no brainer’, given the number of wind farms sprouting up nearby. The offshore wind farms Borssele 1,2,3,4 & 5 are going to be built just 20 kilometres from Vlissingen.

But given that the wind industry is still relatively ‘young’, Atlas recognises that finding enough people and the right quality personnel will be a challenge. This is one thing being addressed by CAREER, which has been set up by the Dutch government in order to tackle the issues surrounding renewable energy and to set the right educational paths.

Partnering Here Atlas is connecting with vocational colleges, schools, the (local) councils, and end clients. “We are all partners working towards the same goal. There will be a scarcity of wind technicians unless we look for solutions,” he stresses. Atlas is also examining the implications of Dutch law, particularly the so-called DBA law for independent contractors. As a consequence of this law, it is difficult to employ non-Dutch people on onshore wind projects. (This was another reason why Atlas decided to open its own branch and is focusing on finding the right professionals who are ‘approved’ to work in the Netherlands under a Dutch contract.) “We can now appeal to people from the regions. And since opening, there has been a marked improvement in attracting local, regional and national talent. Now we have a local recruitment team, which is appreciated.” Many apply through the www.werkenindewind.nl Atlas website.

Proven track record Coupled with that, the vocational college Scalda nearby offers a specialist, four-year educational programme specifically focusing on the wind industry. “At Atlas we have an important role to play and have to be able to deliver the professionals needed. We are looking for people who have been working in the offshore oil and gas industry, or for people who are completely new to the industry or school leavers. There are positions for every level.”

Jobs across supply chain Joost explains that Atlas has career opportunities across the entire supply chain – from the ideas to installation. “There will be roles for people who want to be involved in the environmental standards and regulations, or those that want to design and develop wind farms, to those that preassemble the turbines at logistics facilities. Then we go offshore, people are needed for UXO removal, for heavy lift vessels where they will be installing jackets and monopiles, ROV pilots are needed…And then this is followed by Operations & Maintenance given that most wind farms will be in existence for at least 20 years. At Atlas we are active across the supply chain in all the disciplines and this is across the globe.”

Atlas is helping to attract youngsters by several campaigns. “We can steer youngsters into the sector and highlight the opportunities. Sharing knowledge is vital. There is an enormous supply chain and thousands of jobs coming up – pretty much a guaranteed future for people coming into the industry.” And unlike many competitors Atlas already has more than 12 years’ experience in wind because its UK office in Bristol has played a significant role in recruiting professionals for the offshore wind farms in Europe. “This demonstrates that we know the industry and have a proven track record of getting the right people on board. “I believe we are a market leader in wind industry recruitment. But crucially, our professionals have to be the right fit for the job. It is not a matter of simply filling the vacancy. I am optimistic that there are plenty of opportunities but we have to get it right. Atlas wants to create a proper fit for the Professional and the Client so it is a sustainable relationship, which will be vital when it comes to retaining people in this flourishing industry.”

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MANAGER A E R A E IC V R E S

BRAM KEIJZER

From wind tunnels to wind turbines!

Bram Keijzer, Enercon Service Area Manager, outlines his varied career

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Bram Keijzer, Enercon Service Area Manager Netherlands North, has spent most of his career working in wind energy in one form or another. Joining Atlas Professionals early this year, Bram explains that he worked at an installation engineering firm for 17 years, and after that for the DNW (the German-Dutch Wind tunnels’ organisation) for 20 years. DNW was established by the Dutch Aerospace Centre NLR and its German counterpart, DLR. “At the DNW I was largely involved in testing air flow patterns over the wings of aircraft and also in carrying out simulations using compressed air to run the main engines.” During his time he worked on projects for aviation giants such as Airbus and Boeing, as well as on the joint strike fighter design for Lockheed Martin. His career then took another turn when he worked for the Areva Group in the nuclear sector. Based in the Netherlands and France for four years, Bram was specialised in centrifuges. Other roles included working for Shell Pernis in Rotterdam, which is one of the largest refineries in the world. He also spent time in China commissioning cranes for Huisman. “I was commissioning and checking the high voltage systems, which were 11,000 volts, before the cranes were transported from China to Singapore.”

100 m + wind towers Bram was then looking for a new challenge and he came to Atlas. Shortly afterwards in February this year he became the Service Area Manager for German wind energy company Enercon.

Drenthe and Amsterdam. Around 210 Enercon wind turbines are located in the region, with turbines ranging from 60 m high to the tallest, which is 134 m. Fortunately, Bram has no fear of heights. “The towers are huge, I like climbing, and I work with a team of very nice people - it’s a special job.” As well as the challenge of climbing and servicing the wind turbines, Bram is particularly looking forward to getting to grips with an innovative new turbine Enercon is introducing. Enercon’s E-138 EP3/3.5 MW, with its wind class IIIA design, is the first low-wind Wind Energy Converter.

