A day in the life of a Project Engineer in the Offshore Environment
- How did you come about being a Project Engineer?
I did a Mechanical Engineering degree at Loughborough University then was contacted by a recruitment agency about working for Offshore Marine Management in Bristol as a Technical Assistant working on the Wikinger OWF Operations & Maintenance campaign in Germany. Following the completion of this project, I was kept on in the company as a Project Engineer.
- What does a typical day look like for you when working on a project?
In the mornings, I usually have a project call either with the client or internally to ensure the team and I have the projects under control and to identify any issues. The rest of the day is usually spent on documentation and co-ordination of the resources currently on site.
- What do you enjoy most about the role?
Working in a small company means I get to wear a lot of different hats to ensure that all areas of the business are getting worked on. This also means that I get a large variety in the type of work that I undertake each week. The short nature of some of our projects also means that I get to work in lots of different locations around the world too!
- What are some common challenges you may face in the role?
The fluid nature of work offshore and especially how the weather can affect the operations means there can be lots of delays and last-minute changes which need to be dealt with.
- What are the differences between working on site / off site?
Being onsite allows me to be much more hands on with the work and tools which really helps with learning how all the processes and equipment work. The different work schedule and change of scenery from the office while on site are always interesting too!
- What’s your most memorable moment?
Finally completing a 115kV emergency cable repair after a tough project in Saudi Arabia.
- Typically, how long are you away on a project for?
Depending on the length of the project, I will be away for different amounts of time, longer contracts would be on rotation of 2-3 weeks while for shorter projects, I will usually stay for the whole project which would be up to 4-6 weeks.
- What advice would you give to someone hoping to pursue this role?
Get as much experience offshore as early on as possible to help build your knowledge of each of the operations.
- What qualifications and documents are required for this role?
A relevant engineering degree or sufficient experience in the offshore field. Offshore survival training such as BOSIET or GWO’s are also needed if you are required to go offshore.