HEROES (Energy & Marine) 2022/2023

Atlas Professionals is pleased to welcome all industry insiders and enthusiasts to the newest 2022/2023 Energy and Marine edition of our long running HEROES Magazine where we collaborate with Clients, Professionals, and our own staff to bring our readers some of the most interesting and important trends of recent times.

Our industries are full of challenges as well as exciting developments from COVID-19 and political instability to the energy transition and introduction of new sources such as hydrogen and increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental awareness. Within the pages of this issue, you will be able to read more about all these subjects detailed by influential Clients and seasoned Professionals working in the Energy & Marine industries. This issue of HEROES Magazine also allows us to glance into contemporary challenges our industries are facing and how our Clients, Professionals and staff are working towards finding sustainable solutions for them.

To this end, you can find our interview with Ally Cedeno of Women Offshore Foundation discussing developments regarding women working in the industry, Chris Lawrence and Juris Capass from Atlas Professionals detailing ongoing efforts to integrate Asia-Pacific talent into European and American operations and Able Seaman Zaenal Abidin’s take on the importance of mental wellness, comradery while working offshore – and many more!

As we try to explore latest developments and commentary with our newest issue of HEROES magazine with 14 different articles from across the industry, we once again want to extend our gratitude to each and every one of our Clients, Professionals and our staff for their continued support and contribution to this issue. It was a great pleasure to engage with prominent voices across the industry – and we hope that by reading their thoughts and commentary, our readers can fully realise the passion and energy that goes through the work we do.

See you all next year with a brand-new HEROES magazine,

Atlas Professionals

NICOLA HARRIS

Diving into the world of underwater acoustics

WILLEM VAN DER WEL Innovating with hydrogen fuelled CTVs

RONALD ' RON ' GULLIFORD CHIEF INTEGRATED RATING

exciting years in the industry

LAURA BARNES // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS DEPUTY TEAM LEADER From Recruiter to Deputy Team Leader

ALLY CEDENO // WOMEN OFFSHORE FOUNDATION FOUNDER Deep dive into experiences of woman Professionals

NICOLA HARRIS // SEICHE ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Diving into the world of underwater acoustics

WILLEM VAN DER WEL // WINDCAT WORKBOATS MANAGING DIRECTOR Innovating with hydrogen fuelled CTVs

CHRIS LAWRENCE & JURIS CAPASS // ATLAS PROFESSIONALS BUSINESS MANAGER, GENERAL MANAGER Introducing APAC to the world

RAINIER VERHULST // PETRODEC GENERAL MANAGER Pioneering decommissioning in the North Sea

RONALD ‘RON’ GULLIFORD

CHIEF INTEGRATED RATING

35 Years in the industry

Ronald ‘Ron’ Gulliford, Chief Integrated Rating, has been in the industry for over 35 years at this point and has trusted Atlas Professionals for his career for the bulk of it. Thanks to his flexibility and willingness to embark in new and exciting tasks every time, he has experienced almost everything this industry has to offer

35 years in any profession is a lot of time, but in an industry as robust and constantly changing as the energy and maritime industries it becomes even more of an admirable feat. Still, everyone has to start from somewhere, and when asked about when and why he chose this profession in the first place, Ron states that he was inspired by his father and decided to follow his footsteps into the sea when he turned 16.

During his initial years in the Industry, Ron started off on cargo ships and then advanced to Anchor Handlers and has been working in the Energy industry ever since: “After 35 years in the Industry, there are few vessel types I have not worked on.” Ron also gladly mentions the impressive number countries and places he got to see during his time offshore –especially the ones in Southeast Asia and Australia, where he hails from.

1.300 Helicopters – and Even More Passengers

Of course, the Industry is full of challenges and Ron argues that it was one of his recent deployments he successfully secured with Atlas Professionals was perhaps one of the biggest ones he had to tackle. Ron was the permanent Chief Integrated Rating on an accommodation vessel in a project near the coasts of Northwest Australia. He stayed in the vessel for approximately 16 months – from the beginning all the way to the end.

“For sure, with a task as demanding as this, the very challenge of even managing how people got in and out of the vessel was an enormous feat due to the number of helicopters we handled, given that the rig was 1 hour 45 minutes from the shore. More than 1.300 helicopters landed during my time, accounting to 60.000 passengers with 120.000 bags!”

Ron goes on to detail the tasks he had to handle: “Our team handled all the baggage and unloaded it each day. There was a lot of baggage and a lot of stairs. We certainly don’t need to go to the gym at the end of our shift!” he jokes. He also explains how after a break, the team would then start to unload the cargo: “With some 650 people onboard, the amount of required food storage was staggering.” Given the sheer number of helicopter operations, Ron is proud that everything was handled safelyand without any incidents.

From Salmons to 3D Sketching

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia imposed some notable travel and work restrictions for both foreigners and Australian nationals, including Ron, and this allowed him to rack up his already impressive track record of working on different jobs.

Ron recollects his memories for the initial months of the pandemic: “Obviously COVID-19 affected the industry a lot and I could not fly to Western Australia to work like I normally do, as in Australia you could not move to a different state to work during the COVID-19 lockdowns if you were from a different state. After discussing these issues with Atlas Professionals, they found me a position I could fill in the state I was in – a position in a salmon fishing vessel.”

Ron was also offered a position with a 3D modelling company as they were trying to generate a 3D image of a rig, and since Ron is extremely knowledgeable about anything and everything related to these types of vessels, he was able to assist the crew while they were on board. “It was not looking good before Atlas Professionals intervened. They were taking photos, doing modelling and I was assisting these operations as someone who knows these rigs – I did this for over 45 days.”

Ron then goes on to detail he got to travel to Western Australia to pursue positions he is more familiar with and thanks Atlas Professionals for our support during these times of turbulence: “During last year I was on a supply boat and an accommodation vessel – and now I am on an accommodation and construction support vessel, so everything is returning back to normal. When there wasn’t much work and when Atlas Professionals got me that other jobs, it was an eye opener. Never thought I’d take these jobs on – but I did.”

When it comes to what is next, Ron is not sure as well – but he sure is up for the challenge, just like how he was for all those 35 years: “My current position is about to end – I don’t know where I will go next but I am looking forward to it!”

LAURA BARNES ABERDEEN DEPUTY TEAM LEADER,

ATLAS PROFESSIONALS

From Recruiter to Deputy Team Leader

Laura Barnes, Aberdeen Deputy Team Leader, shares with us her journey in Atlas Professionals from starting out as a Recruiter to progressing to the role of a Deputy Team Leader for her department

When Laura joined Atlas in 2019, she was onboarded as a Recruiter and three years down the line – she is now a Deputy Team Leader, overseeing the North Sea Drilling operations at Atlas North Sea Drilling hub in Aberdeen! She is more than happy to detail how she transitioned through the roles and what she likes about her current position.

Laura remembers how she first became part of the Atlas family and how she progressed through the ranks: “I became part of Atlas in January 2019. Since then, the company has invested time to train and develop me, which has led to me being promoted to Deputy Team Leader of the North Sea Drilling team, based in Aberdeen. What I most love about my position is that I get to interact with various clients, Professionals, and colleagues –every day is a new learning experience. From being a Recruiter to a now a Deputy Team Leader, no day has been the same and that's something I enjoy a lot in this company. There is never a dull day when working with Atlas!”