Service minded Bram says that one particularly enjoyable aspect of the job is that ‘no two days are ever the same’. “It maybe that I am working on the maintenance planning in the office one day and then the next day I am out in the field meeting the team. Most of the time I coach the boys and go to the turbine where they are working for a day and help them. It is very satisfying.” His team members are all very service minded, he adds, and they want to make sure that both Enercon and the wind energy clients are pleased with their work. Bram also likes being part of the Atlas Professionals team. “I really appreciate working for Atlas, and also they help provide me with new colleagues, which is crucial to develop the team.” Four or five youngsters are set to join Bram from Atlas soon. “They all come from different backgrounds - the maritime industry, army, straight from school – we need people who like to climb and also who want to work with challenging technology. If they have what it takes, there is a very interesting job for them here.”

And he certainly relishes his new role. As an experienced commissioning engineer, Bram oversees a team of 26 electrical mechanical engineers. His region spans a large area including Noord-Holland, Friesland, Groningen,

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SIONALS S E F O R P S A L T A

WIT R E T E P & L E E MARTINE ROND

Global assistance

throughout the entire

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Atlas Professionals is aiming to be the leading HR service provider in the offshore wind industry. The company’s portfolio is already impressive when considering that Atlas has played a role in nearly all of the wind farms built in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark since 2008. Its involvement can range from providing a single Project Manager to a whole cable lay team of more than 40 professionals. Around 30% of the company’s E200 million turnover is directly or indirectly related to the wind industry and this share is growing. However, it is more than business driving the company, Peter Wit, Atlas COO stresses. Inspired by former US President Barack Obama’s words: “We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it,” Peter says Atlas is looking beyond business ambitions. “Collectively as a society, we have to make a turn and must assist our clients in making that turn as well. We truly believe that we should play our role helping the world to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goals. And as such Atlas is open for roles a step beyond merely delivering the professionals required.”

From Consent to O&M Atlas’s professionals can be seen in nearly all aspects of a wind farm’s development, from seabed surveys and installation, to cable laying and Operations & Maintenance activities. “Our people range from clients’ representatives, crews of supply vessels, marine coordinators – they are in almost every conceivable role.” Speaking from the company’s offshore centre of expertise in Bristol in the UK, Martine Rondeel, Commercial Manager Renewables, explains: “Until 2012, Atlas mainly focused on cable lay activities but now we have extended our services of supplying manpower to all phases of a wind farm cycle. These encompass Consenting & Developing, Installation and the O&M phase.” Atlas can bring in specialist teams from its global centres of expertise and the offices work closely together to find the optimum solution for our clients. For example, the company’s geotechnical and geophysical survey experts are based in Newquay in the UK, while Vic, near Barcelona, can provide mammal observers, and Banbury provides experienced ROV and diving teams, whilst Odessa, Riga and the Netherlands are centres of excellence in providing offshore and marine crews.

Ørsted contract Martine highlights a major contract Atlas was awarded from Danish green energy giant Ørsted in 2013. “Here we have more than 50 people employed all year round. There are personnel throughout the supply chain.

“We can be involved in the same wind farm from different angles through different clients. Through solid partnership with our clients, and our extensive experience we are able to support our clients in this fast-paced and reactive industry.” In the last two years, the O&M activities are ramping up in the wind industry, she adds, and this is emphasised by Ørsted’s contract award last year whereby Atlas will support its O&M activities in Germany, the UK and Denmark.

Continuous support Additionally, Atlas can help with support and advice during the initial concept phase. “This is where we can differentiate ourselves from other agencies. We support our clients with their tenders, correct pricing for future projects, as well as tax and legal advice on their global projects. We aim to develop longer term partnerships over the entire project cycle and this is received very well by our clients.”

Asia to the US As well as its strong presence in the European offshore wind market, Atlas is assisting its clients much further afield, in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam and the US, as these markets start to develop. The company also established a Joint Venture in Australia with Programmed that will support the growing offshore wind industry in Australia and New Zealand. “For example, through our regional office in Singapore, we are assisting Ørsted with the 120MW, Formosa Phase 2 development,” Peter says. And as offshore wind farms start to get off the drawing board in the US, he believes Atlas can play a role in transferring a lot of knowledge from oil and gas into renewables. The company has a branch in Houston and is well used to finding the skilled people needed for projects in the US market. Both Peter and Martine are very optimistic about prospects for the sector. “While the traditional oil and gas markets will remain for quite some time to come, they will not have the growth they enjoyed in the past. In the offshore sector, renewables are the ‘New Future’, Martine says. Peter comments: “I think there is simply no choice but to look towards the wind industry. The world has collectively agreed the way forward in Paris. Global warming is no longer an abstract concept, we all see its impact. “Once the infrastructure is there, wind power represents the cheapest total cost of energy available. When considering the speed with which we have seen the costs come down, this is an incredible testament to the supply chain in this industry, and Atlas will continue to supply a competent workforce for it. Ultimately, we have to have enough energy without destroying the planet, and wind is part of the answer!”

