MEET THE HEROESExploration comes in many different shapes and sizes; from Sir Ranulph Fiennes trekking the Arctic Circle, to Ellen MacArthur breaking the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe. Through these adventures, discoveries have been made and stories have been formed; similar to the stories that have been collated for this magazine.

That same sense of adventure and discovery is threaded throughout the Energy and Marine industries and from the professionals that make them happen. From the discovery of gas reservoirs in the Black Sea to transforming the landscape of Egypt, our professionals have been at the heart of these ambitious projects, dedicating a lifelong career to this innovative and challenging industry.

With a constant stream of news from industry leaders, oil giants and international conglomerates, sometimes the thoughts and careers from the people behind these projects can be lost.

This magazine introduces you to those people, giving you a real insight into the Energy and Marine industries.

Get ready to become inspired,

Atlas Professionals

INDEXAlexis Deloge. A Field Geophysicist on a Lifelong Adventure

Colm Power. How to become the Absolute Master

Neil Carey. Investigating the Seabed: A Geophysicist in Offshore Survey and Construction

Igors Bistrovs. How to Guide a Team as a Chief Engineer

Kyla Graham. Living to Raise Awareness of Marine Wildlife

Carine Lima. Feeling the Weight of Responsibility as a Dynamic Positioning Officer

Aleksei Mitrokhin. Operating Cranes; a Physical and Mental Challenge

Per Atle Flytlie. Discoveries of a Senior Drilling Engineer in the Oil Industry

Chris Chambers. Witnessing the Challenges Offshore as a Client Representative

Joeri van den Steen. Understanding the Machine: The Mindset of an Offshore Crane Operator

Henk Schlüter. Working in the Belly of the Beast: A Mechanic in the Offshore Industry

Luciana Suman. Dedicated to Training the Next Generation: A Technical Director at the Heart of Oil Exploration

Thorun Watne. Working in the Norwegian Sector: Radio Operation on Norway’s Oil Rigs

Vinay Sawant. Exploring the Frontiers: A Mechanical Engineer in the Offshore Industry

8

12

20

22

26

30

32

36

38

40

44

46

48

50

Earth FanaticWhen going to preparatory school for engineering was once the most common way of becoming an engineer, nowadays most technical professionals go to university. In recent years, an increasing number of young men and women have been specialising in Geophysics - many of them with the aim of discovering seabed secrets deep underground. Alexis Deloge is one of them. Aged 26, he is already a promising field geophysicist who lives life offshore or, as he describes it, he lives “the true adventure”.

In 2008, the field of Geophysics unexpectedly appeared at Alexis’ doorstep and he was immediately enthusiastic. “Before I had heard about this study, I would never have thought about it. But I remember that as soon as I started researching, I discovered that Earth Studies were very intriguing. Learning about Earth’s features, structures

thousands of feet underground and about the technology employed to identify and find out more about Geology - it just completely fascinated me. In France, there is only one university that specifically focuses on the field of Geophysics. So as I became more and more enthusiastic,I decided to register at L’École et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre (EOST) at the University of Strasbourg, a decision that I’m still very happy with today.”

No Office MouseAlexis’ first work experience only reinforced his enthusiasm for Geophysics. “Although I enjoyed studying a lot, I realised that I liked the contrast between the theories I had learned at university and the “real life” practical elements I encountered on the job even more. My first internship was with an oil and gas company, which was far more exciting than I had expected, and it gave me a big thirst for challenging jobs offshore.

ALEXIS DELOGEA FIELD GEOPHYSICIST ON A LIFELONG ADVENTURE

8

I noticed that I no longer only had a desire to go abroad; I had developed a hunger to discover. This led to my decision to do my Reservoir Geophysics internship in Indonesia. It’s too much to explain, but let’s say that while travelling throughout Asia during this second internship, I realised with certainty that office work just wasn’t for me.”

In recent years, Alexis has gained a remarkable amount of experience in the Seismic and Hydrographic industry, and he is still strongly devoted to what he does. To him, one of the most important aspects of working offshore is the challenge of going beyond ordinary work. “Although it’s mainly caused by monetary pressure, I like the hectic

activity that comes with the geophysicist position. I can’t help but think that working onshore would be monotonous and boring to me. The offshore world is run by billion dollar enterprises, and time means big money. Therefore the stress level gets quite high at times, but what helps is that everyone offshore is 100% committed to their job. This makes you want to work just as hard as the others, as teamwork is just as indispensable here. The offshore setting is an ongoing series of unexpected situations that depend to a large extent on external factors. Shallow water, for example, significantly shortens operation times as it enables you to receive data very quickly. But very bad weather can easily lead to issues

9

with equipment, which results in operations taking more time than expected. Yet problems are what they are,and there is always a solution. In general, I love what I do; I love the variety of being in Mexico one day and in Malaysia the other. All-in-all, my life in one word is ‘adventure’.”

Optimistic OutlookWhile Alexis is enjoying his exciting career journey, he also realises that the industry is moving forward at breakneck speed and that he has to keep up. “It is of vital importance to see your career as a business. I like to think that you never know what the future will hold, and that you only have a small window, this moment in

life, to progress. The time for me is now, and I’ll continue to develop new skills and obtain new knowledge every day. In the future, I want to become a senior geophysicist and the simplest way to get there, I think, is by gaining more and more experience – but also by maintaining my positive attitude.”

10 11

A Family TraditionFor generations, his family have been involved in fishing; in fact all the inhabitants of the Irish village where Colm Power grew up were in some way involved in the fishing industry. “Ever since I was young, I wanted to become the captain of a fishing boat. I was brought up as a fishermen’s child, and from all the tales that I had been told and the various trips that my father had taken me on, I couldn’t imagine myself becoming anything else than a skipper on a fishermen’s boat.”

However, not long after Colm had worked his way up from mate to skipper, the fishing industry collapsed. In 2002,

Colm got the opportunity to go offshore with a mini-supply vessel owned by an Egyptian company. In the two years that followed he was awarded all the certificates necessary to work on multipurpose vessels, such as ROV, Pipe-laying and Seismic surveys. In Colm’s duty as master his main responsibilities involved the day-to-day running of the vessel and the safety and management of the crew. Making the Switch After six years of working on a variety of oil and gas projects, Colm decided it was time for something new. Not without reason, he made the switch to the Renewable

COLM POWERHOW TO BECOME THE ABSOLUTE MASTER

industry: “My brother was working in offshore wind energy and what he had told me about it was appealing.What attracted me most was that this new industry was about clean energy. I liked the idea of working in a durable energy business. The switch has given me a good feeling. The Oil and Gas industry is rather old school to me.”

