Heroes magazine 2017/2018

HEROES AT THE FRONTIER OF ENERGY & MARINE

2017/2018 EDITION, ISSUE 3

On board the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel

NKT Victoria

An update on the Bibby WaveMaster 1

CEO Bibby Marine Services The real value of offshore recruitment agencies

From supplier to partner Chasing a childhood dream

Working as a ROV Technician HEROES 1

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a new

A new chapter

chapter Welcome to the third edition of Atlas Professionals Heroes magazine, a publication that acknowledges our clients and professionals worldwide.

2017 has been an eventful year for Atlas Professionals, as it expands its global footprint to meet the demands of our professionals and clients wherever they may be. With every new adventure there’s a story to be told. From connecting energy supply in Europe to working aboard the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel, the best stories start here!

This year marks our 35th anniversary at the frontier of Energy, Marine and Renewables. Over the years, Atlas has grown from a small family business to an international recruitment company that serves multiple markets. From Engineering to Renewables, Survey and Offshore Marine, Atlas Professionals has been forever present in the evolution of the Energy, Marine and Renewables industries. Atlas is proud of its history and the professionals that represent us in the field. Every day we embark on new adventures with our clients and continue to strengthen our relationships.

This edition celebrates new beginnings and showcases some of the biggest projects of the year. We would like to thank the participating clients and professionals for their contribution and wish them every success in the year ahead.

- Atlas Professionals

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CHARLES HUNTER NKT Interview

STEPHEN BLAIKIE CEO Bibby Marine Services

EMMA CAMPBELL From supplier to partner

Table of Contents 08

BEN BARTON Observing Nord Stream 2 An interview with a client representative

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JAMES HOPE Working in the APACs Subsea market Offshore Survey Market

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FERRY SANDERS An equal partnership Jack Up Barge Vessel Manager

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DEREK MARSHALL Chasing a childhood dream Working as a ROV Technician

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PAUL DUNCAN Prepared for the unpredictable Working as a Survey Client Representative

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STEPHEN BLAIKIE An update on the Bibby WaveMaster CEO Bibby Marine Services

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CHARLES HUNTER On board the World’s most advanced cable-laying vessel NKT Victoria

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BIRGITTE SOLBERG Learning on the job An apprentice in Norway’s Oil and Gas industry

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DOM KING An important role to play An interview with a Survey Client Representative

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ERNST-JAN KOUVELD Supplying Excellence Working on the OOS Prometheus and the OOS Gretha

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MARK MCDONALD Boost safety presence and awareness across the globe ZERO HARM

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EMMA CAMPBELL The real value of offshore recruitment agencies From supplier to partner

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DEREK MARSHALL Working as a ROV Technician

JIM CALDWELL Joint Venture delivers greater range of services to oil & gas clients Atlas Programmed Marine

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LUUK KORNELIUS Creating value for our Clients Atlas Corporate Solutions

BEN BARTON

Observing Nord Stream 2

An interview with a Client Representative This year, Atlas Professionals secured a service agreement for Nord Stream 2. The contract will allow Atlas’ Management & QC team to supply Vessel Representatives to the project until the end of 2018.

Connecting the internal energy market The pipeline will be one of the world’s longest offshore natural gas pipelines and a major infrastructure project. The pipeline will transport natural gas from reserves based in Russia to consumers in the EU. It travels from the coast of Russia, through the Baltic Sea, reaching landfall near Greifswald in Germany. From there, the natural gas enters the European internal energy market and will connect into other pipelines for onward transportation. Atlas Professional, Ben Barton has worked on a variety of projects through Atlas’ Survey and Management & QC business lines. Ben talks to Atlas about his recent experience on the Nord Stream 2 project.

“It’s been a very interesting project to work on,” says Ben. “Being a contractor, you don’t always get the chance to stay and work on just one project from start to finish. I was happy when I got the call that I had been selected by Nord Stream 2 as one of their Client Representatives for the start of this prestigious project, commencing with the Geophysical Survey acquisition, and later moving onto the detailed ROV Survey operations. I get to work on each part of the project from the Geophysical data acquisition, right through to construction. My responsibility is to report to the client at each stage of the project and oversee the individual offshore phases of the operations on behalf of the client. There have been several challenges during the Survey phases, but the most interesting being the extreme cold weather encountered during the winter months in the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 2 is currently in the closing stages of Survey acquisition, ensuring the best route is chosen to support the next phase of the project.”

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Source: Nord Stream 2

Supporting contractors Ben has been working through Atlas’ Management & QC business line based in Bristol. “Atlas has provided a good range of services and the one service that stands out to me is the way Atlas support their contractors at every stage of the process. You’re always guaranteed a professional service. I also like the fact that the teams’ have direct field experience in the industry, so if you have any questions they know what you’re talking about. Business Manager for Management & QC, Grant Johnston, has always informed me on the latest news, strategies and plans in the industry. Grant is good at building client relationships which subsequently helps me in making new contacts and strengthening existing contacts with a variety of clients.”

