OffshoreCrew Magazine DESEMBER 2014
Front picture courtesy by Nicolai Vangsgaard. The picture is taken of MĂŚrsk Trader in Walvis Bay, Nambia.
CHRISTMAS ON BOARD JOB MARKET Nurses and medics
INTERVIEW
Jon Tharaldsen
HSE
What is important in order for you to thrive at work?
INTEREST
Ship of the month
We would like to thank all the people that makes this Magazine possible, special thanks to all the seafarers that have sent us some incredible pictures from their work places. Please send us more pictures, they will find a good home in the Magazine!
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Contents CHRISTMAS ON BOARD
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INTERVIEW 6 Jon Tharaldsen
JOB MARKET 10 Nurses and medics
INTEREST
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Ship of the month
HSE
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What is important in order for you to thrive at work?
OffshoreCrew About us
OffshoreCrew AS is a Recruitment Agency based in the South of Norway that aim to provide a faster recruiting service to all Maritime and Offshore companies within the Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy industry. Our goal is to reduce the time that companies spend looking for a crew member and at the same time provide crew members with the possibility to look for a new job in a faster and easier way. Visit adress: OffshoreCrew AS Gimlemoen19, 4630 Kristiansand Norway
Our recruiting process and system OffshoreCrew recruiting system allow companies to discover your full potential. Our unique system will help you reach your goal and showcase all your knowledge and experience. Our vast net of clients have operations world wide and they are looking for people just like you.
Text by: Javier Zahn, Lene H책land, Carl Erik Vethal
Designer: Marie Aasbrenn
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Photo by Captain Gerrit De Juun, Netherland Navy ship
Christmas
ONBOARD
It’s hard to explain to someone that has never been working on a vessel or a platform, how Christmas time is really onboard. For most of the Offshore and Merchant Fleet, the Christmas period is just another day where the vessels need to perform according to their tasks, but what happen to the people inside those vessels is interesting. 4 OFFSHORECREW
TEXT BY: Javier Zahn, Director OffshoreCrew AS
Everyone who is a way from their family and friends, has a different way to cope with the emotions that this time of the year brings along. Some people choose to don’t care about the festivities, other people choose to be totally the opposite and talk about Christmas all the time, other people gets melancholic and off course there are those that like to have a big party, and go over and beyond to make sure that everyone onboard has a great time. I started sailing at the age of 22, and I still remember my first Christmas onboard. By that time in order to don’t pay much attention to the festivities, I chose to don’t care much about what was happening, but after trying for a couple of days I couldn’t resist the Christmas feeling. OK I was far away from home, but I was surrounded of good friends so I decided to change my mind and make the best out of it. I still had to work 12 hrs shift on Christmas eve, but after that we set many of us together in the mess room, and had a great Christmas dinner, that I still remember today. I don’t know about you, but for me, most of my fellow crew
members onboard became not just my friends but also my family. The fact that everyone onboard is more less in the same situation, makes it easy to relate with each other, specially at this time of the year. Another point that help to cope with Christmas season onboard, is the food, yes the food. Most of us have in our memories those delicious dishes that our families used to prepared, like juleribbe (Crispy ribs) or juletorsk (Cod fish) in Norway, stuffed turkey with roast potatoes, nice and delicious desserts….all of these dishes or some of them, is what is usually included for the Christmas menus onboard. If the food onboard is prepared the same way, or similar, as it used to be prepared at your home place, this will definitely help you cope with the season feelings. So now you know, be friendly with your Chief Steward, do not make him upset, specially not in December, he/she can be the key for a fantastic Christmas onboard. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Let’s hope the Oil price goes up on the 2015! OFFSHORECREW
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INTERVIEW
Age: 39 Position: Crew Coordinator
Jon Tharaldsen
Interests: I am a Brazilian at heart so naturally I follow football. My favourite teams are Sport Club do Recife, AC Milan and FK Haugesund. I have been following closely both the run up to the elections, and the Presidential elections in Brazil last months. Favourite TV series: I do not watch TV that much, but I do like “House of cards� A word you use a lot: Brazil. If you could bring one thing to a deserted island, what would it be? A book - How to survive on a deserted island for dummies.