Although Colm has mastered a number of vessels over the years, he will probably never forget his first time on a cable-laying barge. “We had to lay a cable from Wales to Ireland. I remember that I had to get the barge onto the beach and set it on the ground, literally on the bottom. I felt like I was doing the total opposite of what I was supposed to be doing.” That wasn’t the only thing that was different from being the captain of a fishing boat. “Steering a barge is mostly about relying on its stability. If you’re used to sailing a fishing boat, then being the captain of a barge is living life in the slow lane. Naturally, different vessels require different skills. As a captain you must

always have the skills to manoeuvre the vessel without using the anchors and measure the natural forces that help or hinder the vessel. For me, moving about with all the anchors is quite a different experience. Being able to move the barge a half-meter or even a quarter-meter is very challenging; luckily, I enjoy the challenge and the results even more.”

The Fun Part of the JobThe next challenge that awaits Colm is working with Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems, relatively new computer-based systems currently used to maintain the stability of a vessel. “Now, when working with cable-laying barges, we simply use five anchors-one on each corner and one in the middle. This makes manoeuvring quite a bit more difficult compared with a DP system.

“BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE BARGE A

HALF-METER OR EVEN A QUARTER-METER IS VERY CHALLENGING; LUCKILY, I ENJOY THE

CHALLENGE AND THE RESULTS EVEN

MORE.”

17

Imagine moving an entire vessel based on experience and feeling rather than on a computer system that does everything for you. Although anchors are old-fashioned, you can’t really go beaching with DP, you have to know how to operate things when the system fails.” Colm refers to the difficult situations as “the good fun of the job”. “What you could be dealing with, for example, is bad weather. When the tension increases, you need to prevent an anchor from breaking because this could split a cable in half. We always work with two thrusters on the barge so we can move the anchor again, but in these situations you need to keep your head.”

Becoming the MasterAfter years of experience in the fishing industry and having worked with a number of companies in the Renewable industry, Colm has learned what it takes to become a good master. “Being a good communicator is very important; a good master has to have excellent social skills to allow him to communicate well with everyone on board. Also, you have to be able to stay in control under all circumstances and to know how to behave and act in threatening situations. Staying calm is the main task, really.”

The years of experience in the fishing industry have given Colm the advantage of acquiring extensive knowledge of vessels. “Back in the early fishing days in Ireland, fishermen had to develop more skills than only manoeuvring a ship. Learning about electricity and machinery was vital, and although I have no official qualifications, I have gained a lot of engineering experience. As a fisherman you have all kinds of technical problems that you need to solve yourself. That is just the way it is on fishing boats because when you are at sea, there is no workshop nearby. You have to fix things then and there, with the few tools available. These experiences brought me to the position where I am now, and are still beneficial every day.”

A Home Away from HomeIn addition to his love of the sea and the various technical challenges, Colm likes his

work for another reason as well. “I like the rosters that allow me to be home as much as I am away. Every time I come home feels like a holiday. I don’t always like being away for longer periods, but when I come home I can totally relax without having to worry about work.” Colm has been always grateful for having a great family that supports what he does. The communication systems of today make things easier as well. “It is quite effortless to communicate with my family because there’s almost always a good internet connection as most of the work that we do is close to shore, or even in harbours. Besides, by now my family is used to me being away for longer periods; my oldest daughter is sixteen and all she’s ever known is me being away from time to time. Sometimes there have been problems while I’ve been away and then it’s difficult that I can’t be there for them, but the long periods when I’m home fulltime make up for a lot.”

Having followed such a long and varied career path, and having seen how the industry has grown over the years, Colm is very interested in two new developments. “I would love to play a role in the further development of Tidal energy. I stronglybelieve we have to keep investing and believing in new alternatives to traditional ways of producing energy.” Until there’s an opportunity allowing him to take his next step, Colm wants to become more experienced in using DP systems. “I’d like to get involved with DP in the future because that’s the way forward; I’m sure that in the end everything is going to be on DP. Whatever happens, the simple feeling of being on a vessel that responds to my steering in whatever way is something that I will never tire of.”

16

20

As many graduates have experienced, it’s not only the lectures at university that they have to listen to, but also from their parents. The ‘when are you getting a real job’ discussion is a common one for most students, especially for geophysicist Neil Carey. Neil talks to Atlas about his career offshore and exploring the oceans worldwide.

The Phone Call“After I had left university, I was working in bars and restaurants and leading a typical student life. I remember my Dad calling me one day and asking me what I wanted to do with my life,” laughs Neil. “As I was studying Geology at St Andrews University my Dad found an advertisement in our local paper that he thought would be of interest to me. The advertisement was for Svitzer (which has now been taken over by Fugro) who at the time were hiring trainees, so I went to the interview. I soon found out that I had got the job and I spent the next two years with the company.”

Identifying the HazardsSince then, Neil has built a 15 year career in the offshore industry and has even formed his own consultancy company, Carey Offshore Services Ltd, “When I’m on a project I usually get up for 6am ready for the handover; we are then briefed in the events from the previous night and take a look at the collected data. On my last project, I was involved in the visual eventing for a pipeline inspection. As the ROV scans the pipeline, my job is to look out for any man-made or environmental issues that may cause damage to the pipeline. Damages can come from a variety of things such as fishing trawler boats or fish scouring underneath the pipeline and eradicating the support for the pipeline. With software we can place markers at the site of damage which helps us to keep track of its location.

When we do site surveys for the pre-installation of a rig or a pipeline we may also conduct some field work such as soil and core samples. I quite like those jobs as you get to go out on deck and get involved with the testing: it’s better than being sat in front of a computer all day.”