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SIONALS S E F O R P S A L T A

ISSE N U E H T IE D D E DINGENA P

The advantages of the Atlas Competence Programme Dingena Peddie-Theunisse, Competence Manager at Atlas Professionals

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Competence Management and Competence Assurance is increasingly important from a safety, commercial and legal point of view. Atlas Professionals has been addressing this issue for several years and in March of this year it took the next step in competence management, the Atlas Competence Programme (ACP), which has been developed together with our clients and professionals. Q: Why is Competence Management and specifically, Competence Assurance so important for clients? Dingena: “Ultimately, Competence Management improves overall industry performance in terms of safety and efficiency. Atlas is contributing to improving industry standards and at the same time, meeting increasing requirements concerning the ability to demonstrate the further competence of personnel. “Our clients deserve to know that the professionals they employ are further competence assured in what they do and that if an incident or accident occurs, clients can prove the competence of the personnel involved. Additionally, when being audited and when tendering for work, the Atlas Competence Programme helps clients demonstrate the competence of personnel. “There also needs to be a continuous drive to reduce the risk of incidents, accidents and near misses in the industry and the Atlas Competence Programme contributes towards an even more competent and safe environment. We are doing as much as possible to help our clients reduce risks. The Atlas Competence Programme is a very important tool to help realise this.” Q: Could you tell us about the Atlas Competence Programme? Dingena: “The Atlas Competence Programme assures that professionals are competent within their function/field of expertise through a recognised Competence Programme. Crucially, the Programme is fully integrated into the Atlas Quality Management System and is audited and certified in accordance with the ISO 9001:2015. “It is an easily accessible, digital and full, Quality Management System integrated Competence Management Programme. Atlas can cater for all functions in the industries it serves. It does also meet all the requirements described in the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) freelance framework guidelines where applicable. Currently this is in ROV, Survey and in the Marine roles.” Q: And how do clients know that Atlas’ Professionals are fully competent, what do they have to do to demonstrate their abilities? Dingena: “Atlas provides our Professionals with a Competence Assurance Assessment profile. They then have to fulfil the requirements and this is corroborated by Atlas’ fully trained internal verifiers.

tools. This is in addition to interviews, appraisals, and supporting work evidence such as operational days, ROV logging hours, DP awareness etc. Plus of course, the Professionals have to hold a valid medical and have the correct qualifications and certificates. Q: There is a rigorous self-assessment procedure in place; your Professionals are not just ticking boxes? Dingena: “No, it is definitely not just box ticking. Professionals have to outline their core competences such as leadership, supervisory roles, managerial skills, what type of equipment they have used, what sort of projects they have been involved in, what (client) specific software they have used, how many times, and if they can train other people etc. “Our interviews drill down into their career history. For example, offshore who are their peers, reporting lines, how do they plan their activities and how do they solve problems? With the professionals’ approval, our clients can then access all this information to find exactly the right person and competence for their specific project. “For our clients, this really gives a detailed, broad overview of the competence level. Clients can see what the Professional has done in their career and what they have not done, which is also important. This is vital when building teams - the client knows exactly who has the skills needed for the project.” Q: Is there more demand from clients to have a Competence Management system in place? Dingena: “Yes, it is increasingly becoming a standard request from our clients and part of the tendering process. “I used to work for Fugro Survey and I know the importance of integrating professionals into your team and understanding their competence levels. You know they have the experience based on their CV and the comprehensive information Atlas for example has provided, but how are they further competence assured? “Clients such as Allseas, Boskalis and Fugro all drive Competence Management as we do.” Q: And is it the eventual aim that the Competence Programme will cater for all industries that Atlas operates in? Dingena: “Yes, at the moment our competence assurance drive is focused on Survey and ROV and the Drilling and Seismic system will be rolled out in the next few months. Atlas wants to have this programme in all of its core business lines, which differentiates our system from others out there. One of our focus areas in this is Renewables. We believe that no other competitor has the breadth of our programme and that we are a frontrunner amongst the industry’s recruitment agencies, adding value for our clients.”

“Further to the technical self-assessments, which we have introduced in Survey a few years ago, we have added function-specific, self-assessment

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OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY FORECAST Between now and 2030 some activities on the construction of a phenomenal 100,000 MW are predicted to start across Europe, Asia and North America. Over the years Europe has taken a lead, with Fully Commissioned Wind Farms in key locations; United Kingdom (36), Germany (21), Denmark (17), Belgium (7), The Netherlands (7) and France (3). Combined these countries have around a further 200 Wind Farms in the project pipeline. In Taiwan the Formosa 1 Phase 1 has been Fully Commissioned and Phase 2 is in Pre-Construction, with a further 32 Wind Farms in the project pipeline. In the USA, Block Island Wind Farm is Fully Commissioned, with 47 other Wind Farms in the project pipeline. Amongst these Wind Farms, Hornsea Project Three in the UK is set to be the largest with a 2400 MW capacity. Not too far away, is the Star of the South in Australia which is expected to have a 2000 MW capacity. Disclaimer: figures are based on public information at the time of writing and gathered through market intelligence.

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SIONALS S E F O R P S A L T A

N E S N E T S R O H T LARRY

Atlas Renewables Business Unit launches in Australia

Larry Thorstensen, Operations Manager Renewables at Atlas Professionals

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Larry Thorstensen, the newly-appointed Operations Manager Renewables, outlines his new role. Atlas Professionals is already involved in Australia’s rapidly growing onshore wind industry, which has boomed in the last few years, but the company is keen to address developments offshore as well. As plans for Australia’s first offshore wind farm progress, Atlas wants to make sure it has a dedicated renewables division in place to support this development. And Larry is eager to take on the challenge as Australia enters a new industry. Larry spent the first 20 years of his career as a Chief Steward in the Royal New Zealand Navy. He then chose to go into the private sector and spent another three years working as a Chief Steward on various offshore vessels, before moving onshore where he became a Crewing Officer. Since 2008 he has had a variety of roles including marine coordinator, crewing manager and general manager, in both Australia and New Zealand. Following last year’s acquisition when Atlas Professionals B.V. acquired the international activities of Australia’s Programmed Maintenance Services Limited and formed a 50/50 joint venture for offshore and marine manning services in Australia and New Zealand, Larry left New Zealand and moved to Perth to support the joint venture. In August he was officially appointed the new Operations Manager Renewables.