Recruitment Industry: Dynamic & Rewarding

Laura also details why she enjoys her career and specifically, ensuring the right Professional can find the right opportunity: “The current skill shortage in the labour market makes it challenging to find the right professional for a client. Yet, it makes it even more rewarding when we fill a position. Although most of the time the Personnel Coordinators do the recruitment, even after many years in the industry, I still feel a sense of achievement when my jobs are filled. It’s also great to help Professionals either back to work or on to their next assignments. I have good relationships with all my clients and when I receive valuable feedback from them, it feels really rewarding.”

As for her day-to-day duties? Laura details some tasks she does on a daily basis and how it is very much client focused: “We never know what positions we will receive from our clients or what queries we will

get from Professionals, so no day is the same. Every day we speak with so many different people, from diverse backgrounds and industries. On a typical day, I could be doing various duties including recruiting, confirming Professionals for positions, issuing contracts, client meetings, Greenhand Training Days and staff training.”

As Laura represents an important step in the Atlas corporate ladder, her insight and comments about the company as a whole matter a lot for a significant amount of people: “I always feel like management is open and honest with all employees. We have quite a large team but always have a daily meeting, to check in with everyone – whether we are in the office or at home. We socialise outside work, which helps build a good team, and have recently started a welfare committee to do more social activities together. Usually, we try and have lunch together – there are always people in the office that you can speak to – Payroll, Marine, International, there are just so many different specialties.”

“Overall, it is a very friendly working environment with many development opportunities and the scope to learn from different colleagues is always there,” Laura signs off.

At Atlas Professionals, we believe that diversity drives progress and aim to build an inclusive organisation. We are taking steps to create an environment for everyone and foster a culture that helps us stay at the frontier of energy, marine and renewables. If you’re driven to perform, we are waiting to hear from you – irrespective of your religion, sexual orientation, colour, gender, ethnicity, or race – if you have the talent, you fit right in. Scan the QR code to know more.

PIETER TONEATO ELECTRO-TECHNICAL OFFICER (ETO)

Traveling the seven seas

We meet Pieter at his hotel in Hoofddorp the Netherlands, approximately a kilometer away from Atlas Professionals Headquarters. There, he is waiting for the next day’s flight to Taiwan to commence his upcoming position as Electro-Technical Officer on a heavy lift vessel. He greets us with a smile on his face and we start discussing his career, the state of the industry and what he has in mind for the future.

Pieter details just how he got into the industry in the first place: “I started out as an electrician in a chemical plant as a teenager and worked there for some years to look after myself. I wanted to do something more and started looking for other opportunities and came across the offshore industry – I have never worked another job ever since.”

Electro-Technical Officers are responsible for maintaining and fixing their vessel’s electronic systems such as powerplant, engine room controls, all sorts of communications devices, radar and similar electronic chart systems. The position is considered one of the top sought after roles within the industry and requires skilled Professionals with discipline and great attention to detail.

When asked about why exactly he enjoys working in the offshore industry, Pieter boasts about all the perks this line of profession has to offer: “The working hours – the shift system. Definitely. It is so good to have a shifting schedule which allows you to program your entire year and have multiple 6 week long vacations – how many vacation days do you have?” he jokes while laughing. “There are downsides as well though. If anything happens while I am offshore, I can't do anything about it. But I can never imagine a career outside offshore and the working hours are one of the main reasons.”

He also touches on two other aspects he likes: traveling and food. “I traveled the world. I was in Brazil for many years, it was an amazing experience. I worked in Indonesia for two years – the best two years of my life, amazing food, amazing culture and amazing weather. I have been to

the USA, Taiwan, many other places. All thanks to working offshore. Oh, and the food is always good – you can really tell how the industry is doing by just inspecting the desserts. When the price of oil goes up, you get big bowls of whipped creams and everything!”

The Past, the Present and the Future

As a seasoned industry veteran, Pieter has a lot to detail regarding what changed and what remains the same: “Safety has improved a lot. I remember back in the day safety measures were simply not there – there were very few rules and people did not care. After some dire incidents, we realized that this was not the way to go and the whole industry decided to pay more attention to safety. Now, it is a significantly safer industry to operate in – so safety has overall changed a lot.” Pieter also compliments how far amenities have become: “Living areas, working conditions –practically everything about the industry has changed for the better.”

Atlas Professionals presents a nice change of pace in Pieter’s life as with Atlas Professionals, he consistently managed to secure positions he excels at in a company he enjoys working for: “I was introduced to Atlas Professionals when I was recruited by my current company. They had a long and outstanding relationship with Atlas Professionals and asked me to enrol with them as they mainly sourced Professionals via their services – and I did. I have never experienced any issues with Atlas Professionals right from the beginning, they are always there whenever you need something. When I am in the Netherlands, for example, I just drop by the office and have a coffee with Atlas Professionals staff, enjoy a nice conversation. They are always very welcoming and very nice people to have around.”

However, some things have remained the same, he argues, as tried-andtrue formula of becoming better at what you do is still there: “For the next generation of electricians or offshore Professionals, what I can say is: Do not be afraid of getting your hands dirty. Go out there and do something. That’s how you get experience in this industry.”

New vessels, new horizons

As someone who has been in the industry for a decade, Eize Hoekstra, Project Manager at Braveheart Marine, details his experience within the business and how its latest acquired vessel Braveheart Spirit is ready to make waves

When asked about the amount of experience he has within the industry, Eize starts counting various positions he filled within the world of Offshore. “Almost ten years – has it been ten years already?”, he adds with a smile. Eize now holds the position of Project Manager within Braveheart Marine, a Dutch company providing hydrographic survey services and crew tender operations.

As one of the more prominent positions within the company, the role of the Project Manager includes several crucial tasks such as personnel planning and overseeing ongoing operations – and it appears that Eize is not someone that shies away from taking more responsibility. Eize underlines what he thinks is the core strength of Braveheart Marine: “We still have this family feeling. Regarding day-to-day business: Since this is a family business, I get to be involved with various aspects of the job as the Project Manager, from QHSE to Operations – and sometimes even HR.” He smiles as he adds, “Never a dull moment in Braveheart.”

High Spirits, Higher Ambitions

As Braveheart Marine is getting ready to embark on bigger and more ambitious projects thanks to the developments of the past couple of years, Eize gets a chance to reminisce the growth his company has experienced since its initial conception: “Braveheart started out in 1993 as a relatively small family business with a single pusher tug, however as the company started carrying out surveying operations in the Port of Rotterdam back in 2008, the company really started to grow. We started those projects out with a single survey vessel and by the time it was over we had four survey vessels exclusively on that same project.”

Eize goes on to explain that the core business of Braveheart focused on the Dredging industry for the past decade but recently, with the changes that took place in the last couple of years, Braveheart Marine has expanded into other industries as well as many other parts of the world: “We went everywhere in the world,” Eize mentions. As a result of this expansion, Braveheart recently added a new vessel to its expanding fleet, the survey vessel Braveheart Spirit, and it is already making waves both in the industry and in the company.

Regarding the state of Braveheart Marine and its new prized jewel, Eize continues to detail the vessel's importance and how it allows Braveheart to pursue new ambitions in the offshore wind industry: “We started out as a survey company working in the dredging market and slowly expanded into the offshore wind market as our vessels were able to handle both tasks, but this vessel is specifically built for the offshore wind market. Now that we

own and operate Braveheart Spirit, we are directly contracted by Clients in an increasing frequency.”