Nord Stream 2 is planned for completion in 2020 and hopes to set climate goals and strengthen the internal energy market for the European Union. Atlas is proud to be a part of this exciting project and looks forward to securing more opportunities in the future.

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JAMES HOPE

Working in the APACs Subsea market

Survey Manager for Neptune

“When l was younger my holiday job was working at Berthon Marina Lymington as a Junior Dockmaster. As well as berthing yachts of the rich and famous, l used to see the odd yellow coastal survey boat. To me, this was far more interesting. I used to refuel these boats and look at the equipment on board. I guess that sparked my interest in the offshore industry and gave me guidance for my choice of University.”

Survey Manager James Hope has worked in the Subsea market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for over 10 years. After gaining the opportunity to work with Fugro-UDI Ltd as a Trainee Surveyor, James began to develop his offshore career working with some of the industry’s leaders in the Subsea market.

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Experiencing new technologies

Atlas in Singapore and Perth

“I worked with Sonardyne for 11 years supporting projects using Mk3, Mk4, 5G and 6G technology; working with these products through their development cycles was interesting. One highlight included completing the first commercial use of Wideband LBL, which was on the Dalia Project, West Africa in 2004. Another highlight was completing the first commercial offshore project using 6G LBL, which was on the Gumusut Project, Malaysia in 2010.”

James has worked with multiple teams at Atlas. “I was even Mr February in Atlas’ 2015 calendar,” laughs James. “I’ve worked on some really interesting projects with Atlas.

On my current project we are providing integrated Survey, ROV and stabilisation services in support of a pipe-lay construction in Argentina. It’s a very remote location and the environmental and weather conditions are very hostile; so the teams’ are doing the normal sort of work but with an added spirit of adventure.

After setting up the Survey department for Harkand, James then moved over to Neptune, one of Atlas’ key clients in the APAC region. “Neptune came along with an exciting vision for expansion in Asia and beyond,” says James, “and having known the Neptune guys for a number of years, this was the right decision for me.”

A toolbox for our clients “My role as Survey Manager at Neptune is actually very broad and covers Business Development, Marketing, Tendering, Project Management, and Technical Support. One of the exciting aspects of Neptune is that with all the other services such as ROV, Stabilisation, Diving, Rope Access and Engineering under one roof, we have a toolbox to dig into to meet our clients’ needs no matter how obscure. l like the fact that l can receive a request from a client and then piece together a bespoke solution of integrated services; a one-stop shop for the client which inherently brings technical and commercial benefits.”

“It’s great that Atlas has a presence in Singapore, in the same time-zone and not too far away for a face-to-face. Work in Asia tends to have a shorter lead-time than in other regions, so reaction times are key for both tendering and project operations.”

With a new year ahead of us, James shares his thoughts on what 2017 will bring for Neptune in the APAC, “Being a relatively new set-up in Singapore the challenge has been building the relationships with clients that our competitors largely already have in place, and advertising the fact that there is another option in town. The key emphasis is taking the excellent name and standards that Neptune’s Survey team has established in Australia, and translating this to the market in South East Asia. Combining Survey with Neptune’s other services to provide turn-key solutions to clients is a key differentiator; in this market you need to stand-out from the crowd! It’s a slow process in a risk adverse and regulated industry, but hopefully 2017 will be a watershed year.”

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FERRY SANDERS

An equal partnership

Jack Up Barge Vessel Manager As one of our key clients, Jack-Up Barge (JUB) is a leading provider of self-elevating platforms worldwide. We spoke to JUB Vessel Manager Ferry Sanders about the company’s plans for the year ahead.

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Built a trust

New era offshore

“As the company’s Vessel Manager I am responsible for all the Jack Up units at JUB and as we hire a large percentage of our crew through different agencies the quality and consistency is very important to us.

This high quality is guaranteed when working with Atlas Professionals.

At JUB we believe in working in partnership with our agencies and doing business at the same level. With Atlas we have built trust and confidence in their provision of highly qualified professionals for our Jack Ups worldwide. Atlas frequently visit our units in Holland as we like to encourage all of our agencies and clients to visit us to learn more about the different barges and how each one can cater to different markets.”

Ferry explains how JUB will face 2017, “In our market we are quite lucky as we are technically a rental company with a low overhead and we are positioned in various markets like Offshore Renewables, Oil & Gas, Decommissioning and Civil Construction. Next to that we are also privately owned.”

Smooth process

Matured “For years the industry has dealt with economic downturns and there is a view that Renewables will take over. However, like downturns before, Oil & Gas will always be there and the industry is now more mature to deal with situations such as this. I believe that Renewables and Oil & Gas will coexist with one another and both will remain major players in their field.”