First offshore wind farm

Australia’s first offshore wind farm - the Star of the South - is being developed by Offshore Energy Pty Ltd. and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Star of the South wind farm is located off the south coast of Gippsland, Victoria in an area of 580 km2. The site is 10-25 km off the coast in the Bass Strait. Eventually it is expected that 250 turbines of (8-12MW) will realise a capacity of up to 2,000MW, generating 8000 gigawatt hours of energy annually.

Leverage expertise from European experience Larry adds: “As the project gets closer we want to establish our renewables team and as we get more of an understanding of what’s going to be required, we can leverage on our own internal experience, as well as that of the larger Atlas group, in providing a comprehensive service offering to our clients. “We can potentially be involved in a wide variety of areas - in marine, catering and manning on board the installation vessels; Atlas can provide crane operators, commissioning engineers, surveyors, ROV pilots and further on, the maintenance crews. We already have these skills in house.” Atlas Professionals currently has 1,000 people working offshore in Australia in the marine, drilling, catering and seismic sectors. “Our teams are well used to working with the strict environmental, maritime and labour regulations in Australia. We can offer something different to other agencies because we have this local knowledge and expertise.”

“When Atlas discussed the chance to take on the renewables business, I thought this would be a positive opportunity moving forward. We are keen to add renewables into the Atlas portfolio in Australia and New Zealand, which is something very new here with the development of the first offshore wind farm. I think this is an exciting role, as well as being a challenge!”

Larry says that renewables certainly seems to have government support as well, which should speed up the development of the sector. “In New Zealand the government recently announced that there will be no further exploration drilling, which was actually somewhat of a surprise. But this would suggest that sustainable energy is firmly on its agenda and in Australia oil is no longer the golden ticket. Gas is deemed cleaner and renewables are even better.

However, although offshore wind is in its infancy in Australia, the sector is no stranger to Atlas, which has been extensively involved in the European offshore wind market for the more than 12 years.

“Everyone sees the potential, and the future looks exciting!”

Larry comments: “It is a new position for myself and a new industry sector, but I will be working alongside Martine Rondeel, our offshore wind expert in the UK, and leveraging the expertise of the whole Atlas group as we develop our renewables scope in Australia.”

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MAMMOET

G E E W F L A H N H JO

Mammoet Managing Director Asia Pacific John Halfweeg As offshore wind takes off in Australia Mammoetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wind specialists are busy transporting & installing components across the country

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Developments in the Australian wind energy industry have led to a surge in new onshore projects and heavy lifting, transport and project company Mammoet is bringing its expertise to this fledgling market. Australia has set an ambitious renewable energy target, with the country aiming to see 50% of its energy needs powered by renewable energy by 2030. This could lead to a staggering 2,600 turbines been built between 2017 and 2022. According to the Clean Energy Council, in 2017 alone around 4331 MW would be realised from large-scale renewable energy projects, resulting in more than 4,600 jobs. John Halfweeg, Mammoet Managing Director Asia Pacific, comments: “Mammoet has been active in the Asia Pacific for more than 40 years and we are heavily involved in the Australian mining industry. Around three years ago we saw a real change in thinking in Australia and that it should be less dependent on fossil fuel. There is a drive to develop the renewables sector and importantly, this has strong political support. “These developments are going well beyond the Paris Climate Agreement - Australia really wants to be ahead of the game. The number of megawatts is increasing month after month.”

Project pipeline Mammoet has a strong foundation in Australia and saw these developments in onshore wind as a great opportunity for the company, he says. “The project pipeline in 2018 grew even bigger, and once these wind farms are established there will be a demand for maintenance activities. I believe there must be 30-40 initiatives going on, ranging from 1MW to 14MW. The latest project we have been involved in is even 0.6GW!” With its regional headquarters in Singapore, Mammoet is involved in all aspects of wind farm installation. Its heavy lift transporters and cranes lift and pick up the wind turbine components when they arrive in port and then transport them to the wind farms. And once the components are delivered they are offloaded onto the hard stand by smaller cranes. “This process involves precision engineering, it is not a straightforward lift,” he adds. Crucially, the components are offloaded in a specific sequence because they are built up on the basis of this. Huge cranes are then used to assemble the turbine and Mammoet deploys special tools set to the torque specifications of each manufacturer. “We can install the base foundation, tower, nacelle, rotor and blades, as well as carry out the mechanical and electrical completion according to the specifications determined for the whole turbine.”