Plan B In some circumstances, the Geophysics teams need to think of a plan B for the offshore construction, “I remember on one project, I was overlooking some 2D digital data and we found some pockets of shallow gas, only 700 meters or so below the surface. Locations such as this can cause problems to the operations as they start to drill into the pocket it can cause an uncontrolled release of gas to travel back up the well they are drilling. So from this observation, we created a hazard analysis chart where the client could select an alternative location. We always have a plan B where we can use data taken from the site or from the client to identify the best location for construction.”

Growing a Thick Skin“I would say that you would need to have an outgoing personality to be a part of this industry, there’s a lot of banter around the boat so you need to learn how to deal with that,” laughs Neil. “You need the ability to get on with people; while you’re not working on a small boat it’s not massive either, so you will be in close proximity with people. I think my time at university working in restaurants and bars developed my customer service and people skills which helps a lot when you’re working in a team. I have been very lucky in my career as I get to meet new people every day, travel to some of the most exotic and remote places on Earth and explore the elements of the oceans, what could be better than that?”

NEIL CAREYINVESTIGATING THE SEABED: A GEOPHYSICIST IN OFFSHORE SURVEY AND CONSTRUCTION

Igors explains how he engages his crew in a regular routine when they board a new vessel. “The first thing we do is learn all of the systems in the engine room and inspect their condition. Usually the vessel will be fitted with new technology and so the first steps are just to familiarise yourself with the vessel. I’m also constantly learning about new pieces of equipment. However, every time we learn how to use it they change it.”

Mental PreparationGuiding the crew through all of the new systems is just the start of Igors’ duties. “The crew has to be trained and informed about emergency procedures on each vessel. We practice this twice a month through a fire drill, this keeps all the members of the crew informed if this situation arises.” Igors has gained a lot of experience working on Liquefied Petroleum Gas carriers (LPG). As being one of the more hazardous vessels in the industry, especially for the environment, Igors explains his responsibilities in an emergency situation. “The first thing is to always avoid panic and instruct the crew as

quickly and calmly as possible. If you keep the commands short then the problem can be solved faster. My duty is to control the risk of pollution and to make sure that this is checked regularly and is recorded in the report book. On the current ship that I am working on we have a new water system that cleans the used water and pumps it back overboard.”

Ambitions for the FutureWith over 10 years of experience in the industry, Igors explains how some of the most memorable experiences in his career happen on a daily basis, “every day I have to be prepared to solve a problem and I know that if I work hard at this then it will be resolved. I find a real sense of achievement from these scenarios.”

With experience comes knowledge, and like many of our professionals they use that knowledge to encourage others in their field. Chief engineer Igors Bistrovs is one of those professionals.

Following in his Father’s FootstepsFrom an early age, Igors realised that his ambition was to work offshore, “my father was a sailor and when I told him that I wanted my future career to be at sea he recommended the role of engineer. His experience guided me to this decision, as he knew that if I changed my mind about working offshore then I could always be an engineer onshore. The job is very versatile, I can work anywhere and I can mend anything.”

Captain of the Engine Room“The chief engineer is the leader, like the captain of the vessel I am the captain in the engine room. On a day-to-day basis, I would usually assist in the finding of spare parts then it’s just the general maintenance of the vessel. Throughout the day I manage the engine room and the crew. In a crew there will usually be four people including myself, the chief engineer, the second engineer, the third engineer and the electrical engineer or ETO. As chief engineer I also help graduates who are new to the industry, just like my father I use my own experience to help them to find the best solutions in solving these problems. This not only helps them as an individual but also for learning how to work in the crew.”

IGORS BISTROVS HOW TO GUIDE A TEAM AS A CHIEF ENGINEER

2322

“THE CHIEF ENGINEER IS THE LEADER, LIKE THE CAPTAIN OF THE VESSEL I AM THE CAPTAIN IN THE ENGINE ROOM.”

25

Now that he has reached his dream of becoming a chief engineer, Igors’ ambitions are focused on his crew’s mentality, “the most important thing to me about this job is having a good team that always has a positive attitude. Also when you have a good ship it makes the experience more worth while, ships are like cars when it’s good it’s good but when it’s bad you have to change it.”

It’s professionals like Igors that make the engine room team run smoothly, “an engineer should always have a theoretical outlook to their role and apply this to the different engines that they will encounter. Every day you must read all the documentation that is provided, as it will improve your knowledge and skills in your role. Finally, always pay attention, if you decide to take your job seriously then the people will respect you and your accomplishments.”

24

Without a doubt people have love for the ocean and its magnificent sea creatures. However, many people in the offshore industry, despite the hype of their job, don’t understand that these activities can have impacts on marine mammals. Kyla Graham is a marine mammal observer who lives to raise awareness of marine wildlife in the offshore industry.

Magnificent CreaturesBeing a proud Canadian, Kyla studied her Masters in Marine Mammal Science at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She emerged as a marine mammal observer (MMO) and passive acoustic monitor operator (PAM) in

an industry where she never would’ve imagined working for. “I always imagined myself working in non-profit and voluntary work, which I did for years. The reality is that people with the knowledge can make a career in this industry and do a good job applying the skills they have gained from their experience in non-profit work to help mitigate the potential impacts to marine mammals from this industry”.

Benefits of being an Offshore MMOMany marine mammal observers like Kyla appreciate the rare opportunity to collect data on offshore marine wildlife in locations (Renewable energy sites) where it would

KYLA GRAHAM LIVING TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MARINE WILDLIFE

normally be very expensive to do research. Nonetheless, data collection is not the only benefit; Kyla is fortunate to witness rare and unexpected marine species on a regular basis. “I get to observe wildlife! Including birds, fish, sea turtles and even bats! I love the travelling and the opportunities my job provides for me. I jump out of bed most mornings in anticipation of what I will see that day. I spend many hours looking at the sea but it’s those special moments when I spot dolphins or a whale blow on the horizon that truly keep me going! I will never forget my first sighting of beaked whales; imagine observing a rare species of beaked whales travelling with dolphins and pilot whales off the coast of East Africa. Or humpback whales during the breeding and calving season off West Africa”.