“I work alongside Atlas Business Manager Robin van Woerden and Account Manager Désirée van der Sluis; they’re both great. I like that I don’t have to interfere with the recruitment process as I trust them to select the right people.”

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DEREK MARSHALL

Chasing a childhood dream

Working as a ROV Technician Derek Marshall began working with Atlas Professionals through the company’s subsidiary Subserv Pro. Since then, Derek has diversified across multiple markets in the offshore industry. We spoke to Derek about his ROV career. “It’s strange… I suppose it all started when I was younger, I was watching a TV Programme about the natural world and deep-sea exploration.

It showed ROVs at work and I found this interesting, as we know so little about what lies beneath. I sat there and thought ‘that looks amazing, I would love to do that job one day’.”

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Never looked back

Piloting the ROV

After seven years of service in the military, Derek decided to pursue his childhood dream, “by this time I had gained a lot of experience as a Mechanical Engineer working on fibre optic cables. After applying to a number of jobs, I got the chance to work as a Mechanical Engineer for an offshore company. After a year of working there, I got the opportunity to work offshore on a Wind Farm and since then I’ve never looked back.”

Derek has worked on a number of Oil & Gas and Renewables projects in his career, he shared some of his favourite stories with us, “I’ve worked on a range of projects such as Wind Farms, Geological Surveys, Platform Inspections, Pipeline Inspections, Shallow Water and Deep Water Construction. The great thing about Atlas is that they give me a good variety of work; the opportunities I have had and the places I have been has increased my knowledge and passion for the industry.

Daily routine

“There have been a couple of projects that stand out to me. When I was working in Russia, I had to install building blocks around a platform to stop ice forming and damaging it. However, I was working in 6 metres of water and that was a first for me. It was a potentially dangerous operation for the ROV, but it was essential. This was very intricate work and it was mentally straining however, it was a great feeling when the job was successfully completed.

As a ROV Technician, every day is different for Derek, “After I’ve had my morning coffee I head over to the shack where the supervisors will give us the handover of what’s happened during the night. This handover shows the general operations during the night, any change in direction or speed of the ROV and a weather report. The handover is very detailed and it will allow us to decide on the next course of action.

“Having a routine is good as its keeps your brain fresh and active, however, every day is different offshore; the ROV may break down and then we have to fix it. That’s the great thing about working in a team as everyone has their own knowledge about the industry and they all pass it onto one another.”

“Flying the ROV in-between platforms can be quite challenging as you have to be aware of what your tether is doing, where you’re going and the other hazards around you. The most enjoyable part of the job is flying the ROV inside and around the platforms.

“Another project that I remember was in Thailand were we had to inspect the condition of 50 rigs for maintenance. People might think it’s monotonous, but it was really cool working out there and do what I love doing.”

Dreams come true “I’ll be honest I absolutely love my job, it’s why I get up in the morning.

For me, flying an ROV is like driving a fast sports car; I will never get sick of it. The only aspiration I have is to move up the ROV ladder to a Superintendent position. I love flying and fixing ROVs and working with some great people along the way.”

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PAUL DUNCAN

Prepared for the unpredictable

Working as a Survey Client Representative “I pursued a career in the offshore sector due to the interesting and varied projects that I knew I would be involved in. My career has opened doors on a worldwide basis enabling me to travel and see parts of the world others perhaps would not visit.� Survey Client Representative Paul Duncan graduated from the University of Glasgow in Topographic Science. Paul spoke to Atlas about his career and experiences offshore.

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Surveying Orkney “My main interest was in traditional land survey techniques and mapping science, and I’ve been lucky to take my interest offshore. The most exciting project I have worked on was acting as Survey Client Representative around Orkney in Scotland for a Renewable Energy client. I had to oversee the Survey from a health and safety aspect and Survey data quality. The currents around the islands were terrific at times, the landscape stunning and the seabed data was very interesting.

Timing was everything on that project due to the unique local behaviour of the water. In eighteen years of working in the industry, there have been many projects, both good and bad. One never gets bored with the beautiful sunsets across the oceans and being right up close and inside 500m zones of some offshore platforms, it’s really impressive.”

Working with Atlas Since 2003, Paul has been working with Atlas’ Survey and Management & QC teams, “so far my personal experience with Atlas has been good.

The contacts I have at the Newquay and Bristol office have been knowledgeable and kept me informed of what projects may be of interest to me. I have worked with Atlas’ Survey team as a Hydrographic Surveyor, Data Processor, Party Chief and nowadays I work with the company’s Management & QC team as a Survey Client Representative.

My role can be quite challenging especially when things go wrong! Being a Party Chief when the Survey equipment goes down and the client is asking questions and time is ticking away can be a bit stressful!”