]John emphasises that Mammoet has its own Training Academy, whereby all the wind experts have to successfully pass mandatory courses such as working at heights, rigging, basics enhanced, etiquette and compliance, project management and contract management. “We are fortunate to have retained very experienced people.” The company currently has around 80 dedicated onshore wind specialists and numbers are expected to increase in the near future. “Our people have a very high basic skill set for example, lifting an offshore jacket or a wind turbine for installation takes detailed engineering and preparation. Mammoet people take pride in their work and want to get the task done safely and in a timely manner, I think that is the pedigree of our people.” The surge in wind-related activity led the company to contact Atlas for the supply of more project personnel. “Mammoet has a global agreement with Atlas already but we are keen to ramp up both the recruitment for individual projects but also to have a permanent supply of dedicated wind professionals.”

Offshore wind jackets Additionally, Mammoet is exploring the potential of the offshore wind market in the region. Mammoet is in ‘advanced talks’ with several construction yards from Thailand to Taiwan regarding the possibilities of prefabricating jackets for offshore wind farms and then also carrying out the lifts and loading them onto barges and installation vessels deploying its self-propelled modular transporters and heavy lift cranes. New specialist heavy lifting equipment will also be arriving soon. The project details are under wraps for now but Mammoet is developing an innovative ‘climbing crane’ for the installation and maintenance of larger, heavier wind turbines.

New climbing crane With the trend for turbines to get higher and more powerful, the crane pad surrounding a turbine needs to be bigger and stronger but this brings a certain cost and time factor, John explains. “Perhaps we don’t need so much heavy equipment,” he hints. Mammoet hopes to unveil the new installation crane early next year.

Stringent safety demands

John is positive about developments in the wind sector overall, but especially in the Australian market. “The major wind companies such as Siemens, GE and Goldwind are all active there and renewable developments have been well received in the financing community. We can see how serious and how rapidly the market is maturing.

Each project is overseen by a highly experienced project manager and senior safety officer. “We have direct leadership at the wind farm and the project supervisors also provide mentoring and coaching. Our dedicated people adhere to the strictest safety requirements and procedures. The teams also have daily breath analysers. They ‘Take 5’ (known as the Mammoet Minute) before carrying out any task and there are daily toolbox meetings.”

“The world still has the challenge that this energy is often not easily transportable or storable. And we need to think about the way we consume our energy and share it. We have a saying in the Netherlands that when running a marathon you have to take the first step, and we are certainly doing that.”

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GEOPHYSICIST

IZ U R A R R E S A CRISTIN

Geophysicist Cristina Serra Ruiz

driven by the thrill of discovery!

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Cristina Serra Ruiz, an Archaeologist and Geophysicist, says undoubtedly it is the thrill of discovery that drives her, whether this is on land or on the seabed. “Being an archaeologist ‘by trade’, I have a lot of experience in conducting high resolution surveys both on land and at sea, for mapping, monitoring and studying archaeological sites in great detail and with a high level of accuracy. Archaeologists are meticulous in their survey work practices: skills that are of great value to the offshore construction industry.” Since 2012 Cristina has been working as a Senior Marine Geophysicist and Client Representative for survey and consultancy companies. Her experience covers reconnaissance surveys as well as detailed site surveys, Unexploded Ordnance surveys, wreck surveys, pre- and postinstallation monitoring surveys, obstruction clearance, and planning of geotechnical programmes.

Boom in wind industry projects Cristina has been working on offshore renewable energy projects, such as offshore wind farms, since the start of her professional career 14 years ago; but never has she been as busy as she has been in the last five years. “At the start of my career, I was involved in reviewing geophysical datasets to detect archaeological sites at sea, reporting on their presence and potential significance and advising the developer about mitigation measures. This would not only aid the protection of the identified underwater heritage, but would assist clients design the layout of the proposed development, minimise risks and meet licensing requirements.” Cristina was involved in assessing geophysical datasets for the detection of archaeological sites at London Array, Sheringham Shoal, Triton Knoll, Gwynt-Y-Mor and Hornsea Round One offshore wind farm to name a few. After six years in mainstream geophysics, Cristina’s career has taken a new turn as she has become a Client Representative. “Client representation is a very interesting role, as I get to use my technical knowledge whilst supervising geophysical surveys, and I keep an eye on safety measures and work closely with developers and engineers. Most of my work as a Client Representative has involved UXO detection in preparation for the installation of infrastructure at sea, but also representing the client during geophysical surveys that monitor the status of built installations prior to commissioning or a sale.” She has enjoyed her new role at East Anglia One, Walney Extension and Burbo Bank offshore wind farms in the last few months alone. Cristina likes to combine her Geophysicist role with that of being a Client Representative. She believes it is beneficial for clients and for her own professional development.

Best practice Cristina enjoys being a contractor and being part of the Atlas team. She feels that working through an agent allows her to get involved in a great variety of projects, working on different vessels and with different professionals. “Clients’ benefit from my experience working with numerous survey companies, onboard different vessels, using the latest equipment and being exposed to different working practices each month. I can then bring this best practice to the next project.” Cristina has a passion for the wind energy industry and would definitely recommend it. “It fills me with great pride to watch an offshore wind farm being installed after contributing to its planning. I love watching wind turbines at sea, majestically rotating, peacefully providing clean energy.