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A great thanks to Jon who took his time to participate in this interview. TEXT BY: Lene H책land, Jr. Recruiter
What are your duties at work? I am responsible for 9 ships, 6 in brazil (3 AHTS and 3 PSV) and 3 (AHTS) in the North Sea. My duties include ensuring that the ships are staffed according to flag state, client, and intern requirements. I have personnel responsibility for personal staffed from the main office in Skudenshavn and general follow-up for staffing from the branch offices in Singapore, Manila and Rio - including employment, shifts, outward and home voyages, annual reporting, non-conformance reporting, and follow-up of sick leaves and following up of coursing and certificates. How would you describe a day at work? My job is quite versatile, and when you are working with people, there is not a single day that is the same. The unpredictability makes the job exiting. The job as a crew coordinator is a 24hour job. In Solstad, every coordinator is the responsible for their vessels, and if something should happen, for example, a man has to go to the hospital or there is a family emergency, which is fortunately rare, but it does happen. Then I have to take care of it ASAP even it is at night, on weekends, or during holidays. You experience constant change, so if you like to put two underscores under the answer you will not last long in this job. Visas issues are an increasing part of
the job as a crew coordinator and the application process is getting more and more complicated, bureaucratic and time consuming. Why did you choose to be a Crew Coordinator? Shipping is an international field, and Solstad has several offices around the world. I think it was the international environment that seemed exciting for me. I have worked 4 years now for Solstad know. I grew up on the west coast of Norway - the Homeland of the Viking Kings, so shipping is part of our blood and several of my family members have been and still are seafarers. What are the future challenges for Crew Coordinator? It has to be the right man, at the right place, at the right time. We have different types of vessels, like PSV, AHTS and CSV. You need different types of competences and experience to work on the different vessels. Nevertheless, what the seafarer wants, the Captains and what is best for the fleet as a whole is not always corresponding. It is important to have a good relationship and dialogue with the seafarers. The job is easier when you get to know them. In the National Transportation Plan it was approved that a large portion of road freight transport should be replaced by rail and sea transport, but there has been little done in practice. A law was recently enacted (skipOFFSHORECREW
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sarbeidsloven) and there is a bill for changes in shipping in inquiry, so we are hoping for some positive changes. What is it that makes you thrive so well at work? I work with people and when you are working with people, there is not a single day that is the same - you have to handle whatever comes up, and I like challenges. Solstad is a 50-year-old company with a proud tradition that develops and grows, and it is exciting to be a part of that. What is the most special experience you have had at work? When you are work as a crew coordinator, you work very closely with the seafarers and you get involved in both the best moments and the worst moments in their lives, and I have too many stories to tell in both cases. However if you are planning to propose you can check out this YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EzRjs_7h_w4) and see how it is done by our Bosun, Daniel Jensen. The best offshore crew excels in other aspects of their lives as well. I also remember my first day at work, I walked pass the CEO’s (Lars P. Solstad) office and he said good morning Tharaldsen, before I even had the opportunity to present myself. Even as Solstad today has grown in to a global operator with vessels and offices all over the world, the core values from the small family owned shipping company as it started 50 years ago still persist. 8 OFFSHORECREW
Photo by John Maravelakis
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Offshore Gas Platform Support Vessel OMS Voyager
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JOB MARKET Start working offshore. Beginnersguide part V. Nurses and medics TEXT BY: Carl Eric B. Vethal, Recruitment Manager
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Communication via satellite makes it possible to seek medical advice by doctors 24/7 around the globe.