An unpredictable lifestyle Paul has found that you have to prepare for the unpredictable, “you need to understand that offshore plans can change. Having the ability to spend extended periods away and subsequent inability to often plan ahead is important in this industry. It’s probably not for everyone but there is no denying that it can be very interesting and rewarding.”

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STEPHEN BLAIKIE

An update on the Bibby WaveMaster 1

CEO Bibby Marine Services

Over the years, Atlas Professionals has formed a strong partnership with the Bibby Line Group, collaborating on projects within the Energy, Marine and Renewables industries. Atlas caught up with Bibby Marine Services CEO Stephen Blaikie for an update on their new vessel, the Bibby WaveMaster 1.

Straight to work

Advanced Walk-to-Work vessel

“Bibby WaveMaster 1 will be christened in the port of Rotterdam on 6th September. We are expecting around 120 guests from the industry and media to attend the event. After the naming ceremony, the vessel gets straight to work. Firstly, Bibby WaveMaster 1 will be working on a gas platform in the Dutch sector, and then onto the Galloper Wind Farm to accelerate its construction.”

Bibby WaveMaster 1 is the first of Damen’s purpose-built Service Operations Vessels (SOV) with a Walk-to-Work capability. “The vessel is a brand new design,” says Stephen, “it’s designed from the ground up to maximise personnel comfort and safety. The SOV is outfitted with a newly developed Walk-to-Work gangway system with a multi-stop elevator, designed to transfer personnel who are living on board safely to wind turbines and gas platforms.”

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Exclusive supplier Atlas Professionals is proud to be the exclusive supplier for the Bibby WaveMaster 1. “This is our first contract for marine crew with Atlas Professionals. When we were building the vessel, part of the process was to look at the crew management. We went out into the market place and spoke to a range of crew management companies before deciding to work with Atlas Professionals.”

Atlas’ teams based in Bristol, UK and Riga, Latvia will use their local expertise to source safe, reliable and competent UK and Latvian marine crew.

“Atlas are supplying the entire marine crew to the Bibby WaveMaster 1, from Master right through to Stewards. The vessel, depending on its type of operation, will be performing with 20-24 crew members. The crew will also include Walk-to-Work Gangway System Operators and DPOs. “I’m impressed with the amount of research and attention to detail that Atlas have gone into. As the SOV will be working across country borders, Atlas have produced sound tax and legal advice to help us carry out these operations. The professionals that have been recruited so far have met our expectations and will be assigned to Bibby WaveMaster 1 within the next few weeks.”

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CHARLES HUNTER

On board the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessel

NKT Victoria

Charles Hunter began his career at a processing plant in Inverness working as a Finishing End Co-ordinator. In 2007, Charles was accepted into a trainee-rigging programme and since then he has worked on a variety of projects offshore.

“When I was working in the processing plant, I knew a number of people who were moving into the Oil & Gas industries,” says Charles, “I decided to take a leap of faith and go for it. I was only a month into my programme when I got to work on my first vessel in the UK. We were carrying out the installation and spooling of crane ropes: from then on I was hooked.”

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NKT Victoria Recently, Charles has been working on the NKT Victoria, the world’s most advanced cablelaying vessel. The vessel is owned by NKT, a globally recognised provider of turnkey AC/ DC cable solutions and services. The vessel is equipped with an ROV, Sonar, a carousel and spooling system that will enable a high-precision cable-lay for flexible pipe, umbilical and power cables. “The Victoria is a gorgeous vessel,” says Charles, “I was working in the carousel and spooling system, stacking up the cable whilst an articulated boom arm guided the cable into position. There’s a great atmosphere on board the Victoria, and the crew were very welcoming and were keen to get on with the project.”

Photoshoot offshore Atlas got the opportunity to visit the vessel in Karlskrona in Sweden, “My Account Manager, Ffion Rossiter visited the vessel, as Atlas had organised a photoshoot on board. That was a fun experience, the photographer was eager to get the best photos of the vessel, and a lot of the crew got involved. I have only been working through Atlas for a short time but the process has been brilliant. I sent through my CV and certificates and within a week I was on a plane.”

Future Plan “I was speaking to my Offshore Manager recently and he suggested that I should look at a career in QHSE. I am 41 years old and lifting big shackles and dragging them around the deck gets harder to do. Safety is paramount offshore; every professional on board must stay focused to ensure the safety of others. It is interesting to think about how much of an impact your role has to the progression of the project. I think QHSE would be an interesting path for me further down the line.

“It takes someone with a hardy personality to take on a job like this. Working for long periods of time offshore and getting used to sleeping on a vessel in bad weather takes some getting used to.”

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BIRGITTE SOLBERG

Learning on the job

An apprentice in Norway’s Oil and Gas industry “I have always had an interest in unique professions and being challenged on a daily basis. The offshore Oil & Gas industry was the perfect fit for me.” Atlas Professional, Birgitte Solberg is currently studying Niche Drilling and Well Engineering at Stavanger Kommune. Atlas caught up with her to find out more about how she began her career offshore and her recent experience working as an apprentice.