As for the future? Eize has nothing but grounded optimism for the company and for their position in the offshore industry: “The scope and type of work Braveheart can undertake have drastically increased. The company has only improved.”

Global – Yet Local

This summer, Atlas Professionals was invited to explore the vessel and catch up with Professionals working on board as approximately 75% of Braveheart Spirit’s personnel requirements are fulfilled by Professionals sourced by Atlas Professionals – from Steward and Cook to Able Seamen, Chief Engineer to Chief Officer.

Eize describes why Braveheart chose Atlas Professionals for the job of providing personnel for Braveheart Spirit and how they are glad they did: “We engaged with several recruitment companies to find suitable personnel for Braveheart Spirit. In the end we chose Atlas Professionals not because of price but because how global Atlas Professionals is as they have offices in different countries. Track record of Atlas Professionals and things Atlas Professionals can arrange have been important as well – and I remember Atlas Professionals did full crewing for several Clients already. So, our decision to choose Atlas Professionals was a combination of all.”

The proximity of Atlas Professionals Urk branch and Braveheart Marine is something Eize and the team value as well. He explains that even though Atlas Professionals has numerous offices across the globe and has means and experience to tap into a potent international pool of Professionals, Atlas Professionals also has the local business partner feeling: “I can just visit the Atlas Professionals office after 5 minutes of traveling, which is very nice.”

When it comes to the present state of affairs, Eize goes on to say that they are “(…) very happy with these Atlas Professionals crew members as they are very experienced and worked in several other vessels just like Braveheart Spirit. Sometimes we even learn from them.” Eize expects Atlas Professionals and Braveheart to continue their ongoing partnership and expand it further with the purchase of new vessels with challenging personnel requirements – a challenge Atlas Professionals can handle with its more than 40 years of experience and commitment to providing the best recruitment and HR solutions to the energy, marine and renewables industries worldwide.

ZAENAL ABIDIN ABLE SEAFARER

Importance of having good company around

Zaenal Abidin, Able Seafarer, has sailed across the seven seas and has meaningful comments on why having good company is something that every Professional should value

Zaenal Abidin, Able Seafarer, is an Indonesian Professional who has worked in numerous countries across the globe – including Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Singapore – throughout the better part of the decade. With an impressive international experience like this, Zaenal is more than willing to discuss some challenges of working offshore, and how to overcome them.

We meet Zaenal while the vessel he is assigned to, Braveheart Spirit, is docked in the Netherlands. The vessel is undergoing a series of maintenance operations to ensure it can be prepared to conduct its surveying abilities without any intrusion, and several Able Seafarers, including Zaenal, are working hard to finalize the process. We have a pleasant chat with Zaenal regarding how everything has been going and whether he has any requests from Atlas – and then we get to chance to ask several questions regarding mental wellness while offshore and how he handles all challenges that come with the job.

Before we get a chance to begin our interview, Zaenal seizes the moment to recognize the importance of having people around whom he can trust – setting the stage for all that is to be discussed: “First of all, I would like to thank Atlas Professionals for giving me the opportunity to participate in this interview. I would also like to thank my family who always supported, encouraged, and prayed for me – and I won’t forget all the people who are always around me and always give me positive energy while we are working.”

Off to a Good Start

Zaenal explains why exactly it is crucial to have people by your side while you are offshore: “Having people who are always by our side when we are abroad is very important – they are not just colleagues or friends. To me they are family, sometimes teachers, and even parents. They are always there when we are happy, or if we are facing difficult times, and most importantly, if there is a problem. These people are always happy to help.”

Zaenal also explains how it is always a good idea to find a moment to celebrate achievements that everyone contributed to: “Things that we often do when you are on a vessel, namely when we finish a task safely, correctly, on time and efficiently, are always moments to celebrate with our peers – that's when we can compliment each other.”

As part of its Zero Harm initiative, Atlas Professionals also emphasizes the importance of mental wellbeing of Professionals that trust their careers with them as well as their physical wellbeing and aims to reach

out whenever a Professional requests such assistance. Each Atlas office across the globe implements their own, personalized measures to ensure Professionals working closely with an office can have access to. This can be done via designated Atlas Professionals Mental Health First Aiders who can signpost Professionals to seek professional help and guidance. Atlas Professionals also supports mental health awareness days, and is committed to spreading the importance of mental health via numerous communication channels on a regular basis.

Far from Home

As an industry with significant amounts of travel requirements, Professionals working in offshore positions away from their culture or country can often feel homesick or alienated. It is part of the offshore life and one of the reasons why these Professionals are considered to be among those who are working under more demanding conditions, but that does not mean there aren’t any avenues to mitigate these challenges. During our interview, we also get a chance to meet a cheerful, highly international crew that Zaenal is also a part of.

Zaenal then goes on to explain how international characteristics of the industry is something that empowers the crew and why it is good for personal growth as well: “Having colleagues from different countries is really nice, we can get to know each other's culture and customs and we interact with new ideas that we didn't know existed. I can easily say that having international colleagues who share my feelings really helped me feel much better about everything. All our colleagues, whether international or not – they can make us feel comfortable while we are working, remind us about what is important and be there for each other when needed. So always treat your co-workers like your friends and your family.”

As the interview comes to an end, Zaenal also shares some tips on how to handle when one feels homesick or misses their family, loved ones while doing their offshore trip: “An important tip I can give is to always communicate with your loved ones: When I miss my family while I am on a vessel, I always give them a call whenever I have the opportunity. It is also a good idea to bring some photos of them, especially photos of your children if you have any, to adorn your private spaces with them. Lastly, if you believe in a higher power – the most important thing is to pray and always have a positive mindset about everything. That will help out a lot, especially if you find yourself in a difficult moment.”

ALLY CEDENO FOUNDER, WOMEN OFFSHORE FOUNDATION

Deep dive into experiences of woman Professionals

What drives someone to pursue a challenging career? To defy existing norms, barriers – and in the end generate a success story not only for yourself but for the people who are to follow your footsteps as well? For insight into these questions, meet Ally Cedeno

Ally Cedeno, Dynamic Positioning Operator and Founder of Women Offshore Foundation, has been around the industry for years now and has gathered significant amount of experience and knowledge to a point where she now assists new generation of woman working in the industry as the Founder of Women Offshore Foundation.

Ally cites her father as her guide and starting point when it comes to why she chose this industry in the first place: “It was helpful to have my father at my side as some sort of a mentor figure who knew a lot about the industry even though he actually never worked at sea himself.”

Ally further elaborates how her career path transitioned from Marine to the Energy industry: “I started out in cruise ships for a brief period of time, but I decided to become a Dynamic Positioning Operator so I kind of switched to offshore industry and I have been on drilling vessels since.” Since her transition to offshore, Ally has been working in the industry and has been moving further ahead with her career.

Uncharted Waters: Pregnancy Onboard

As of the time of this interview, Ally is nearing the end of her pregnancy and expecting a baby girl. Ally explains that she found out she was pregnant while she was onboard all thanks to the presence of pregnancy tests in the medic. She was extremely content with the level of support she received from her doctor, colleagues, and company.

Ally details the process she went through the very first week she felt unwell: “The medics were all so great and I felt like it was a really supportive environment – even though I was with complete strangers. After disclosing my symptoms, they wanted to test for pregnancy just in case – they applied two different tests to ensure there was no room for mistakes. It turns out I was actually pregnant.”