A World Ruled by MenOne question that comes to mind for many prominent professionals within this industry is what women think of it. How do these women feel to be working in an industry

that is made up, by a great majority, by men? This could be challenging especially being the person that often calls for the project to be stopped for (20-40mins) to mitigate for the presence of marine wildlife. Despite many assumptions, Kyla, who has worked offshore for over five years plus another nine years in marine research, explains her point of view. “In spite of what people might think, I’ve hardly been in a situation where companies don’t comply with mitigation procedures. The non-compliances I’ve experienced have mostly been due to either environmental conditions, e.g. currents, human error or mechanical problems. Moreover, I find that the men are very respectful because they take better care of themselves. I think the days are mostly gone when it was considered odd to see women offshore. I’ve even been told that many of the crew even prefer when there are women onboard because other crew take better care of themselves. Also, they are usually very willing to help women with setting up our equipment especially if we are unfamiliar with the vessel.

2928

Of course, that being said, it is a world of men and I do have to adapt. I must say, that after a few weeks offshore with the guys I am quite happy to come home and spend time with my girlfriends again”.

The Industry & HSEThe offshore industry has faced many changes over the years and in her time Kyla has not just seen these changes but also a continual emphasis in the development of Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) measures, much of it voluntarily. “It appears that more companies are taking on MMOs and PAM operators, even in regions where they are not even required. As well, many seismic companies have started to work on integrating PAM systems within their hydrophone cables; which will help both seismic crews and PAM operators do a better job with marine mammal mitigation. The downfall to this however is that the PAM cables can become entangled with the vessel’s cables during periods of high swell or strong current resulting in loss of time and equipment”.

Raising AwarenessThere is no doubt that certain sectors within this industry can harm marine wildlife (e.g. Seismic & Electromagnetic). The vessels used for most of these ventures transmit what Kyla calls an Anthropogenic, or human made, noise; this noise can cause either direct physical impacts (in close proximity to the sound source) or behavioural impacts (both close and further from the source) to marine wildlife. For example, behavioural impacts could occur when the sound source is louder than marine mammal calls thus creating a barrier, or masking the communication between members of a population. In other words, if mitigation measures are not

carefully applied the noise can alter their environment and have impacts to their habitat. “I have never felt stressed working with these companies because they frequently comply with the mitigation measures.

The most frustrating part of my job might be explaining why we are actually there. Most of the crew don’t understand why the mitigation requirements are important, especially when they have seen marine mammals purposely approaching the sound source. I often tell the crew this could be compared to going to a rock concert; even though we voluntarily expose ourselves to loud noise at a concert, such exposure can still result in hearing loss even though we weren’t aware of it at the time. I’ve been quite happy teaching the crew about marine wildlife and it makes me feel like I’ve done a good job, especially when I see the crew get enthusiastic and interested in the wildlife. Once the crew start to appreciate and understand the animals then they will also have a better understanding of why it is important to mitigate”.

“IT’S THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WHEN I SPOT DOLPHINS OR A WHALE BLOW ON THE

HORIZON THAT TRULY KEEP ME GOING! I WILL NEVER FORGET MY FIRST SIGHTING OF BEAKED WHALES; IMAGINE OBSERVING A RARE SPECIES

OF BEAKED WHALES TRAVELLING WITH DOLPHINS AND PILOT WHALES OFF THE COAST OF EAST

AFRICA.”

3130

Since childhood, Carine Lima has had an ambition to work at sea, “I wanted to follow in the same footsteps as my Grandfather, who was an engineer in the Merchant Marine industry. He used to tell me stories about his trips offshore and the different types of vessels and platforms he would work on; he was the idea of the true explorer to me.”

Choosing a Career Path In 2008, Carine graduated with a Bachelors degree in Nautical Sciences at the Instruction Center Almirante Graça Aranha (CIAGA). “I had two career options that I could have chosen; a chemical engineer where I would be working on the chemical ingredients that would deal with the operation and the design of the machinery or a deck officer and manage the navigation and communication of the crew onboard. I decided to become a deck officer.”

Being in Control“As I gained more experience in the industry I decided to develop my skills and become a dynamic positioning officer (DPO). A few years after my graduation, I attended a basic and an advanced DP course and gained my certification for this discipline. As DPO you have to calculate external forces (such as wind) and use the thrusters to counteract these forces to stay in position and on course.

Being in an industry such as this you get to be a part of some challenging projects. One of the biggest challenges that I had to face was having the responsibility of managing a platform. Atlas signed me onto the project and it was my responsibility to ensure the safety of the crew on a big semisubmersible platform. I think the most important aspect about my job is to stay observant, keep alert and make sure you are ready for any emergencies that may occur.”

Professional GrowthSince the discovery of oil reserves in South America, Brazil has become a hotbed for oil exploration. Carine explains how this has affected the local content in Brazil. “I have seen a lot of industry leaders bring in international professionals for these types of projects, but I don’t think that this has had a bad affect on offshore personnel in Brazil. By all means, not only does it allow the local content to work with international companies but it also helps develop our professional growth. Working with international personnel has been essential for my career.

For anyone who wishes to pursue a career in this industry I would say that sometimes you may feel lonely in the offshore life, especially when you are faced with a difficult situation however, once you have found the strength to keep going you’ll find that being at the heart of this industry is worth while.”

CARINE LIMAFEELING THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY AS A DYNAMIC POSITIONING OFFICER

operator, he got the opportunity to go from operating deck and level luffing cranes to work as a main and ROV crane operator on diving support vessels (DSV). “Being a crane operator on a diving support vessel is completely different from operating cranes on any other vessel. On a DSV, the crane operator needs to bridge the gap between the divers and the vessel. To me, that’s much more challenging, especially because it requires a great deal of responsibility and technical skills. Imagine the consequences for a billion dollar project when video cameras fail for almost two hours while divers are hundreds of meters below the surface. In these kinds of situations, stress levels hit the ceiling and you, as a crane operator, have the important task to keep the cage in place and provide the divers with the right tools at the right moment. In those conditions you really need to feel the crane, because losing control, even for the shortest moment, can have immense consequences for the divers and the entire operation.”