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Don’t take shortcuts “I always wanted to work in a job that would allow me to travel and explore, and working in the Oil industry on rigs and platforms seemed like a natural choice. I thought gaining some experience offshore before studying would give me an advantage when looking for future employment. After two years of high school, I got the opportunity to do an apprenticeship at Farstad Shipping.

“For four weeks I worked as an apprentice Motorman. I would shadow my instructor and conduct routine checks of the engines along with the daily operation and maintenance of the machinery for three of the company’s vessels. The most valuable lesson I learnt was that you must take your time when working with pieces of machinery such as this; don’t take shortcuts they never pay off, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”

Responsibilities as a Roughneck “When I got my certificate this was the start of a new chapter in my life.” Since then, Birgitte has worked on a variety of offshore rigs as a Roughneck, including working on rotation on the Veslefrikk Oil field. “It’s a bit random that I ended up working as a Roughneck, but the work is varied and involves different operations such as connecting the pipe down the well bore or general work around the rig. My daily checklist consists of oiling the equipment, carrying out operations on the well, maintenance and cleaning the workplace.”

Valuable knowledge and experience “I heard about Atlas Professionals through another student when I was studying at Stavanger Offshore Technical School. Atlas has not only given me the opportunity to develop my knowledge and learn from experts, but they have also shown me what it is like to work in a team of different nationalities and cultures. This is valuable for when you are working offshore for a long time. To anyone who is thinking about taking on an apprenticeship, I advise that you should listen and ask as many questions as possible. I would also advise to go back into education and build upon your knowledge to have more opportunities in the future.”

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DOM KING

An important role to play

An interview with a Survey Client Representative “In the offshore Survey industry, the 24/7 working week has no relevance. Every job is different and unpredictability is the only predictable factor, it is a rarity when everything goes off ‘the same as last time’!” Survey Client Representative, Dom King, talks to Atlas about why he chooses to work in such a demanding industry.

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Working towards the same goals

Firth of Forth

“After graduating in Surveying and Mapping Sciences from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, I decided that I wanted to work offshore as a Surveyor. There are a number of factors that have driven me to work in this environment: the teamwork element, variety, the challenge and responsibilities of the role. There is a feeling that when you are offshore you are all in the same boat (so to speak). Although our roles (Client Rep v Contractor) are potentially adversarial, there is always the sentiment that everyone is working towards the same goal. I’m not sure this would always apply when working onshore in an office.

“I think doing the Geophysical Survey for the inshore and offshore Inchcape Wind Farm was one of the biggest highlights of my career.

This project sticks with me the most because I got to work in the Firth of Forth. I sailed under the iconic Forth Rail Bridge twice every day before I moved onto working out of Port of Leith. On both parts of the project, I was working with a great team on a good boat in a beautiful environment. The only bad thing was that on the two phases, over 2 months of work, I only got one day ashore in Edinburgh.

It was also rewarding in that I did the whole cable route survey, from beach topographic to the offshore substation, something we don’t get to do that often.”

“What motivates me is knowing that I have an important role to play in the efficient running of a project for the client. What’s challenging to me is that even though I no longer have a hands-on role in the acquisition of data, I still have a hand in managing the use of the equipment and the crew to achieve the goals of the client, this is made more difficult by the fact that we are usually managing by consent and advice rather than by waving a big stick.

“You can’t deny that this industry is diverse: the vessels, crews, clients, projects, locations, roles and challenges are always changing. You simply never know exactly what to expect when you next leave your front door.

“Regardless of the project, it is my job to ensure that the goals of the client, which have been outlined in the contract, are achieved in an efficient and safe manner.”

Changing responsibility “My responsibilities change with each job; for example, when I’m observing a positioning or rig move my main responsibilities are to the Rig Positioning Contractor and to ensure that they follow the contract. I also act as the final word on all Survey or positioning matters related to the rig move.

“When undertaking a Geophysical or UXO project, my responsibilities relate to the functioning of the vessel as a whole, her crew and equipment. I am the client’s representative as well as the Survey representative. I work alongside the Master, PC and heads of department in all decisions relating to the vessel and her readiness, vessel movements, mode of operation, data quality, data dispatch, weather and any resulting disputes.

“On larger offshore vessels and projects there are sometimes two Reps, in which case I will often be paired with a Geophysicist so that we can enhance the area of expertise on a project. In these circumstances, I would look after all matters regarding the Survey and Positioning, whilst the Geophysicist would look after matters such as Seismic processing or data interpretation. When we are paired up like this, the senior or more suitable candidate would become the Client Rep, he gets the pleasure of day shifts and all the meetings and communications. On most occasions, we would find some way of dividing up the work so that neither of us is swamped.”