Ally’s podcast, The Women Offshore Podcast, where she discusses her entire experience with being pregnant offshore as well as anything and everything related to being a woman in the industry is available to stream on most major audio platforms along with Women Offshore Foundation’s webpage.

One for the Books: Women Offshore Foundation

Already contributing to significant changes within the industry, Women Offshore Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, or an NGO for

non-US audiences, based in United States of America. Regarding how Women Offshore helps women working in the industry, Ally states that the Foundation offers “(…) a career development programme that helps women navigate the industry and work on what can they do within the industry – whether they are new to the industry or just need some help to figure out what to do next.”

Ally acknowledges that there is a lot of work to be done and explains the focus of Women Offshore: “There are a lot of barriers within the industry and we try to focus on two of them specifically: Career services and SAVE (Sexual Assault and Violence Eradication).” To this end, Women Offshore organizes events such as Career Days and Women Offshore Inclusion Summit where aspiring offshore Professionals can meet influential companies, individuals to learn more about the industry and contribute to ongoing conversations.

Houston branch of Atlas Professionals was one of the recruitment companies that demonstrated a strong presence in the latest Maritime Career Days event of 2021 with multiple presentations, in-person consultations from Atlas Professionals staff with interview tips and career progression advice as well as a panel participation from Laura Smith, Business Manager of Atlas Professionals Houston. Atlas Professionals is looking forward to participating in future events hosted by the Women Offshore Foundation.

Paving the Way

When asked about her thoughts on what the future has in store for women working in Energy, Marine and Renewables industries, Ally explains how things are changing – but there is still work to be done: “I am able to talk to the next generation thanks to Women Offshore’s mentorship program about what it looks like joining this industry and I often tell them they have a lot of opportunities and that they do not have to soldier on as my generation already dealt with some of the issues. Now, there are many companies that are willing to listen to you. You have a chance to find the support you need and use our resources.”

Ally acknowledges that there has been tangible changes within the industry, both in terms of gender equality and overall quality of vessels, services or positions offered to Professionals, but there is still a great need for further discussions and improvements: “Offshore and recruitment companies as well as Professionals are all responsible to generate change. We all play a part.”

NICOLA HARRIS ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SEICHE

Diving into the world of

underwater acoustics

Nicola Harris, Associate Director of Environmental Services, is a marine biologist with years of experience in the offshore industry

Nicola has great passion for the environment, oceans and all the animals which call them their home. Now, working in an industry that interacts with marine mammals on a daily basis, Nicola is glad that she is generating some real change for a cause she cares about.

Nicola explains that her journey into the offshore industry was an accidental one: “I kind of fell into this industry, really. I was always an environmentalist at heart and loved marine mammals but as a young graduate marine biologist most people told me to get a job in an Aquarium or zoo,” she jokes, “but later I was introduced to a friend who was working offshore and was introduced to a career where I could travel the world and get paid to look for marine mammals every day – and I thought it sounded perfect.” Initially for her, it was going to be a brief position, but the industry stuck with her: “I realized the value of being in an industry where real change could be made from within.”

Nicola is now working for Seiche Marine Acoustic Solutions, a company that provides technology solutions for the Marine and Energy industry to navigate increasingly demanding regulations surrounding protection and reinvigoration of our oceans.

“Seiche is a scientific acoustic term – I don’t think anyone thought it to be a household name we would have to spell!” she adds with a smile. Nicola has been working for the company for 5 years now and has nothing but praise for the work they have been doing: “I have been working with Seiche since 2017. Seiche is a phenomenal company when it comes to underwater acoustics and technology. We’ve got some incredible minds – engineers and scientists – developing these incredible instruments that allow us to measure underwater noise in all kinds of environments so we can understand more about our oceans. We are always keen to engage in new conversations, developing new technologies and novel ways to do things. We are always trying to be better at what we do.”

Atlas Professionals has been striving to apply the same motto by providing the right solutions for the right Clients at the right time – and has been supporting Seiche with their constant need for highly capable personnel, providing tailored business solutions in a sustainable and reliable manner such as sourcing Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) Operators and Marine Mammal Observers (MMO).

Sounds of the Future

Seiche has been working with different stakeholders in the industry to ensure their solutions are as widely available as possible: “A company like Seiche will always be in the forefront of exciting developments within the industry as we are dealing with new and constantly evolving technologies. The sheer number of industries, locations and clients we work with keeps you on your toes – Seiche is never a boring place to be,” Nicola shares.

As the world becomes increasingly aware of the challenges surrounding our environment, the demand for sustainable practices have increased –and Nicola seems to agree with that: “The world has certainly experienced tangible change when it comes to protecting our oceans and seas. Back when I first started my career, these precautions that are in place were more of a bureaucratic hurdle than something all parties actually wanted to implement – now there are a lot of regulations and genuine interest in protecting marine life and integrity of our oceans.”

These changes and requirements have ensured Seiche to adapt and overcome new developments quickly and efficiently: “We are constantly keeping track of new regulations and scientific developments surrounding the oceans to craft tailored solutions for our clients to ensure they can keep up with regulations. With Seiche, it is an end-to-end process.”

Progress Across the Board

As a different yet somehow similar topic, the conversation steers into another area where tangible progress have occurred: Diversity and gender equality in the offshore industry.

As a woman who has been in the industry for a quite long time, Nicola shares how she thinks the industry is going through a wave of change: “I was accustomed to being the only women on any given vessel. I remember that one time where we were four ladies onboard and we thought how amazing and unbelievable it was. Nowadays, there are more and more women joining the industry – for example, more than half of our higher management here at Seiche are women and I am very proud of that. The industry still has a long way to go in gender equality, particularly in supporting all parents with parental leave and work life balance but it is good to see progress in the right direction.”

In accordance with the progress that has been visible in many aspects of the industry for some time, Nicola is hopeful about the future: “It has been exciting to see the rise of offshore renewable energy and it will be fascinating to see how it impacts marine mammals. Before it was all about circumventing the issue, at present it is ensuring no damage is done and in the future it will be about recovery and bolstering efforts – there are now studies dealing with how offshore wind facilities are and could be acting as marine sanctuaries. We are enhancing our knowledge and appreciation of marine life.”

As for her future? “I struggle to think about what will happen in the very next hour – let alone my future years. I’ve always said I would stay whilst I was still learning, and in this industry every day is a school day,” Nicola concludes.

WILLEM VAN DER WEL MANAGING DIRECTOR, WINDCAT WORKBOATS

Innovating with hydrogen fuelled CTVs

As the future of energy continues to unfold, exciting developments around use of hydrogen as a prominent energy source become more important than ever

Willem van der Wel, Managing Director, has been with Windcat Workboats (Windcat) for over 11 years and during his time in the company, Willem has experienced significant changes both the industry and Windcat went through. Windcat now pioneers the energy transition with its vessels operating in the offshore wind industry and Willem is more than willing to detail the past, the present and the future of the offshore wind industry - and hydrogen as a prominent source of energy.

Windcat has been designing and producing their own Crew Transfer Vessels, CTVs, for over 19 years and has been a leading industry player ever since its inception. As the company moves on to further increase their prominence within the renewable energy industry, particularly offshore wind, Windcat is now starting to emphasize the power of hydrogen to fuel their vessels and operations.

Two Decades of Pursuing Innovation

Willem details how the company was founded by aiming to bring innovation into the industry – something Windcat is still trying to achieve even today: “Windcat was founded after our founders realized traditional vessels would not be suitable for offshore wind’s needs – after a trip to some offshore work sites, our founders realized there was going to be a need for having specialized vessels to transport dedicated offshore wind personnel to their areas of work, they immediately started planning the development of such vessels – and within a year the first offshore wind dedicated CTV was operational.”