A TalentThe offshore industry has always been in development and Aleksei has witnessed all sorts of advances for over a decade now. “In this industry even the most experienced lack experience. On-going technological advances require you as a professional to keep developing yourself.” While

he is always on the lookout for self-development opportunities, he also takes pleasure in helping newcomers to progress in their careers. Years ago, Aleksei had always believed that hard work was the only thing necessary to become a crane operator. Now he holds a different view and believes that becoming a competent crane operator takes a bit more. “It’s common that new operators can’t cope with difficult situations because they don’t know how to anticipate the risks that could potentially harm operations. Although nowadays most cranes are equipped with cutting-edge technology that foresees and detects most threats, dangerous situations could arise if one blindly relies on what the systems say. It is of vital importance that crane operators sense when something’s wrong. Of course, this feeling grows with time. It’s hard to explain what you should exactly feel when operating a crane; it is not something that you can easily teach someone. Anyone can learn how to operate the controls, but knowing when and how to respond correctly in a variety of situations mainly comes down to common sense and responsiveness. I’ve seen many people get confused; they miss the feeling and end up moving things they shouldn’t. This job can get very stressful and therefore a crane operator has to be fit, physically and mentally.”

From an early age, Aleksei Mitrokhin wanted to operate heavy machinery. Since leaving university, Aleksei has fulfilled that ambition by becoming a crane operator in the offshore industry.

A Mighty MachineIn the late summer of 2005, Aleksei Mitrokhin began Naval Architecture study at the State Marine Technical University in Saint Petersburg, Russia. To help pay the tuition he started working in a harbour not far from the university. Two years after Aleksei started university, he no longer wanted to assist the crane operators; he wanted to become an actual operator himself. Still wanting to make his family proud, he continued to attend classes at university, but now in combination with studying for his first crane operator exam. “Ever since I had first seen the big machines, I always wanted to climb up top and operate them. The thrill of looking out over everything

below and the excitement of controlling a machine this powerful-well, I think it’s just something you have to experience to fully understand.”

Technological AdventureAlthough Aleksei sometimes thinks about his university degree and the potential career opportunities that come with it, he still enjoys being on the crane every day.Technological developments play a significant role: “Recently I was on a crane with special TTS compensation, which ensures that the hook attached to the crane maintains its exact position, even with the most extreme currents. It’s very unlikely that my work will ever get boring because of technical feats such as these are inherent in the offshore industry.”

Bigger and BetterNot long after Aleksei started to work as an offshore crane

ALEKSEI MITROKHIN OPERATING CRANES; A PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGE

32 33

“THE THRILL OF LOOKING OUT OVER

EVERYTHING BELOW IS JUST SOMETHING

YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE.”

In the late nineties, Norwegian Per Atle Flytlie decided to switch his working environment and enter one of the most challenging and innovative industries on the planet.

Teaching the BasicsLeaving university in 1999, Per Atle Flytlie was a substitute teacher at the Godalen High school in Norway, awaiting an upswing in the Oil industry. Within one year Per Atle changed his career for good, and became a part of the offshore industry, working his way up to his current position as a senior drilling engineer (SDE).

“With teaching you could be dealing with children who don’t want to work because they get bored or decide to be disruptive, I find it’s a lot easier to deal with more technical calculations then teaching,” laughs Per Atle.

“Teaching was a good base but I wanted to see where the future could take me. I decided to move into the offshore industry as I had studied Petroleum Engineering at university.”

Like many other senior positions in the industry, the role of SDE is a versatile and challenging one. The SDE oversees the whole drilling process from start to finish and will work with a team of engineers on the project. The SDE will also oversee the cost estimates of the project and make sure that all Health and Safety procedures have been carried out.

PER ATLE FLYTLIE DISCOVERIES OF A SENIOR DRILLING ENGINEER IN THE OIL INDUSTRY

36

Since leaving the classroom, Per Atle has been a part of some innovative projects in the industry, including a substantial oil discovery in the Havis Prospect in the Barents Sea. In 2011, Statoil together with its partner Eni Norge AS and Petoro AS discovered an oil reservoir with the volume of 200 to 300 million barrels ofrecoverable oil equivalents. The well was drilled to a depth of 2200 meters below sea level. “This was a very positive and exciting experience for me.”

Following GuidelinesDuring these projects, Per Atle implemented the JobSMART methodology to guide the team through the planning process. The JobSMART methodology is the planning process that can be used to guide a team. Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-related (SMART) criteria guides the project manager throughout, setting and following objectives throughout operations.

“This is the overall approach in the engineering package so when you start the entire process of designing the well you need to plan the different stages from its design to execution. The difficulty is not just to take the model from a theoretical design to the finished product, but to take on all the different design ideas and calculations. Every team member comes up with different solutions for the design. Everyone has their own opinion, coming from different backgrounds and having different responsibilities can make the job more difficult when coming up with a final solution. As an SDE you have to be structured and disciplined and open to different solutions, this can be contradictory but this is one of the best methods for this role.

This is only one of the challenges when working in a team of like-minded people. I have to decide the best practical procedure then write out a plan for how to progress with this. For instance, when the design is passed onto the execution team sometimes it can be difficult to fully understand this; the challenge is to make sure that everyone is on the same page. By following the project timeline not only does this help me to keep track of the team but also the objectives of the project.”

Dealing with the DownturnThe recent downturn in the Oil and Gas industry has meant a decrease in production as Per Atle explains. “One of the main issues of this downturn is that it affects the pace of operations and how projects are being matured and progressed. This is mainly due to the guidelines of approval; they have become a lot stricter in recent years. You need to show that the design will be beneficial for the company and that it’s cost efficient. I think that this has also affected the relationship with partners and clients. Before you could travel out to meet face to face, but now your interaction with them is more through emails and conference calls, this is a shame as I think you risk missing important elements on the way.”

Although the issues of the downturn have affected Per Atle’s interaction with partners and clients this hasn’t put him off in finding new discoveries in the Oil industry. “I would say to anyone who plans to work in the Oil industry, get your hands dirty and get the feel for what it’s all about. There will be plenty of time to sit in an office and deal with the theory of everything however, being out on the rig and seeing how it works in real life is the biggest advantage you could have whilst working offshore.”

37

“ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES OF THIS DOWNTURN IS THAT IT AFFECTS THE

PACE OF OPERATIONS AND HOW PROJECTS ARE BEING MATURED AND

PROGRESSED.”