HSE is one of the most important issues onboard and offshore. In the age of sail on merchant vessels the ships cook and the captain took responsibilities for heath onboard and acted as nurses and doctors. The captain usually hade a medicine encyclopedia in his cabin which he would use when needed. The cook was doing more the butcher part and together with a good sail maker onboard he could take could take care about bandaging and stitching wounds. On navy vessels from the 18th century on ships doctors and surgeons mates were mustered. These doctors could be anything from drunken barbers and failures onshore to good qualified physicians escaping the boring life at land and their even more boring patients. Health onboard for a long time was a lottery. Luckily things have changed these days. Communication via satellite makes it possible to seek medical advice by doctors 24/7 around the globe. On bigger vessels and platforms medics are employed. This edition has a focus on working as an offshore medic. OFFSHORECREW
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To become a medic you need to have the education as a registered nurse. Being a registered nurse you need have experience and background from emergency medicine. Additional experience as a paramedic is a great advantage. Having this background you need a valid health certificate for offshore if you want to work on an oil rig or platform, or the marine health certificate, when you want to work on a vessel. A valid safety course is another mandatory requirement. If you go for the rig, it has to be the safety course for offshore, if it is for vessels it is the STCW approved safety course. Since 2014 another marine course is required for all vessels crew. It is the “security awareness� course which deals with piracy. For rig jobs, but also for vessels a valid HUET (helicopter evacuation) is highly recommended as crew change on most platforms is performed by helicopter and the same goes for large construction vessels. These vessels often require a medic. There are many advantages working as an offshore medic. You are not part of a big system in a hospital, but have an independent role. There will be plenty of time dealing with the patients as medics are onboard in case something happens, not to take care of things happening. Salary and a stable rotation are advantages. If you are single or the relationships fits with the working schedule or in case of having small children and having a good family network in place, the rotation work can give some quality of life. The three to five weeks you are off and have the time off. Offshore workers seafarers are 12 OFFSHORECREW
a tough bunch, but usually very nice and social people because they have to be like this. Being herded on a vessel or platform in order to get along requires high social skills and most people at sea or offshore have it. Many of the ones who don`t have it are onshore again. So the people you will work with are rough, mostly funny and only few of them are spoiled brats. There are disadvantages too. You are not close connected to a medical environment, so getting new input is more difficult (but not impossible). Another point is that you are on your own. You have to be very self-going and a decision maker. Like the obvious leaders, people rely on you. Wavering is not good and can ruin much. Due to your role you might always be some kind of outsider within the crew. They will respect you and like you, but being one of them is seldom possible. Working turns can be hard, especially with kids at home, no matter what age they are. This is an issue all seafarers and offshore workers with children have. However, if you find the advantages convincing and the disadvantages manageable, give it a try. As with many professions offshore there are many applicants. Working at a ship first and changing toward a platform later can be an option. If it doesn`t work out on offshore vessels, try cruise first. Good luck everyone and all the best for 2015.
Photo by Ove Tรถpfer. A supply ship in the Horten Harbour, South East of Norway, in the Oslo Fjord.
Photo by
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Photo by Susanne Scmidt.
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ANNONSER
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INTEREST
Our ship of the month!
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The Vikings are coming!!! TEXT BY: Carl Eric B. Vethal, Recruitment Manager
The Vikings are back and they are stronger than ever. Just to have sorted this out for once. The Vikings I am writing about are Danes. They have their habitat in Copenhagen and they are strong, persistent, innovative and capable. Besides plunder and arson history books describe the old Vikings as very business minded. These new Vikings are good at business too and they are painted black and yellow. I am not talking about blond, drunken men with helmets with horns (which wasn`t Viking actually). My Vikings neither have great interest in plunder, but are part of a very experienced and professional company, with offices located in Copenhagen. The Companies name is Viking Supply Ships and the vessel I am presenting today is the “Brage Viking”. Why to go for the Vikings? Its not so much about the seafarers of early Medieval times, but about advanced operation. Viking Supply is specialized on operations combining offshore and icebreaking. This makes Viking Supply standing out and a very interesting company to follow. Besides offshore operations under harsh conditions, the “Vikings” are experts in anchor handling operations. Anchor handling for newbies is basically about tugs pulling vessels or any other device. Tug operations might look simple due to the casual look of most tugboats, but they are not. These OFFSHORECREW