UXO detection “Additionally, UXO at sea are a real threat to the offshore industries, and the construction of offshore wind farms is no exception. Finding and clearing live UXO is a meticulous task and one of high responsibility. We are dealing with the safety of equipment, vessels and people.” Cristina says that it is very rewarding to be entrusted with the acquisition, processing and interpretation of datasets used for the detection of UXO.

Contributions to society Cristina believes offshore wind farm projects contribute to society in many other ways other than providing clean renewable energy. Surveying the seabed to inform the planning stages has allowed biologists to map and protect biomasses, and for Heritage Agencies to grow the number of archaeological sites and artefacts present at sea. Cristina provides a particularly poignant example. “My favourite examples are discovering World War II aircraft losses at sea. There are thousands to be found still. We have found some spectacular examples in the last decade, and all thanks to geophysical surveys commissioned for the development of offshore wind farms. Not only do we contribute to the mapping of the UK’s National Cultural Heritage but on occasion, we can reconnect these aircraft sites and casualties with their families, it brings them peace and closure. “There is always so much work to be done. Geophysicists work on mapping areas of the seabed so that the layout of wind farms can be designed, and adequate construction measures taken. Then we work during the identification of UXO to keep a safe working environment, and last but not least, we then monitor the status of the wind farm once it is built. Overall, it is an extremely rewarding job to work for the offshore renewable energy industry, to contribute to the production of clean renewable energy for decades to come, and to help an industry that just keeps giving.”

Currently, Cristina is working on the Viking Link High Voltage Power Cable Interconnector between Denmark and the UK, and then she will move on to Nord Stream 2, and to Hornsea Round 3 Offshore Wind Farm later this year.

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POSH

ANDY DUNCAN

POSH Kerry JV provides

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As offshore marine services provider PACC Offshore Services Holdings Ltd. (POSH) takes a major step into the renewables market by launching a joint venture with Taiwan-based logistics firm Kerry TJ Logistics, we catch up with Marketing Manager Andy Duncan on the latest developments in the Asian renewables sector. The new joint venture company POSH Kerry Renewables aims to provide an integrated solutions platform for offshore wind farm developers, EPCI contractors and wind turbine manufacturers. Headquartered in Singapore, POSH has a fleet of more than 100 vessels and 60 years of experience in offshore and marine oilfield services, but this is its first move into the growing Asian renewables market. POSH has a diverse fleet of vessels including 13 accommodation vessels, air dive and support vessels, walkto-work and light construction vessels, as well as topside maintenance, 8-point moored barges. POSH Kerry supports the entire offshore renewables project lifecycle and has a comprehensive portfolio, including the end-to-end transportation of wind turbines and components, as well as diversified marine solutions during the installation, operations and maintenance of offshore wind farms in Taiwan. In addition to the marine support for the construction, production and maintenance phases of offshore wind projects, the new JV provides more than 70 years in offshore engineering and fabrication experience and the company has more than 6 million ft2 of logistics facilities in Taiwan and 25 million ft2 of yard space available for design and fabrication.

suitable designs for walk-to-work and SOVs specific to offshore wind operations. Additionally, a MOU has also been signed with Macquarie Capital and Swancor to jointly explore collaboration opportunities in the Taiwan offshore wind market. POSH Kerry will also provide anchor handling, supply and standby support to an international geotechnical services operator during the site survey, installation and construction of an offshore wind farm. The scope of work will begin off the coast of Guanyin and potentially include other sites in Yunlin and Taoyuan-HsinChu. Work is scheduled to commence in Q3 2018. Andy comments: “The renewables market in Taiwan is taking off, Formosa I is expected to start in May 2019 and there should be a number of wind farm projects coming along to support this requirement.” After establishing a firm foundation in the Taiwanese renewables market, he stresses, POSH plans to expand into developing renewables markets elsewhere in Asia including Japan, Korea and India. Meanwhile, he adds, that there has been very strong demand for the POSH accommodation vessels in recent months. “These are largely supporting extensive maintenance programmes. Oil companies have cut back on maintenance over the last few years given the low oil prices but now this has risen again as they want to keep these assets producing as much as possible.”

Emphasis on welfare Atlas Professionals and POSH have worked with each other for a number of years and more recently Atlas is providing crewing and catering services for one of POSH’s giant ‘flotels’, the POSH Arcadia, one of the company’s two 750-pax semi-submersible vessels. POSH Arcadia is supporting the Shell Prelude FLNG project in Western Australia.

One-stop-shop for wind developers Andy outlines the recent renewables venture. “Ultimately we are aiming to be a one-stop-shop for wind farm developers. POSH can provide vessels including Service Operations Vessels (SOV), survey vessels, tugs and barges, while Kerry TJ Logistics carries out the onshore logistics. Coupled with that, we are also working with two other sister companies PaxOcean shipyard in Singapore, which is looking into the potential of building jackets for turbines, and PACC Line, which operates a fleet of purpose-built vessels which can transport the turbines, blades and monopiles. We are confident that our consortium is able to provide a plug & play solution for our clients.”