Recently, Windcat has joined the larger CMB family – one of the largest maritime groups in the world, and Willem argues it has been something that allowed Windcat to further pursue their goals of offering sustainable CTVs for the offshore industry: “We had a great partnership with our previous shareholder but as we continued to expand our operations and scope, we wanted to find a solution for the fact that we were using diesel fuel for our CTVs. When we found out CMB was already using hydrogen as fuel for a smaller passenger vessel, we reached out to them via a shared business partner and from that point forward we started to enjoy a great collaboration which led to us exploring the first series of hydrogen driven CTVs.”

Grand Ambitions for Hydrogen Industry

Speaking of hydrogen, there is a lot of buzz around the molecule in both Windcat and the industry – the only difference, Willem explains, is that

Windcat has been acting on it: “These days there is a lot of discussion surrounding hydrogen as a remarkable and promising source of energy – but most of most of these discussions never pass that talking phase. In Windcat, we wanted to take action instead and initiated a program to have the first hydrogen powered CTVs in the industry and we now have our first hydrogen fueled vessel, Hydrocat 48, fully operational.” He also explains how some of their initial conventional vessels built 20 years ago and this top of the line hydrogen powered vessel are both operational –emphasizing durability and strength of their expansive fleet.

Windcat now has the first and only hydrogen bunkering permit in the Netherlands in the Port of IJmuiden. Willem explains: “We have built the means to supply our vessels with hydrogen so we can continue building up on our new fleet. However, production and logistics of hydrogen is still a challenge nations and companies have to tackle as larger vessels, operations will need more investment to have a more sustainable line of supply.”

However, Windcat already thought of tackling these initial issues: “Our hydrogen powered CTVs are designed to use dual fuel engines – the main engines can use hydrogen as fuel source in combination with diesel as pilot fuel, but can still also operate on traditional diesel fuel alone as well, making it a very reliable solution in these early days of hydrogen as fuel, so that the work never gets disrupted.”

Atlas Professionals assisted Windcat’s endeavours by sourcing Professionals for various roles. As a recruitment company with more than four decades of experience, Atlas Professionals strives to offer personnel sourcing solutions for innovative business demands in a sustainable and safe manner and will continue to do so in the future.

Speaking of future – Willem is certain hydrogen will play a huge role in energy transition and Windcat will continue to be an influential industry player: “When you think about how we went on to rely on oil and gas to power our infrastructure throughout the last century, I think we are going to experience the same type of deal with hydrogen,” argues Willem. “It will be one of the core energy sources we are going to use in the future and CMB and Windcat will continue to be an industry leading figure regarding hydrogen developments.”

Chris Lawrence has been with Atlas Professionals for 5 years and is managing both Singapore and Indonesia offices – mainly focusing on sourcing marine & project Professionals as well as permanent in the APAC Region. Juris Capass has been with Atlas Professionals for 14 years and is Division Manager for Marine International which oversees operations in Latvia, Ukraine, Singapore, and Indonesia. Juris also mentions Atlas Professionals is looking for expansion in proximate regions in the near future: “We have ambitions to further advance our influence in other Asia-Pacific countries like Malaysia and the Philippines.”

Asia Pacific (APAC) Offshore and Energy industries are buzzing with activity and present amazing opportunities for both Professionals and companies. Can you discuss the current state of the market and what can we expect in the future?

Chris Lawrence: Currently, hiring has increased in our region as we are constantly hiring for Marine and Energy roles as well as offshore renewable energy roles. Offshore vessels have also seen an increase in presence of APAC Professionals – and I only see these trends going up as the demand is constantly increasing.

Juris Capass: I think, just like everywhere in the world, it all depends on the geographical situation. Every market is poised to experience some issues if stability is decreased so there is always the pressure to observe everything that has been going on – and Atlas Professionals has been on the spot and reacting smart to ensure realities of the region are observed.

C: I agree, Singapore is relatively neutral – it is a safer harbour, safer waters. Generally, it can be said that Singapore is the hub of Asia and it is easier to do business here as Singapore is a transparent and diverse nation.

J: Basically, when you have a good mix, you can have a fantastic opportunity to source Professionals.

Can you explain whether APAC Professionals are present in the international market and what are some developments, challenges regarding this subject?

C: In the last couple of years we have heavily emphasized promoting local talents and Professionals – we always proposed local and Asian Professionals to the Clients we have partnered with. This has allowed these APAC Professionals to gather significant experience and knowledge, allowing them to operate beyond the APAC Region. We now have APAC Professionals in Europe and Brazil – and the demand for APAC Professionals has been increasing as most now are multilingual, know multiple markets and have transferable skills.

J: I would say that we did see a need from the European market with the start of this year: That’s where experienced APAC Personnel comes into play. We are realising this opportunity and the numbers of APAC Professionals positioned for European clients is in an upward trend. Clients are content with APAC Professionals too – with some even offering permanent positions to them.

Offshore is an industry that requires a lot of knowledge and experience to succeed – and what better way to learn what it takes than attending academies and schools! Can you elaborate more on the importance of these institutions in our industry?

C: In our industry, knowledge is key. Singapore is now offering great choices for different types of Marine education and in the APAC Region, many people have started choosing Singapore as their destination for education as Singaporean schools and institutions have competitive pricing, the country has good food and amicable weather. Still, it is not enough as there is still a huge demand from the industry and schools to introduce more Professionals into the industry. We are in constant communication with them share our knowledge and explore opportunities.

Can you explore merits of permanent placements and what it entails for both Professionals and Clients?

C: All Professionals, when they are young – they want to explore many Clients, they need to go offshore, they want to understand what the industry is all about. When they get older, they want to see their kids grow, spend time with their families and that’s when they need companies like Atlas Professionals to ensure they can find a permanent place they can grow. Our Clients know we care about our Professionals as well and they know we source them from the best, so they trust us and tend to offer our Professionals permanent contracts. Here in Singapore, permanent placement desk is right now one of our busiest activities and it is increasing its prominence.

J: I also want to add the prospect of finding opportunities by transitioning from offshore to onshore roles. When you think about it, it is only logical career development: Begin your career as offshore Greenhand Roustabout and continue as experienced office-based staff member. That is also one of the reasons how permanent placement can be used as a career development tool for our Professionals. It allows us to prove that we care about them not only when they are young and eager, as Chris said, but we also care about them when they mature.

Chris takes the final word and sums up the current situation in Singapore perfectly: “Our industry is buzzing with opportunity, if you have relevant experience and are willing to put in the effort. You can succeed and grow.”

RAINIER VERHULST GENERAL MANAGER, PETRODEC

Pioneering decommissioning in the

North Sea

Rainier Verhulst, General Manager of Petrodec, has been in the industry for decades and shares his insight into the industry, Petrodec’s past and its promising future

Oil and Gas is an industry that uses a significant amount of heavy equipment to ensure every operation is safe and efficient with most sizable of these equipment being oil rigs and other offshore installations. Just like every other infrastructure, these installations have a lifecycle and a period of usefulness – and when their time is due, the Decommissioning industry ensures these installations are removed sustainably. As more and more governments mandate these installations to be removed as per strict regulations, Decommissioning becomes an increasingly important pillar of the ecosystem.