The next step “Being a Survey/Client Rep takes you to the side-lines a bit, the hands-on skills you had when working for a Survey contractor tend to fade so it’s difficult to go back. The skills you then develop don’t necessarily lead you towards any other position in Survey management. Despite this, it’s really not so bad, as your experience develops the projects you take part in are more varied, larger and sometimes more complex. It’s a role which you could easily continue to do right up to retirement.

“From here I would do exactly as I outlined above, move into longer and larger projects with greater involvement, such as diversifying my Rep experience to cover construction support, pipe-lay and trenching support…or indeed any other type of project.”

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ERNST-JAN KOUVELD

Supplying Excellence

Working on the OOS Prometheus and the OOS Gretha In 2013, OOS International successfully secured a four-plus-four-year charter contract for two of its semi-submersible crane and accommodation platforms. The OOS Prometheus and the OOS Gretha are stationed in the Campos basin off the coast of Brazil. Atlas Professionals is providing the crew to both platforms. In Atlas’ 35 years of working in the Energy, Marine and Renewable industries, this has been one of its biggest projects to date. We spoke to OOS Crewing Officer Ernst –Jan Kouveld for an update on the project.

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Achieving excellence

OOS partnership

“Both platforms had just been built when they were delivered to Petrobras’ project and for the last three years all operations made a giant leap towards achieving excellence,” says Ernst. “Recently, both units achieved excellence in a Contractor and Performance Indicator evaluation with Petrobras. The evaluation results represent the performance of the platforms and the staff. The grade is thanks to the quality of the crew who are executing the jobs in the field, 60% of which are supplied through Atlas Professionals.”

Approximately 60% of the crew is provided

by Atlas Professionals and consists of 24 nationalities from the Netherlands, UK, USA, Ukraine, Mexico, Russia and the Philippines.

Atlas’ teams based in the Ukraine and Brazil have been sourcing the crew for this project, “my point of contact is with Pavel Paltyeka, based in Odessa, and we are very pleased with our collaboration so far,” says Ernst. “In addition to sourcing our crew, Atlas has also provided other services such as Payroll and Contracts, Operations and Logistics.

Unique in their field The OOS Prometheus and the OOS Gretha also support Petrobras’ offshore heavy lift/ logistics operations, “each platform is unique because they are both equipped with heavy lift cranes. The most recent lift was carried out by the Gretha,” explains Ernst. “A helicopter had a rough landing on another platform and tilted over. The Gretha lifted the helicopter safely back onto an FPSO. It’s one of the many ways OOS International provides value added solutions to our clients projects.”

“To further support our crew on the ground, Atlas Admin & Operations Support Patricia Ernesto has been based at the OOS office in the region. With Patricia based in our office, it’s reassuring to know that the crew has additional support when they need to organise travel, medical exams, training or any other urgent requirements.”

At this year’s Maritime & Offshore Career Event, in Rotterdam, OOS International and Atlas Professionals shared a stand to showcase their projects and their future opportunities in the Energy and Marine industries. Atlas looks forward to continuing this collaboration with OOS International and seeing what the future will bring, “we don’t consider Atlas as a supplier or an agency we consider them to be a partner.”

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MARK MCDONALD

Boost safety presence and awareness across the globe

ZERO HARM

On 10 July 2017, Atlas Professionals signed the final agreement with Programmed for the acquisition of the international activities of Programmed Marine. What makes Programmed Marine unique is their Zero Harm policy in all that they do which includes safe working environments as well as natural environments.

Increase level of safety and quality Programmed Marine has appointed Mark McDonald as their Senior HSEQ Advisor, International, primarily based in the Aberdeen office.

“Safety is something we do well, and it’s a contributing factor to our overall success”, says Mark.. Mark comes with a wealth of international HSEQ experience in Oil & Gas, and has be tasked with increasing Programmed Marine’s level of safety and quality coverage in all geographical locations that Programmed Marine operate.

Safe working environment

Different climates and regions

As Programmed Marine strive for Zero Harm in all that they do, the appointment of Mark as Senior HSEQ Advisor is a key step for the business. With all locations looking to boost safety presence and awareness, Mark has been working closely with supporting Programmed Marine’s clients and contractors across the globe on the delivery of Zero Harm and the fostering of a safe working environment for all their personnel. “Our Zero Harm goal ensures we’re taking the right steps so that each of our employees and customers return home in the same state they arrived – injury free. It also encompasses Zero Harm to the natural environments in which we work and operate.”

Their large geographic footprint means Programmed Marine work in many different climates and regions each day, some of these may be sensitive and require special additional controls. “I have been working across the International business units in Aberdeen, Houston, Singapore and Dubai, undertaking Safety Management initiatives tailored to each region, ultimately ensuring that the company continues to improve and grow with Safety at the forefront. We believe that by providing our people with the understanding that all injuries are preventable that they will, in turn, be empowered to deliver safety leadership throughout the business.”