38 39

These courses also include training on the main software used by professionals in this industry. “As a client rep you need to be computer literate and have the knowledge of all the basic Microsoft packages, as well as those used in the industry such as EIVA and QINSy. Packages such as EIVA’s NaviSuite software are what contractors are using nowadays. I would say that although you gain an understanding of the software at university, you can learn so much more when you’re working offshore. As a client rep you need to have a good understanding of all the different types of software, to identify what you are looking for when observing operations.”

Observing WorkmanshipOne of the many responsibilities of the client rep is to also observe the workmanship on a project along with the operations manager. Chris explains whether his relationship with the crew is affected by his role, “Personally, I try and interact with the crew as much as possible. When I was working out on the Orman Lange Project in Norway, we had a very good team on board who were really on the ball with the operations and another good support team onshore, because of this I was able to provide the support for the team and the

project was a success from start to finish. Although I’m there acting as the eyes of the client, working as a team works better than working individually.”

A Versatile Role“The most challenging aspect about the role is that you have to be versatile, every job is different and you need to be able to face the various challenges and learn how to overcome them. It’s one of these industries in which you’ll either love it or hate it. The plus side is the freedom to travel and the pay, but obviously the downsides are that you can’t come home when you want and you have to leave your family and friends behind. It’s not a normal life. However, you’ll never know until you try it.”

Atlas’ Offshore Management and Quality Control office based in Exeter provides clients with the expertise and knowledge that’s needed for their offshore Survey, Construction and Seismic projects. Atlas’ Survey client rep Chris Chambers has worked in the offshore industry for over 15 years, starting out as a project engineer; Chris progressed into one of the industry’s higher roles.

Communicating with the Client“An average day usually consists of mainly checks and inspections of the project, vessel and the crew. HSSE is a priority that we all take seriously. Firstly it’s just a general overview, so I would usually check progress throughout the evening; answer any urgent emails that may have come in overnight and address any issues that need attending. I also work very closely with the offshore managers and the senior supervisor onboard

to make sure that things such as the weather forecast have been reviewed and that we are prepared for it. The client rep also needs to inspect the quality of the data that’s received from the project and be in regular contact with the client onshore to keep them up-to-date with the progression of the project.”

Experience is Key“I have always been interested in the offshore industry and other marine activities such as deep sea diving. That’s why I decided to study Hydrography at Plymouth. There were only two institutions in the UK that teach the course.” Plymouth University offers a combination of courses that are recognised to industry standards and that of the International Hydrographic Organisation and the International Federation of Surveyors.

“THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT ABOUT THE ROLE IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERSATILE, EVERY JOB IS DIFFERENT AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO FACE THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES AND LEARN HOW TO OVERCOME THEM.”

CHRIS CHAMBERSWITNESSING THE CHALLENGES OFFSHORE AS A CLIENT REPRESENTATIVE

40 41

Throughout our network of professionals it seems that the varying skill sets and thirst for knowledge is only half of what you need to work in the offshore industry. Experienced crane operator, Joeri van den Steen explains how developing a mindset keeps you focused in pushing yourself to the limit.

Looking for the Challenges“In 2006 I went to work for Mammoet as an onshore crane operator. I learnt how to operate different cranes such as Mobile Towers and Crawlers. Eventually I wanted to train for a SOMA licence,” a qualification for the infrastructure sector and vertical transport, “I decided that I wanted to work for Onstream and they paid for my training. However, after working onshore for so long I realised that the challenging aspects from my previous career weren’t there for me anymore.”

Military PrecisionBefore starting a career in the offshore industry, Joeri served in the military, “I was in the Navy for ten years so I had developed a different mindset to others. I knew how to deal with difficult situations and learning not just to say no, but to find an alternative solution. You also need to listen to others and be willing to compromise if someone else has a better suggestion.” Joeri explains how this has helped him to develop a control during a crane manoeuvres, “you have to have feeling for the machine. We call it feeling in your fingertips, it’s a feeling that

you have or you don’t. If you have transferred from onshore to offshore work, you need to adapt to a new working environment. In my experience from working on land then to offshore you become confident with the more difficult manoeuvres. At the end of the day I am responsible for the lift, if I don’t trust it I don’t lift it.”

Knowing the LimitsAs a regular employee of Seafox, Joeri has gained bigger aspirations for his next job with this company. “One day I want to work on the Seafox 5 as this has a bigger crane. It’s not only the challenge with the crane operation I find interesting but also putting your trust in the crew. This can happen in situations such as lifting something out of my line of sight, you have to trust that the crew will move accordingly otherwise I can put them in danger.”

After ten years in the Marine industry, Joeri has gained the experience to know his limits, even if they may seem extraordinary to others. “The last trip I was on, I did 30-35 lifts in two hours. When I got out of the crane the deck foreman was shocked, there were seven or eight important lifts but I was just on a roll. If you can use your experience to improve how you work on the job then the compliments you receive can be really satisfying.”

“IT’S NOT ONLY THE CHALLENGE WITH THE CRANE OPERATION I FIND INTERESTING, BUT ALSO PUTTING

YOUR TRUST IN THE CREW.”

JOERI VAN DEN STEEN UNDERSTANDING THE MACHINE: THE MINDSET OF AN OFFSHORE CRANE OPERATOR

For the last 30 years, Henk Schlüter has developed his passion for mechanical engineering into a diverse career in the offshore and Maritime industries. After spending the last eight years working through Atlas, Henk has had opportunities to work on some of the industry’s most complex machinery; opportunities that would make any mechanic jealous.

Figuring Things Out“When I was a teenager I started to work on fixing things such as my bike,” says Henk, “I found that my interest was in figuring out how these mechanisms worked and the best solutions to fix them. When I knew how to fix my bike I moved onto bigger things such as my motorbike or my car, I like to work with my hands. I tried to do an office job once, drawing engine designs, but I couldn’t stick it out,”

laughs Henk, “I felt the walls were closing in on me. After I left school I wanted to become a car mechanic, but this was back in the 80s and there wasn’t any work for car mechanics at that time. So I went to the local job centre, where they found me some work in a ship building yard. I started out as a pipe fitter and then eventually I started to work on installing engine rooms on newly built ships. I worked in ship building for 25 years. This experience allowed me to develop my skills and gain the certifications that I needed, such as welding and engine design, to start my career offshore.”

Working with AtlasDuring his time at Atlas, Henk has been working on different kind of projects for example on the Seafox 2 and 4 as an all round mechanic.