Rainier details how Petrodec was conceptualized and eventually formed as a relatively new company operating in the area: “We started Petrodec effectively in 2019 – it was born as an idea to assist companies with their Decommissioning needs on their behalf. With co-founder Stéphane Barc, along with a handpicked team of industry veterans, we developed Petrodec to what it is today.”

Rainier also explains how decommissioning requires industry specific assets and details several of the projects they completed to have the means to execute these tasks: “Petrodec is part of Perenco Services –so we took over a deactivated drilling rig from Perenco and converted it into a versatile multi-process decommissioning unit, ERDA. We have also reactivated a four-legged drilling jackup into a versatile and efficient well abandonment tool, HAEVA. We are operating two assets as we speak –and we are developing the third jack-up platform that will assist us with heavy lifting duties.”

Aligned with the needs of the Industry

We also have the chance to discuss with Rainier how decommissioning is a significant part of the Oil and Gas industry and has unique elements to it: “The Decommissioning industry needs to be a cost-effective operation for the rest of the industries – the market is constantly changing, influential companies in the Oil and Gas industry will be reluctant to allocate sources for Decommissioning and when the market is in a better shape, they don’t want to plug their wells and decommission production platforms in the first place.”

“On the other side, there are many platforms that are not directly involved in well production process – such as accommodation and compression platforms,” he continues. “They all have to be removed as well. If you do not decommission those, the regulators will still require you to maintain them. Additionally, there are older and less profitable production platforms still out there with some of them being at least 40 years old, there comes a time when they have to be sustainably removed.”

Regarding developments in the industry, Rainier again emphasizes the importance of being cost effective: “In Decommissioning, we want to decommission older assets by using older assets to ensure we can strike a balance between cost and effectiveness – however we are using newer technology tools while doing so. We have tested laser cutting, water jetting, hydraulic equipment, for example, to measure if we can further cut down the cost of the process. We also have a specific R&D department within Petrodec just to assess what can be further implemented.”

“Decommissioning of production platforms is almost as demanding as installing them – so there is always a need for decommissioning and sustainable recycling,” Rainier adds.

Decommissioning for the Future

As for the future? “We are ambitious to supply our services to third-party companies, initially in the southern North Sea, and we have done similar projects in Africa as well. We would like to expand our operations into various parts of the world once we get more experience in house and acquire more assets – we want to achieve our goals one step at a time.”

“We have to understand that the demand for Oil and Gas is already increasing – Oil and Gas industry will still be around for decades. The future of decommissioning is enormous, especially when you consider the amount of assets placed around the world. We already have two decades worth of assets in need of decommissioning installed across the globe.”

Rainier also details the type of Professionals they are constantly in the market for: “We have the offshore crew of course, and Atlas has been supporting us source Professionals such as Crane Operators, Roustabouts, Mechanics, Electricians and Deckhands. Lately, we have also been reaching out to some of these Professionals for permanent positions as the market gets tighter – we are looking for long term commitment and not for short term projects.”

Rainier also wants to touch upon the importance of the industry when it comes to having a sustainable, cleaner future for the next generation: “We clean up all the materials used by the Oil and Gas industry – not only steel and iron but also chemicals, asbestos, NORM and mercury.” Rainier provides impressive data about the nature of their work: “96% of all decommissioned materials will be recycled, making these operations sustainability efforts as well. We essentially ensure North Sea stays clean.”

Mark McDonald, Senior HSEQ Advisor at Atlas Professionals, discusses how the Greenhand Programme was conceptualised in the first place, how it is ensuring new skilled Roustabouts are entering into the industry and what lies in its future with valuable insight from Alex Palla, Team Leader.

Offshore is one of the industries that needs new entrants to ensure a sustainable business environment is possible – with the demand for willing, competent, and agile Professionals increasing every day. As a recruitment company that has been providing business solutions to our partners for more than four decades, Atlas Professionals realizes how important it is to achieve quick turnaround rates and match the right candidate with the right job for professional and operational success. To ensure such business environment is possible, Atlas initiated the Greenhand Programme, with Mark McDonald and Alex Palla spearheading the efforts from our Aberdeen office.

Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity

The Greenhand Programme originated in mid-10s, a time where international outlook of the Energy industry was turning negative and the need to secure new entrants into the Energy workforce was becoming increasingly prominent: “We know our industry is a dynamic one and the market conditions never stay the same – that’s what happened for some years after 2014. Following the downturn in Oil and Gas between 2014 and 2018, an influx of experienced Professionals left the industry,” Mark comments.

“Many did not re-enter the industry and this was attributed to factors such as retirement, securing onshore employment or transitioning their skills to new areas such as the Renewables sector. Alex and I identified some of the prominent shortages in the industry and subsequently developed the Atlas Professionals Greenhand Programme to ensure our industry has access to sustainable influx of new and eager Professionals,” he reminisces.

The Greenhand Programme is designed to incorporate safety and competencies into selection process to allow potential Roustabouts to start their career with the right considerations: “In addition to the mandatory industry certification that has to be completed by the candidates, a screening process is in place including a CV review and telephone interview, active participation of the bespoke Atlas Professionals 1-day Greenhand Induction, an aptitude test and then face-to-face interview with one of our Aberdeen Drilling Team. This way, we ensure that the prospective Professional is properly introduced to the industry and can have access to various sources of information from the get-go.”

Aligned with Industry Needs

The very first Greenhand course was held in Atlas Professionals Aberdeen

office in July 2018 with the first Professional being selected by a Client for an offshore duty that same day. The Aberdeen Drilling team then went on to recruit and mobilise over 100 Greenhand Roustabouts between 2018 and March 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the offshore industry heavily after the second quarter of 2020, the Programme was put on hold to assess how to proceed in a safe and reliable manner. In May 2021, however, the Programme was re-started with courses being held at the premises of the training provider within provided safety guidelines. Since then, the Greenhand Programme has managed to complete one milestone after the other with the Atlas’ Aberdeen office recently celebrating mobilisation of the 350th Greenhand Roustabout.

Alex explains how methodical the internal deliberations were and how prominent industry figures were part of the conversation – especially during discussions over Programme’s scope: “After deciding on the Programme’s scope, we arranged meetings with prominent companies of the industry to discover that almost all had reservations for Greenhand Roustabouts with basic certificates due to changing standards and industry expectations. After internal deliberations, we approached the same Clients to inquire whether they would be receptive if Greenhands had more varied set of certificates – which was a positive. Mark’s next step was immediately contacting providers to find out about availability, the cost of the training and then establish a relationship with a chosen training partner.”

Today, the Greenhand Programme enjoys a robust support from prominent industry figures operating in the North Sea. Apart from general programmes, Atlas Professionals Aberdeen team has been organising exclusive joint efforts to introduce Greenhands directly to Clients to support their personnel requirements in a way that is suited for their business needs. As the demand for these exclusive partnerships continue to increase, the Greenhand Programme is expected to expand both in scope and quantity.

Mark also has exciting announcements regarding ambitious plans the team has for the future of the Programme: “The Greenhand Programme was such a success with the drilling sector and that prompted us to explore other energy industries where such a programme could be replicated and be a benefit to our future Professionals and our Clients. At a time when experienced Professionals are becoming harder to source across all Energy sectors, we believe that such programmes from Atlas Professionals will aid the skills shortage whilst ensuring that our Professionals are starting their career with safety awareness around the risks and hazards associated with the relevant sectors, which in turn will set up our Professionals to succeed – in a safe and reliable manner.”