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Re-entrant training

Programmed Marine

Mark has also been managing and coordinating nationwide Re-entrant safety training/information days for Oil and Gas personnel that have been out of the industry for a period of time due to the downturn. “These events ensure that personnel are not returning to the industry “Rig rusty” and are refreshed in certain aspects of offshore life, including prevention of Hand and Finger injuries, Dropped Objects, Risk Management Tools and Safe Behaviour.”

Programmed Marine supports vessel and marine activities, drilling/rig operations, offshore construction projects and on-going maintenance and other auxiliary functions, onshore and offshore. This has led to Programmed Marine’s impressive track record in the offshore and staffing industry, providing an ideal fit with the business activities of Atlas Professionals.

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EMMA CAMPBELL

The real value of offshore recruitment agencies

From supplier to partner “Must have GWO’s and be able to mobilise in the next 24 hours for 3 – 4 week cable project based in UK waters”. How often do you see these words on an advertisement? But let’s consider this - is it just the fastest response that is the right response?”

“Every day on websites and social media, we see recruitment businesses posting advertisements and banners quoting URGENT, MUST HAVE, MOBILISE NOW! Of course, this often results in clients reaping the rewards of utilising a flexible workforce having the skills they need only when they need them. How do recruiters know who the RIGHT individual for the RIGHT job is, and how often do the clients really get the RIGHT individual?”

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Reactive recruitment

Human element

With 20 years of experience working within the recruitment industry, Atlas Business Manager, Emma Campbell has worked across a variety of sectors, and has dealt with her fair share of diversity when it comes to talking about culture, strategy and how clients’ work.

“When this method is used, the feedback comes through as follows: ‘Great candidate good experience but just doesn’t fit in.’

“The offshore industry is one of the most challenging sectors I have worked in to date. With the pressure of compliance coupled with a competitive market place and complexities of travel, logistics, taxation and certifications, there is a constant need to be able to react to our clients and professionals needs quickly.”

So how can we unravel this puzzle?

“There has long been a preconception by clients that it is fairly irrelevant or unnecessary to share detailed information about the business culture, projects, team and fit. Therefore, comments such as “we just need someone with XYZ skills and an ABC certificate for a couple of weeks” are commonplace when we are conducting our daily business.

“All clients have to go on is a CV, which we upload onto an online system.

A service that deals with people is delivered completely online with little human interaction, so how effective is this process?”

“The solution is to work in partnership with your provider and allow your partners to work closely with project leaders. When the time comes to select a candidate we can assure that they have the right skills and experience.”

Feedback - Why and who?

“Recruitment businesses can be criticised by their contractors or candidates that the feedback they have received does not have the detailed information they would like. After all, the client has filled the position, the problem is solved and they are very happy with the service.

“Communication will always be key when dealing with people and we all know reputations take years to build but moments to destroy. Working with your suppliers as a partner will give you the opportunity to agree upon a feedback regime and manage the expectations of your workforce.

“In summary my recipe for working with your chosen provider is to let them get close, make them a true partner and realise the value of a flexible, compliant and appropriately skilled workforce that shares the values of your organisation.”

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JIM CALDWELL

Joint Venture delivers greater range of services to oil & gas clients

Atlas Programmed Marine

The Atlas Programmed Marine joint venture (JV) has this week opened for business, with a focus on delivering a greater range of services and capabilities to clients with the Australasian Oil and Gas sector.

Programmed’s reputation in Perth

Programmed Marine

The new business is a 50/50 joint venture between global operator Atlas Professionals and Australian-based Programmed Marine with an ambitious strategy to become Australasia’s leading provider of offshore and marine manning services.

Programmed Marine is a leading provider of manning, catering, maintenance and logistic support to the offshore Oil and Gas sector.

Programmed Marine supports vessel and marine activities, drilling / rig operations, offshore construction projects and on-going maintenance and other auxiliary functions, onshore and offshore.

Led by Chief Executive Officer Jim Caldwell, the JV intends leveraging Atlas’ worldwide footprint and Programmed’s established reputation and experience within the local market in order to provide an enhanced service offering for its growing client base.

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Bringing expertise together

Understanding the market

In developing its strategy, the Atlas Programmed Marine (APM) team has articulated a number of areas where bringing the Atlas and Programmed expertise together will provide tangible benefits to clients:

With approximately 800 staff located in Australia and New Zealand, APM will provide a broad range of services to the offshore oil and gas and marine sectors including workforce, maintenance and operational services with a critical focus on safety management.

• Clients will have access to a broader range of services. While a Programmed Marine client would historically have relied on the company primarily to supply crew and catering, the Atlas expertise means APM can extend this into other areas such as remotely operated vehicle (ROV) personnel.