“I think that there is a big difference working on a platform and on a vessel,” says Henk, “I much prefer working on a platform, as there is more production on board and you never know what challenges you may face each day. The Seafox 2 has four diesel engines that we need to maintain; it’s all one big engine so I get to work on different types of machinery such as pumps and compressors and one day is never the same. I’ve worked both onshore and offshore; I see it as, onshore, there’s a greater sense of urgency whilst offshore everything is carried out with care, making sure that you fix things to the highest standard.

Atlas signed me on a project in 2007 and since then my experience with Atlas has been very good, if I have a problem they will try and solve it directly. When I was working for a company called TAQA, one of Atlas’ directors personally called the company to inform them that their offices were moving to Hoofddorp. This was helpful to me as I could carry on with my job while Atlas solved all the administration and paperwork.

The most memorable experience in my career was when Atlas put me forward to a Dutch company called Kenz Figee. I was hired to install and commission cranes, so I would be installing the booms as well as working in the engine room. In this role I was able to travel everywhere, I went to China, Azerbaijan and South America, it was the first job that I had outside of Europe; it’s one of the great advantages working in the offshore industry you get to see so much of the world.”

Watch and Learn“The best advice that I could give to someone who wanted to work in this industry would be to watch and learn; don’t be afraid to ask questions, I would rather that my trainees ask a question and get something right other than doing it wrong. I’ve been working in this industry for 30 years and I still don’t know everything; from asking questions not only can you improve your knowledge about the machinery that you’re working on, but also how to execute your role to the highest standard.”

HENK SCHLÜTERWORKING IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST: A MECHANIC IN THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY

Luciana Suman Jardim is a determined and ambitious woman; starting out as a second engineer in the Marine industry, she has worked her way up to becoming a Technical Director of her own company, Marmec Training (Marmec Treinamentos). Luciana talks to Atlas about her career in the Marine industry and her goals to improve HSE standards in Brazil.

From Engine Room to Classroom “I joined the Brazilian Merchant Marine School of Officers when I was 17 as a trainee engineer,” says Luciana, “my first experience offshore was a memorable one, as we were travelling on the Amazon River, which was a real treat as my first trip offshore. In 2011 I returned to my studies and I finally got my licence to become a mechanical engineer in Merchant Marine Shipping.

One of the first projects that I worked on was through ‘Jaymar do Brasil’, (Atlas Professionals do Brasil), as a second engineer on a deep water submersible platform. My role was to assist the chief engineer and supervise all operations in the engine room.” Luciana explains how this project helped her progress into teaching, “as a second engineer you are also responsible for the safety and training of the engine crew for all emergency procedures. As I became more confident in this role I was asked by a colleague of mine to present a series of lectures to the Brazilian Register of Ships and Aircraft (RBNA) Classification Society. The lectures were about Brazilian Regulatory standards such as Security in Electrical Installations, Pressure Vessels and Maritime legislation for Surveyors.”

In June of this year, Luciana gave a lecture to the Atlas office in Macaé, Brazil. She explains what the talk discussed, “the lecture mainly discussed Brazilian safety standards for Merchant Marine crews, the terminology used on board and the certifications needed to work offshore in Brazil.

Over time the demand for these classes grew and with the encouragement from the RBNA society, I decided to open Marmec Training in Rio de Janeiro. Our classes

are quite small, but this is good, as it allows us to gain a better understanding of our students and identify their strengths and weaknesses, assuring that those weaknesses become strengths and that the strengths remain strong.”

Putting Safety FirstAs well as an instructor, Luciana is also an auditor, ensuring the safety standards ISO 9001 are being upheld within maritime institutions, “I went through an intensive training process to become an auditor which was conducted by the RBNA society. During an audit my overall goal is to establish that there is nothing that could compromise the safety of the crew onboard. I even look at the environmental factors, to mitigate the risk of pollution. The purpose of the audit is to make sure that these standards are met.”

In addition to these audits, Luciana also conducts classification surveys on a number of different vessels. These surveys ensure that the technical standards for the construction and operations of the ship are being maintained and are compliant with the rules set by the classification society. “One of the major surveys I conducted was with a delegation of the Brazilian government to inspect a vessel from China. We had to bring the vessel from Cape Town to Brazil and I had to train the whole crew in safety procedures for this particular vessel, this was one of the more memorable experiences in my career.”

4746

LUCIANA SUMANDEDICATED TO TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION: A TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT THE HEART OF OIL EXPLORATION

Working Around the ClockNot only does Luciana have to manage her own company and attend audits, but she is also a full time mum, “As my job requires a lot of travelling and carrying out vessel inspections, I end up not spending enough time with my son. At first I did feel guilty, but now my son and I understand that it’s not the amount of time that you spend together but the quality of time that I spend with him. Today I seek to spend more quality time with him as this can make the world of difference in our relationship.”

New Challenges AriseWith every new lesson, inspection and survey, Luciana is learning new views and ideas about working in this

industry, “I find that being a woman in this industry can be a challenge sometimes, especially when you have a crew that is not accustomed to seeing a woman working onboard a vessel. I’ve encountered some people who still believe that you need brute force to operate these kinds of machinery. However, I’ve crushed that stereotype, by developing my knowledge and skills through my experience. The only tool you need in this industry, whether it’s through teaching new crew members or learning from others, is to have ambition and determination which will take you far.”

“THE ONLY TOOL YOU NEED IN THIS INDUSTRY

IS TO HAVE AMBITION AND DETERMINATION

WHICH WILL TAKE YOU FAR.”

48 49

For the last 40 years, Norwegian radio operator Thorun Watne has dedicated her life to providing help & support to the Merchant Shipping industry and on offshore platforms. Since 1998, Thorun has been working on oil rigs in the Norwegian sector. She talks to Atlas about her career and how this industry has changed in the last four decades.

Keeping Track of Personnel “I started out in this industry as a radio officer, travelling around the world working on a wireless radio. It’s funny to think that some people have no idea what I’m talking about when discussing wireless radio and telegrams, now everyone is used to mobile phones and social media. My Ma used to tell me that she couldn’t afford to pay for all the places that I wanted to see, so she suggested that I find a job where I could travel and that’s how it all started.”