Interested in the Greenhand Programme? Find out more by scanning this QR Code!

Having what it takes: Luke on his transition from military to offshore

Join Luke as he explains his concrete career plans for the future and his progression into permanent placement with a prominent player within the industry

Luke Watson, Roustabout, has transitioned from his military career to an offshore one almost a year ago – and already has concrete career plans for his future and a permanent placement within a prominent industry player.

Everyone feels the urge to generate some tangible change within their lives at some point – but not all can act on it. Luke was not an exception when it comes to feeling at a crossroads but he did the harder thing and initiated a progress of change: “I was at balance point in my life, and it was the time to choose a career with military – or something else. I think developments of the last 2 years such as COVID-19 pandemic pushed me into the direction of trying out something new. I did not really know what I wanted to do for some time until I stumbled upon the Greenhand Programme.”

“The change in pay was obviously a big one,” he adds with a smile. “The prospect of progression is also an important feat too. As long as you want to be promoted and ready to work towards a goal everyone is more than happy to help with your goals.” Luke also discusses how working offshore allows him to plan ahead and have a regular schedule: “With military, everything is a little bit more random but with offshore you can plan your schedule even a year ahead.”

He then cites the Greenhand Programme as something that truly changed his life for the good: “I was introduced to the Greenhand Programme via social media, specifically via a link shared by an Atlas Professionals member on LinkedIn. I was always interested in the offshore industry and wanted to learn more about it but never had the opportunity as I had no friends or relatives working in the industry.”

Greenhand Programme: Key to a Successful Transition

Luke cites how every profession has their own set of skills, but the ones he gathered during his time in the military made him feel right at home when it comes to the life offshore: “What I learned in the military was very transmissible. Some of the norms and structures with the offshore life are very similar to the military lifestyle as well so now that I can look back it was a relatively easy transition.”

He goes on to detail why the Greenhand Programme is a significant opportunity to learn about the industry: “The Programme’s foremost

advantage is getting to learn everything that matters from somebody who has done it – just getting good, hard information about what is what. I think the Greenhand Training Day was my first opportunity to network within individuals from related industries. It was an opportunity to ask questions and get some valuable information. It was just facts. I really did appreciate the honesty provided by Atlas Professionals members – just plain facts, no false promises. It never felt like I was being taken advantage of. A really good opportunity overall.”

As for skills he gathered within the Programme? “As I said, military allowed me to possess some of the most demanding skills before starting the Programme but hazard awareness is something that is heavily emphasized in offshore training – you always have to keep your wits about you.” However, not everyone has military background and the Greenhand Programme, as well as the industry, welcomes everyone from all walks of life: “Being ex-military definitely helped but there are people from many backgrounds in the Programme. One of my good friends I met here in offshore used to be a banker, for example. It is good to have a variety of people on board.”

Calm Waters, Clear Ambitions

Merely 1.5 years after finishing the Greenhand Programme, Luke is now working in a permanent position and has clear goals for his future in the industry – but he also had a rather exciting first day as well: “I got my first trip the day after I finished my last course, it was rather quick. I was nervous in the beginning but thanks to the skills I gathered in the Greenhand Programme and support I received from Atlas Professionals staff I knew everything was going to be fine – and it went really well. Everyone in the industry I’ve met is welcoming and share what they know.”

For his future plans, Luke seems to have several avenues covered already: “I am aiming to be a Crane Operator. I am fortunate enough to have my Stage 1 and Stage 2 booked by my company. It just feels good to be able to imagine a career progression and steadily work towards my goals.”

Luke also has some advice for the next generation of offshore Professionals who will join the Greenhand Programme: “Situational awareness is a must-have skill. People skills are really crucial too as you are living with a lot of people for a prolonged time. Time keeping, integrity, attention to detail. Just take pride in things you do and everything else will come around.”

Joris Steinberg, General Manager of Americas is a Dutch national living in Brazil for more than 15 years. He has a lot of interesting personal and professional insight to share regarding the inspiring progress of Atlas Professionals Americas and what makes the Americas so special to operate in.

Some people prefer staying in the same town they were born in; some might move into different cities or even countries – but some change continents! Joris is one such individual and has been living in Brazil for the better part of the last two decades.

Although Joris had plans to go back to the Netherlands after completing his MBA studies in Rio de Janeiro, the 2008 Financial Crisis and Brazil’s relative economic stability persuaded him to stay for even longer: “I discovered new opportunities, traveled the country, and got involved in numerous industries across Brazil. I went to very remote places – I was probably the first foreigner to visit some of the places I’ve been to,” Joris adds with a smile.

Back in 2013, Atlas Professionals reached out to Joris to inquire whether he would spearhead and reorganize the local Brazilian office: “And with that, I started working for Atlas Professionals and have been doing so for the last 9 years. Next year will be my 10th anniversary,” Joris says.

Booming Business in Brazil

Doing business in a different continent is never an easy feat – even if you have decades of experience in the industry: “Integrating Atlas Professionals Brazil into the ongoing Atlas Professionals infrastructure took time, effort, and investment but over the past 4 years it has paid off with the scope of the business having quintupled,” Joris explains. "The Brazilian office was heavily dependent on cross-office collaborations, especially during the years 2015 -2018, when the Brazilian O&G industry was suffering from a massive corruption scandal. That situation has now inverted, as currently 90% of our business comes from a local client portfolio.”

“For Brazil,” he adds, “the initial investment requirements are three times bigger than any other country in the world due to the bureaucracy and the amount of local connections you have to make – but the return on investment is also much higher compared to most other countries, as there are still a lot of unexplored opportunities in Brazil.”

Joris stresses that this was possible thanks to the commitment of the Brazilian Atlas Professionals team: "This is something that needs mentioning – I am very proud of the team. Their dedication, effort and positive spirit all contributed to the exceptional growth of the local office. They put Brazil on the map within Atlas Professionals!”

From Houston to Boston

As of November 2021, Joris took on the role of General Manager Americas – overseeing the US and Brazil offices, and all other places in the Americas Atlas Professionals currently has operations such as Mexico, Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Joris is excited about what he has been experiencing with the North America team: “The team there is fantastic, and the continent presents immense opportunities in the Energy, Marine and Renewables industries – especially when it comes to Offshore Wind in the US. Atlas Professionals has been present in the emerging US Offshore Wind industry since 2010 – it has been a long time coming and we have been preparing ourselves for these opportunities. We are actively participating in events and initiatives that are designed to train the next generation of Offshore Wind Professionals and develop the industry from a gras roots level whilst incorporating key stake knowledge partners – European experts, the construction and maritime unions, the marine academies and the existing US offshore workforce that are eager to be involved with the energy transition.”

Joris also emphasizes the importance of having an office in US and how the Gulf of Mexico remains one of hottest regions in the world right now: “If you are not present in the Gulf of Mexico, can you honestly say you are an international player?” He then explains how Atlas Professionals Houston office has been providing personnel solutions for American initiatives and have been working closely with local groups to source and recruit Professionals with increasing intensity.

To further explore some of the ways Atlas Professionals Houston has been present in the North American Marine, Energy and Renewables industries, please refer to the interview with Women Offshore Foundation Ally Cedeno on page 22.