• As it has its own structure, the APM JV will be more nimble and responsive than a business that is part of a larger group. With decision making sitting within the business, the APM team will be able to respond quickly to client’s requirements and deliver an enhanced service.

• The increased range of services will deliver added convenience, as it means clients can have one supplier and one invoice, reducing paperwork and admin time.

• Programmed’s industrial relations experience will provide Atlas clients with a greater level of assistance in navigating Australia’s IR landscape.

“Our key objective is to create a company that is considered to be the go-to people in the Oil and Gas manning industry,” Mr Caldwell said.

“We understand the environment that we are working in and we can effectively offer a one-stop-shop for our clients, providing enhanced levels of convenience for them.

“The majority of our clients are located internationally and our focus will be on providing the services they require when their vessels are in Australia or New Zealand waters.

“Programmed Marine is a market leader, well known in the Australian and New Zealand offshore Oil and Gas marine manning industry. Atlas has a vast global footprint and is considered an innovative and market marine services specialist. The joint venture unites the individual strengths of its owners to create a unique business that is well positioned to respond to and service the changing demands and maturity of the Australasian marine and Oil and Gas industries.”

With the establishment of the JV, APM has the capability to support clients with the full cycle of recruitment and manning for some of the biggest Oil and Gas projects in the world.

The newly-formed company has set an objective of growing its market share, and has already seen an increase in inquiries and activity since the JV was announced.

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LUUK KORNELIUS

IT’S A

Great Way TO COLLABORATE

WITH OUR CLIENTS

- LUUK KORNELIUS

Creating value for our clients

Atlas Corporate Solutions In 2016, Atlas Professionals launched Atlas Corporate Solutions (ACS), an online portal that allows our clients to view all of their crewing management data in one place. Our goal is to create value where others cannot, and our Online Development team is one department that is making this goal a reality. Our Chief Information Officer Luuk Kornelius is leading this team.

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Being a part of our vision “Developing an online platform that we could integrate into our client’s systems has always been a part of our strategy,” says Luuk, “back in 2012 Atlas decided to develop an online platform to support all of our businesses and Clients. We wanted to show that our processes don’t stop at the walls of our offices.”

It’s important to understand the needs of our clients and the everyday issues they face, “our clients and professionals are very much involved in our business and processes. It has always been a part of our vision for external stakeholders to collaborate with us. When we began discussing the possibility of ACS we sat down with our clients to discuss how this platform could be customised to suit their needs. We are lucky to have an in-house team that can develop this, whereas our competitors are limited to what their third party vendors can offer.” Atlas has developed three features within ACS to help our Clients’ crew management processes.

ACS features “One of our clients explained to us how difficult it was to avoid confusion about the ever changing planning between their planning department and their crewing agents. This client has 30 vessels working across the Netherlands and needed a flexible crew. Confusion about planning introduces the risk that vessel crews are incomplete, which is a risk they cannot afford. They were therefore looking for a way to eliminate any miscommunication about the planning.

“The result was to build a portal that showed one version of the truth.

We opened our online planning to the client so that they could create an enquiry directly into our system. After receiving their enquiry, we selected the best professionals for that role. Once a professional was selected, this showed up as a black line on the plan board and the Client could view the professional’s details and approve. The plan board is graphical, so there is no misunderstanding between departments and as all the information is in one place it also reduced the amount of administration.

“Another concern this client had was the compliance of the crew provided. They wanted to be confident that 100% qualified crew would be working on their vessels. However, time pressure often didn’t leave enough time for checking and validating all certificates. We therefore decided to give the client online access to our pool of professionals and the ability to mark them as qualified or not. The system has been set up to only allow assigning qualified professionals to client enquiries.

Working with this pre-qualified pool turned out to be a very effective way to eliminate non-compliance.”

Our clients guide us The partnerships we have created with our clients has allowed Atlas to add more value to our client’s businesses and develop new ways of working, “we have a strong focus in knocking down obstacles and making life easier. ACS is just a small part in accomplishing this vision.

The collaboration between the operation teams has become more efficient and we value this relationship.

“They guide us and show us how customising this system can benefit industry leaders worldwide: the possibilities are endless.”

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Atlas Professionals is an international recruitment company. Since 1982, Atlas has played a major role in the provision of professionals to the Energy, Marine & 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 your workforce.

Over the years, Atlas Professionals has grown to become a dependable HR service provider in the energy and marine industries, with a mission to turn complex personnel challenges into transparent and reliable solutions.

Contact details Atlas Professionals Wijkermeerstraat 32 - 34 2131 HA Hoofddorp The Netherlands marketing@atlasprofessionals.com

Š 2017 Atlas Professionals – All rights reserved. This magazine is produced and published by Atlas Professionals. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written prior permission of Atlas Professionals. Requests to reproduce or translate Atlas Professionals publications should be addressed to the Marketing & PR department of Atlas Professionals.

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