Thorun’s role on the rig concerns scheduling flights, accommodation and calling in the emergency units for the platform, “We have 120 people onboard and I am their travel agent, I book the helicopters, check the personnel in and make sure that they have their luggage before boarding. When you have the responsibility of looking after 120 people there are a number of things to consider such as their families, their spouses and children, if one of their family members gets sick it’s my responsibility to get them home.

It’s very important for me not to make any mistakes in case of an emergency; it would be a disaster if the rescue units are searching for a person that is no longer onboard.”

Thorun’s role has been made even more challenging since new regulations have come into place within the Norwegian sector. “You must have one person in the cabin at a time, one during the day and one during the night,” explains Thorun. “This is often difficult as there are many changes during an offshore period. Sometimes a job demands a dayshift, but because of the bed situation, some rooms also need to be occupied during the day. It’s incredibly busy all the time on this platform and you have to pay attention.”

The Art of Staying Alive“I have my radio licence or my Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) certification. Another important certificate that I need is the basic safety course or BOSIET. All offshore personnel are required to complete a BOSIET, one of these courses which you need to learn before working on a platform is the underwater escape training, which is one of the more energetic courses that I’ve had to partake in. When a helicopter hits the water it’s likely that it will turn upside down. We are trained to unfasten our seatbelt, grab the window ledge and pull ourselves out. We will be wearing a survival suit that allows us to float to the surface. Luckily I’ve never experienced a real emergency situation such as this. In this line of work it’s all about staying alive and returning home with no injuries.”

Forming Life-Long Friendships “I find this to be one of the more difficult challenges, saying goodbye to your colleagues after working with them for so long. We have a quick handover on deck, so when the old crew leaves, you only have a second to say a proper goodbye and greet the new personnel onboard. It can be quite emotional as you form friendships through your colleagues and become dependant on them. I picture it as if we were all lying in the water with our survival suits on. In order to stay alive and be rescued, we have to tie ourselves together. With all our orange suits close together we’re more visible for the rescue teams to spot us; we are all in the same boat so if we work as a team we can keep each other alive.”

An Advocate for the Offshore IndustryThorun has become an advocate for all who want to develop a career in this market. “I would say to anyone that wanted to work in the offshore industry that you have a great job ahead of you. In an environment such as this, the friendships you build are stronger and are worth saving.”

THORUN WATNE WORKING IN THE NORWEGIAN SECTOR: RADIO OPERATION ON NORWAY’S OIL RIGS

“WOMEN ARE EQUAL TO MEN IN THE

OFFSHORE INDUSTRY, THEY FOCUS

ON THE JOB AT HAND AND CO-OPERATE

IN A TEAM.”

Some of the most interesting stories that come from our professionals happen before their offshore careers begin. Vinay Sawant’s journey into mechanical engineering is just one of those stories.

Journey into Space “I have always been looking for challenges and interesting projects that I could work on. When I was studying for my Masters in Aerospace Engineering, I was introduced to the Indian Space Research Organisation. My first project was to work on a light combat aircraft and to analyse the dynamics of the aircraft structure. Then after this I worked as the project manager for the structural analysis of another craft and this became the METSAT (Kalpana-1) satellite.” The METSAT is a metrological satellite that collects data of the Earth’s atmospheric temperature. “Actually the METSAT was the most difficult design that I have worked on in my career however, my experience in the space industry helped me to progress into the offshore industry.”

From Orbit to Ocean One of the key factors of Vinay’s role is in the detailed analysis that needs to be calculated for each structure. “When I had finished my PhD, the offshore industry wanted an expert in Finite Element Analysis. My first project was to design a heavy lifting equipment A-Frame which would be used for anchor handling vessels. I found that the challenge was not necessarily in the design of the structure but getting the approval for that structure.”

Providing the analysis for each structure is a vital part of being a mechanical engineer. By breaking down the engineering design this reveals the state of each component and allows the engineer to assess these inisolation. Vinay explains how simulation software, ANSYS, is a fundamental tool for an engineer in training. “The software has a lot of capabilities; it offers a range of analyses to the design of structures, such as structural, dynamic and thermal analysis. The software also enables you to use coupled field analysis such as electro static analysis and acoustics. This feature of ANSYS software helped me during my PhD, as I was building a transducer at the time; you need electro static and acoustic analysisfor its construction. This versatile software needs to be a

key skill for anyone who wants to pursue a career as a mechanical engineer.”

The Challenges Offshore “An average day for me starts by looking at the drawings that are in progress or that have been finalized,” explains Vinay, “then we will have a meeting with the lead engineer to discuss the final construct.” Vinay discusses the challenges that come with working as offshore engineer. “Currently I’m working on a project that combines designing a Turret Mooring System in a Swivel stack. The challenge here is to figure out the dynamic gap calculations for that structure. This is crucial as we need to keep these gaps within their limits so that it does not add stress to the frame and this is what we are achieving.”

However, Vinay’s challenges are not limited to just to the calculations of structures, “Another challenge that comes with the role is getting approval for the final designs. With my previous work with the A-Frame, the designs had to be approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to qualify safety standards. This can take time and may take a few revisions before an agreement is reached.”

Back to Basics “My advice to a trainee or graduate who wishes to pursue a career in mechanical engineering is to be hard-working and to know of the basic principles of engineering. You have to become confident in these to be able to progress into designing detailed structures.” Vinay continues toexplore new challenges that come in the offshore frontier, “if you have all the basics right you can really excel in your career.”

5150

VINAY SAWANT EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS: A MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY

“THE METSAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT DESIGN THAT I HAVE WORKED ON IN MY CAREER HOWEVER, MY EXPERIENCE IN THE SPACE INDUSTRY HELPED ME TO PROGRESS INTO THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRY.”

Atlas Professionals is an international leading recruitment company. Since 1982, Atlas has played a major role in the provision of professionals to the Energy and Marine 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 no-nonsense, dependable HR service provider in the Energy and Marine industries with a mission to turn complex personnel challenges into transparent and secure solutions.

Contact details:Atlas ProfessionalsWijkermeerstraat 32 - 34 2131 HA HoofddorpThe Netherlandsmarketing@atlasprofessionals.com

© 2015 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.