While POSH has always maintained a high operating standard, partly through close coordination with partners like Atlas, Andy says there is a distinctive difference about expectations in the renewables sector. “The welfare requirements for the crew and passengers on board is very high, there is a big emphasis on wellbeing – almost the same as a hotel. For instance, requesting televisions, video on demand, X-box, good quality food is a norm and usually there will be one to a cabin when it comes to Operations & Maintenance work. Most of the time the technicians have not spent considerable time at sea unlike the seafarers, so wind farm developers want to provide similar standards to what they would have at home. We do our best to realise these standards and exceed them.” Andy believes there are exciting times ahead in renewables as the concessions start to get awarded. “POSH has a strong track record in accommodation and walk-to-work solutions and this operating expertise is highly transferable to the offshore wind sector. We are looking forward to the opportunities this brings.”

POSH Kerry will also be joined by other strategic partners. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with Rolls-Royce to explore

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BOSUN

O K T A L E B S V A L VLADIS

Being promoted to Bosun of the ‘Bibby Wavemaster 1’

was a career milestone for Vladislavs Belatko!

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There aren’t many types of vessels that Vladislavs Belatko hasn’t sailed on during his career. He now works on the pioneering vessel, Bibby Marine’s ‘Bibby Wavemaster 1’. Earlier this year Vladislavs was promoted to Bosun/Gangway Operator and he is very proud to have been given this opportunity.

In August 2017, Vladislavs was a member of the crew that sailed the brand new Bibby Wavemaster 1 out of Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania and then to the North Sea for its first project. “This is a very different vessel to what I have been used to, it is more like a hotel! Bibby Wavemaster 1 has great seakeeping ability and is definitely more comfortable for the crew.”

Vladislavs has been sailing since finishing maritime college in Latvia some 24 years ago. “There was never any doubt that a career at sea was for me,” he says. He started off as a motorman/welder and later worked in the engine room, before becoming a fitter.”

Bibby Wavemaster 1 is a new class of purpose-built, Service Operations Vessels with Walk-to-Work capability, DP2 and a new motion-compensated gangway.

He comments: “I have sailed on many types of ships – cargo ships, reefer vessels, containerships, pipe layers, dredgers, split hopper barges and I have been all over the world.” One particular highlight was working for Van Oord on a project carrying out pipe laying in the North Sea.

Vladislavs is specialised in operating the gangway, which is manufactured by Uptime of Norway. The motion-compensated gangway accounts for both the vertical and horizontal difference between a ship and a wind turbine. It is also linked to a multi-stop elevator. An offshore knuckleboom crane connects six access levels so there is continuous access between the warehouse, weather deck and the turbines, providing the innovative Bibby ‘stepless approach’ to logistics flows.“I really enjoy working with this new technology and the Uptime gangway,”he says.

New opportunities “I was looking for new opportunities so sent my CV and papers off to Atlas.” Vladislavs joined Atlas Professionals’ Riga office in 2016 as an Able Seaman on a hopper barge, which was dredging around Rio de Janeiro in preparation for the summer Olympic Games. “It worked out very well; Atlas is very professional and has friendly people. Whenever a vessel calls into port an Atlas representative will ask if everything is okay, wherever we are in the world. I hope I can work for Atlas in the long-term.” After proving himself as a reliable employee, Vladislavs had the opportunity to join Bibby Marine, which is based in Liverpool in the UK. He underwent specialised training to become a Gangway Operator and was assigned to the new Bibby Wavemaster 1 as AB/Gangway Operator. He relished the opportunity to learn new things. “I think at Atlas I have attended eight or nine months of different training courses, and I always welcome these opportunities to develop my career.”

Promotion

He enjoys the diversity of the work. “Some days when the weather is poor we can see four or five helicopters arrive and take off, and with 70 people on board there is never a dull moment.” The Bibby Wavemaster 1 has worked on both a wind farm and currently it is busy with a Total E&P project.“ For me it does not matter if I am working in oil and gas, or wind and the renewables sector, both are very interesting.” And most of the crew know each other pretty well now because we have been on the vessel since she sailed out - we work well as a team, he stresses. In April this year, Vladislavs was delighted that the captain and Bibby Marine promoted him to become the Bosun of the vessel. “This was great for me – a new opportunity! I do hope I can stay with Bibby Marine and perhaps when the second ‘Bibby Wavemaster’ enters service I can crew this new vessel and teach others about the Wavemaster concept.”

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GREENPEACE

N E V O H N IJ W IS R JO

Greenpeace campaign leader Joris Wijnhoven

Who would have predicted that you could do offshore wind in 2018 without subsidy. Nobody. For Joris Wijnhoven (47), Greenpeace’s campaign leader for Climate & Energy it is crystal clear: the extraction of fossil fuels must be stopped definitively as soon as possible. And certainly faster than the Dutch government now advocates in the Proposal for the main features of the Climate Agreement. Not being climate neutral until 2050 will be disastrous for our planet and therefore ultimately for the prosperity and happiness of our society. With substantial investments and the integration of new technologies every effort must be made to exchange our fossil fuel economy for a clean energy economy within one generation. Without mincing words Joris explains how the “green” cards must be shuffled according to him in the energy market. Wind turbines on land and in the sea and full commitment to solar energy, geothermal energy, energy saving and electric transport. According to the political scientist those are the saving alternatives. “My position in this is not one of an idealist but of a passionate realist. It is an absolute certainty for me that we must do our utmost to reduce the CO2 emissions to zero with the highest urgency. Only then will we be able to stop climate change. Realizing clean energy on a big scale is a bitter necessity. Certainly no new fossil stocks.”