Continent(s) of the Future

Joris also brings attention to the international relevancy of the American continent: “Did you know that Brazil already generates 80% of its electricity needs from renewable sources, mainly hydropower? And in due course Brazil – just like the US – will have its own Offshore Wind sector, that will enable the production of green hydrogen, to be exported to meet the world’s ever-increasing need for Energy. Countries like Brazil and the US are democracies, with big economies, so having these countries as trade partners will be a benefit for the entire world.”

He argues that Americas will supply the necessary energy and many other commodities to the entire world in the upcoming decades: “Sure, these places might have some issues they have to tackle – but I am yet to discover a country that does not have similar issues they cannot overcome.”

NICULAE BASTUREA BOSUN

A career to look up to

Niculae Basturea, Bosun, has been working with Atlas Professionals for almost a decade and has gathered invaluable insight regarding the past, present and the future of the industry

10.000 hours. Better yet, 800 12-hour days. According to New York Times Bestseller Malcolm Gladwell, that’s how long it takes to “master” a skill or a profession; to learn it’s nooks and crannies and to have enough knowledge to pass it upon a newer generation that is enthusiastic to pick up that skill. As a recruitment company with over 40 years of experience and knowledge within the industry, Atlas Professionals is proud that many Professionals have been trusting their careers with Atlas Professionals for almost a decade – more than enough to master their trade.

Niculae is one such Professional. During his total of 14 years in Marine, Energy and Renewables industries, he has trusted Atlas Professionals for more than 9 of it and now shares his valuable memories, insights, and commentary about the past, the present and the future of Marine, Energy and Renewable industries.

Similar Yet Different

Niculae explains that he chose the offshore career due to his previous experience as a seafarer. He wanted a more dynamic, rewarding –yet somehow familiar – industry to work in: “For me, offshore was not something completely new because I transitioned from Maritime industry as a Seaman,” he argues, “but this industry always has new developments you have to keep up with.”

He explains that due to new technologies and methods that are being introduced rather frequently, you constantly have to monitor what is new and sometimes acquire new certificates, courses. When asked about the process of earning these new qualifications, he states that “(...) Atlas Professionals always showed me the way when I needed new certificates.”

Of course, when you are in an industry for more than a decade, it is highly likely that you will face memorable challenges. When asked about a specific memorable challenge he had to overcome during his time with Atlas Professionals, Niculae immediately remembers one distinct experience he had with wind turbines: “Installing wind turbines was a hard challenge as it was completely new to me. It required a lot of new skills to be learned and existing ones to be tested.” He agrees that different – and sometimes difficult – challenges like these allow him to be better and do better – especially considering how demanding this industry is.

Change Is in the Air

Given enough time, everything will change – and hopefully for the better. “The industry has grown a lot in the past decade in terms of what it offers and who is involved in it,” Niculae argues. This is highly accurate as these days, there is a significant demand for having an inclusive and international work environment where Professionals from all walks of life can work together on the same vessel. “You can find people from various countries and cultures onboard the vessel working together to make sure

everything is working as intended.” He goes on to list colleagues from more than 10 different countries working on the same vessel and how he enjoyed their company.

That is not all. According to Niculae, next to language or cultural barriers, gender barriers within the industry are getting shaken up too. “Nowadays, it is easy to spot women both on offshore and on onshore facilities,” says Niculae, “this was not always the case during my initial years in the industry.” He explains that over the years, he started to see a significant increase in women working in the industry: “Overall, diversity and inclusiveness are some of the areas where the industry made significant gains. Social and regulatory changes are abundant as well.” He explains that there is now a great amount of effort to pursue greener and more sustainable policies: “For example, nowadays, when installing new equipment deep into the ocean, we are using high technology vessels that ensure marine life is not heavily disturbed.”

Trust, Reliability, and a Friendly Face

When asked how he would describe his relationship with Atlas Professionals and why he trusted his career with the recruitment company: “Atlas Professionals is like a family,” are his exact words. “Whenever you have an issue, you can be sure that Atlas Professionals has your back and will do their hardest to have it resolved.”

He continues: “I have been with Atlas Professionals for over 9 years, and we have been through a lot. I have not experienced a moment where I was not provided accurate, reliable information. They tell you everything truthfully when anything happens.” Atlas Professionals is more than happy to be part of Niculae’s journey and hopes to provide the same level of service and attention to detail in each and every one of his future endeavours.

Past, Present and the Future

For a younger generation of Professionals eyeing to pursue a similar profession as his, Niculae stresses the importance of two values as top priorities for every Professional: patience and utmost attention to safety concerns. “The industry has made noticeable gains in the last decade in that aspect,” he argues, “but it still relies on how disciplined and attentive you are. This job is a team effort, and it is best to act in accordance with that.”

As for his future? Well, Niculae feels like he had his fair share of experience within the offshore industry and now is looking for a more onshore position: “The offshore schedule is more favourable when you are younger and have more energy,” he argues, “now I am looking forward to a more onshore life.” Judging by his track record of years long success, it is a safe bet to assume he will again achieve his ambitions.

ALEC & ANNA

ZERO HARM

Correct Prioritization Compliance Communication Continuous Risk assessment

Caring for each other Coaching/Mentoring Competence

Safety Cartoons

From holiday safety to risk assessments, you may have seen Atlas Professionals' cartoon characters Alec and Anna in some comically exaggerated, yet often very recognisable situations. The main purpose of the safety cartoons, though, is not to amuse you. Their aim is to persuade you to live by Zero Harm too, as there are many ways to get hurt in our industry.

Our Zero Harm goal, humorously conveyed by Alec and Anna in the safety cartoons, ensures we are taking the rights steps so that our employees and customers return home in the same condition they arrived – injury free. This also encompasses Zero Harm to the natural environments in which we work and operate.

Safety is something we do well, and it is a contributing factor to our business success. Our safety culture framework is designed for future prevention and our people align themselves with our core safety beliefs. By providing our Professionals with the understanding that all injuries are preventable, we believe that they will, in turn, be empowered to deliver safety leadership throughout the business. Zero Harm states that knowing safety is not enough, practising it is equally important.

Stay alert, don’t get hurt.

Safe Behaviour Program | The 7Cs

To help ensure safe and efficient work is conducted, Atlas Professionals has produced a safe behaviour program. Following the 7Cs will ensure safe and efficient work is conducted. No paperwork is required to follow the 7Cs – it is all in the mindset.

Correct Prioritisation

Planning tasks prior to commencing and replanning according to new developments.

Compliance

Following procedures and using management of change when required.

Communication Talking and listening to each other.

Continuous Risk Assessment Thinking ‘What if?’ and having the correct mindset prior to conducting any task.

Caring for each other

Having the courage to intervene on an unsafe act or omission at any given time.

Coaching / Mentoring

Using your competence to help and guide others.

Competence

The ability, skills and knowledge to do something successfully and efficiently.

Live by these 7Cs and together we will make the energy, marine and renewables industry a safer working environment.

SLIPS, TRIPS & FALLS

Be aware of your surroundings.

When

Atlas Professionals is an international leading recruitment company. Since 1982, Atlas Professionals has played a major role in the provision of Professionals to the energy, marine and renewables industries worldwide.

If quality and reliability are key for your business, Atlas Professionals is the partner you need to deliver highly qualified personnel. We create custom-made, comprehensive HR packages, which allows you to focus on the project without any concerns about the workforce.

Over the years, Atlas Professionals has grown to become a no-nonsense, dependable HR service provider in the energy, marine and renewables industries with a mission to turn complex personnel challenges into transparent and secure solutions.

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