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tasks require highly professional crewmembers with nerves of steel, awareness of currents, wind and the tide and how to deal with obstacles both under water and above the sea bed, be it a quay, an underwater rock or yachts crossing. Anchor handling operations within oil and gas can mean pulling large rigs from one part of the globe to another. It is work where a few yards can make a huge difference. While the tasks of harbor tugs already are difficult to handle, anchor handling on high seas is even more advanced. Besides the very skilled and experienced crew already mentioned, it requires advanced vessels with strong engines and a dynamic positioning system in place. One vessel performing this type of operation is this weeks ship of the month. Her name is “Brage Viking” and she is flying the proud flag of Denmark. Unlike last editions “Juanita” she is not a newbuilt, but operative since 2012 she is still very new. Though built in sunny Spain at the Astilleros Zamakona S.A shipyard in Bilbao, the vessel was especially designed to sail in Arctic waters. Another requirement was that this vessel should be environmentally compatible and energy efficient. In other words the ship uses less fuel and doesn’t drop much garbage into the sea and less pollution into the air. For this “Brage Viking” has a selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) to minimize air-pollution. Using four engines from MaK with a combined power of 14000 kW makes her a strong work horse. Mandatory is an advanced DP system which is Kongsberg and much of the deck equipment comes from Rolls Royce Marine. 18 OFFSHORECREW
BRAGE VIKING
- the technical specifications: • Flag: Denmark
• GT: 6279
• Built: 2012
• NT: 1883
• Length: 85,20 m
• Engines: two MaK engines type 8 M 32C 4000 kW and to stk. type 6 M32 C 3000 kW
• Width: 22,00 m • Debth: 9,00 m • Draft: 7,60/7,00 m • Dwt: 4.352 t
• Dynamic positioning: DP Kongsberg DP 2 • Accommodation: 45 persons • Bollard pull max. 225 t
Photo by Viking Supply Ships Copenhagen
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WHAT IS IM IN ORDER FOR YOU T
How to deal with difficult people at work. TEXT BY: Lene HĂĽland, Jr. Recruiter
What helps people thrive at work differs from person to person. Often it depends on whom you ask and what type of job they have, but some explanations are quite common. In order to find out I asked my colleagues and other workers, whom work in different kinds of positions, what is important to them in order to thrive at work. These are the answers, which I agree, create a good working environment. Positive feedback It is always nice to get positive feedback. It makes you feel good about what you have accomplished at work. Feedback in general can be important 20 OFFSHORECREW
in order for you to develop. Many people take feedback negative, and by calling is criticism, it sounds even worse. However, if you can view feedback as just feedback, it will be easier for you to handle. In addition, obviously constructive feedback is the best way to give feedback. If you value someone’s work, you should give him or her positive feedback. The person will feel appreciated, which is very important. Everyone enjoys positive feedback. Social gatherings Occasionally after work, it is nice to get together, talk about other things than work, play some games, hold
MPORTANT TO THRIVE AT WORK?
Photo by Arkadiusz Kozbial
a quiz, play soccer etc. Getting out of the office, travelling to other cities, even going abroad for the weekend, is something that most workers seem to appreciate and never forget. You get to know your colleagues in a different way than just job related.
one wants to start his or her day fixing something somebody else destroyed. Good atmosphere Good humour and a good tone between the workers is appreciated. It makes the workday easier and not only serious all the time.
Equipment in order, and that they are at the right place. If someone lends equipment and does not put it back where it belongs, then it will be very irritating when you need it right away. It is also important that the equipment is working. If you destroy equipment, then you should fix it before next person comes to work. No
Challenges Not everyone likes challenges, but many of those I have asked say they need to be challenged in order to develop. It is important to learn new things. If the tasks are the same all the time, people can feel like they are stuck, not getting anywhere, and then they become bored. OFFSHORECREW
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Smile To smile and to receive a smile gives you a good feeling. Have you ever tried to smile to someone and not getting a smile in return? It does not feel very good. Trust and help each other Trust is important if you are delegating tasks. In addition, if you feel stuck, or need some advice, it is always nice to know that you can ask for help, without being judged. There should always be room for questions and support, so that you can get the job done easier. Have a good dialogue with your boss This way you do not have to be afraid to ask questions that need to be asked, instead of making mistakes, because you never dared to ask. Many people are afraid to show that they are uncertain, and do not want to look like a fool. A good dialogue with the boss and great communication does wonders.
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Respect Respecting each other is fundamental. There will be less conflicts and more room for understanding. Interest If you all are interested in what you are working with, then the drive to work will be stronger. Having your work as a hobby and at the same time having income for it. Loving what you do, and at the same time having income for it. It can’t get better than that. Helping people For example working in the health sector, you like to help people, you feel good helping people, and then you personally get something back from the job you are doing. In addition, it gives you motivation to work.
Maybe you now have some tips to implement at work.
Photo by Antti Lahdenpera
Photo by Marc Slingerland, Harbour of Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Photo by News Wire
Visit adress:
OffshoreCrew AS Gimlemoen19, 4630 Kristiansand Norway
Contact:
Email: info@offshorecrew.no Phone: +47 38 60 20 70 Duty phone: +47 994 19 506 Skype: offshorecrewas
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