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Wind at sea

Innovative solutions

Wijnhoven quickly builds up steam during the interview. Briefly he takes a deep breath. Then he calmly and confidently says: “If you want to try to keep the warming of the planet within 1.5° it is absolutely impossible to wait until 2050 before taking drastic measures. By that time the Earth will have become uninhabitable. If we continue to persist in squeezing fossil fuels out of the Earth and burning it, climate change will be given a free rein. No sensible person can want this; it is a kind of moral awareness. That is why clean energy must simply be rolled out much faster. At the moment things are being done, but the pace must be increased massively. This is really not an unrealistic way of thinking. It is sometimes said that we as Greenpeace are always ahead of the troops, but all the scientists in the world support us in this battle. As such, that is very encouraging, but sadly politicians are lagging behind again, as usual. Fortunately history teaches us that politicians gradually sharpen their objectives. This is also the case now. Our government realizes more and more that the agreed halving of Dutch CO2 emissions in 2030 is absolutely unfeasible at the current pace. And that drastic measures will have to be taken quickly. In 2005 Greenpeace published the first energy scenario called Energy [r]evolution and it was predicted in this paper that clean energy might very well become cheaper much faster than fossil energy sources. The outlook of other energy think tanks was a lot more pessimistic. Many people called this mad at the time but meanwhile even Greenpeace has been overtaken by reality. Look at the wind at sea. Who would have dared to predict a few years ago that it would already be possible to build offshore wind farms in 2018 without subsidy. Nobody.”

Joris Wijnhoven fully understands that the world economy cannot yet do without fossil energy completely. A major obstacle is the conservative aviation industry, which is not inclined to embrace new initiatives. The power of innovation that it displays is not exactly impressive. Technical developments are hardly being prepared. The campaign leader raises both arms, almost in despair: “Why should they! As long as the tickets are sold at ridiculously low rates everybody wants to fly. But this ease also embodies the problem. It is not right. A cab ride from Schiphol to the Hague is more expensive than a plane ticket from Amsterdam to London. That’s abnormal. ‘Green’ flying is certainly among the possibilities but then the sector will have to come with innovative solutions very fast.

Tripling the pace Naturally, an enormous amount of innovation will have to be created by industry to accelerate the transition in fact. Joris Wijnhoven is convinced that operators and contractors who are now trend-setting within the domestic oil and gas industry are capable of doing this. “They only need a helping hand now and then,” he says with a wink, because in his conviction the pace at which wind farms are being built now must be tripled. Joris will gladly extend that helping hand, because that is something he is good at. “Fortunately a number of renowned contractors have very deliberately opted for offshore wind. They have made an excellent choice for a ‘healthy’ future. Things are a little more complicated for operators. They do not yet dare to engage in the discussion to stop exploiting oil and gas reservoirs. Too often they go on the defensive, while the focus should really be aimed at clean energy. It is an enormous challenge, because they must relinquish a profitable asset. Nevertheless they will have to find that self-control because otherwise our planet will be ruined completely.”

Lightning speed required “Especially politicians regularly need a push in the back to understand that lightning speed is required” Joris states plainly. Now that it has finally been laid down legally in July 2017 that the Netherlands has agreed to the Climate Agreement of Paris, all political attention may be devoted to reduction of CO2 emissions. Greenpeace will seize every opportunity to emphasize accelerated performance of the agreements. So, real action.

Climate Agreement The environmental organization Greenpeace has more than 400,000 donors at this time. They are all people who sympathize with a rapid transition to green energy. “It is up to us to formulate their views of sustainability. In respect of the government, industry and the whole Dutch population. When Greenpeace was asked by the government to participate in giving substance to the 49% reduction of CO2 in 2030, we immediately reacted positively. In that way, I am part of the so-called Electricity Table, which was involved in writing the ‘Proposal for the main features of the Climate Agreement’, which was recently presented by Ed Nijpels, chairman of the Climate Council, to Eric Wiebes Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate.” Greenpeace is dedicated to making this agreement a success, but is not a consensus-oriented club by nature. Joris clarifies this warning: “Of course you can keep on acting the alarmist and keep on shouting that the world is doomed, but people have gradually become fed up with that. Greenpeace definitely offers alternatives. We do so, among other things, via our above-mentioned scenario studies, which play an important part in the worldwide energy discussion and are taken very seriously by most experts and organizations. But if we think that something is not tangible enough, is unfair or that technologies will be used that we cannot accept, the agreement will not be signed by Greenpeace.”

Exciting era In reply to the question what the Netherlands will look like three decades from now, Joris Wijnhoven indicates that visionary thinking is fine but that no certainty can be given about it. He finds a prediction of the future too presumptive. He does say that the energy transition is the greatest operation since the industrial revolution. “We are living in an exciting era now. Climate change is going so fast that the crucial question is whether humanity will be able to realize this sufficiently. An enormous amount of things will have to be done and the great trick is to convince everyone of that. There is no blueprint for the ideal world. The only certainty that I can give is that there is unquestionably going to be an enormous amount of change.”

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