A CAPTAIN AT ALL TIMES

Transcription

1 Salt Story no A CAPTAIN AT ALL TIMES Just beyond the harbour in Moster, a 10-foot Pioneer is circling on the water. Repeatedly the tiny red boat cuts the waves of its own wake guided by the steady hand of a young boy. He has full control over its 4.5-horsepower Johnson outboard motor. In the harbour, his father has just loosened the moorings of the family sailboat. The boy sets a course for the sailboat, and throws the line to his father who secures it to the rearmost cleat. This is their summer holiday and they will spend every moment they can on the water. That young boy is already an addicted seaman. SALT STORY No Being captain in the South China Sea is a very different world from being in charge of a North Sea supply vessel. They have a very different maritime culture. Pål Ronny Stenersen

2 Eks Skandi Bergen - Now Hai Young Shi You 289 in operation in south china sea. It s in my nature to strive to do my very best, regardless of what I m doing. I can easily become totally immersed in the details. I suppose that s why I really enjoy my job here, working on vessel design and specification, says Pål Stenersen. Design manager at Salt Thirty years have passed since he raced after his own wake in his red Pioneer. Now he applies his firsthand experience to cutting-edge offshore ships. Pål s unique expertise is a valuable complement to the design team of Salt Ship Design. Pål brings broad hands-on experience to his work. His responsibilities have included follow-up on seven newbuildings as they have taken form at the shipyard. Given his maritime experience and practical expertise, he knows exactly what to look for, explains Johannes Eldøy, head of project development at Salt. Pål is employed at Salt when he is in Norway; he is also spending time in the Far East, as advisor and captain on an offshore construction vessel in China. That s right. A state-owned Chinese company currently engages me. The vessel in question was built here in Norway, at Vard Søviknes shipyard in When the shipowner sold my vessel to China, I was part of the package! For the last year, I have been on a five-weeks-on, five-weeks-off schedule. During my time off, I spend as much time here at Salt as possible. Facts in Brief Name Pål Ronny Stenersen From The Island of Stord Age 40 Current position Captain and Design Manager at Salt Ship Design Vessels Offshore construction vessel (OCV) and his own Karnic 22

3 Able seaman with added responsibilities Pål leans back in his chair. Clearly, he loves his job: doing his utmost to give his Salt a greater competitive edge. Despite his relatively young age, hardly anyone comes close to matching his maritime experience. I got my first real job at the age of 14: deck boy on a cargo ship sailing the North Sea. My brother was the chief mate. It was a fantastic summer job! And I knew in my bones that was the career I wanted. Varied experience From age 17 to 19, he served as an able seaman on a cargo ship. His tasks included helping prepare meals in the galley. There were only four of us on board. Not a single workday was shorter than 12 hours. It was an exciting time and I learned a lot. Later, Pål completed his maritime studies at Stavanger Technical University College. His trainee year was spent on vessels operated by Aasen Shipping. Afterwards he worked on chemical tankers and on ships carrying refrigerated cargoes. In 2002 I landed a job with DOF, a shipping company based in Austevoll. With the exception of my time in ship design and a few other commissions, I ve been working offshore for the last years, says Pål. Moreover, it s precisely his varied experience on board various vessels that makes his input so valuable to Salt Ship Design. Pål is a typical captain, and by that I mean he works and thinks like a seaman, persistent until the task is completed or the challenge is solved. We notice that he gives us extra weight when we are meeting clients. He can immediately answer any question that is related to the daily operation of whatever ship we are designing for them. Pål knows what works and what does not. That is a big asset for us. Moreover he is a positive, no-nonsense person who feels at home in any setting, says Johannes Eldøy. For Salt, I suppose one of my key strengths is that I can confirm whether something will or will not work in practice. I also believe I can offer sound advice on design philosophy. I can easily envision things from the seamen s perspective after all, they are the real users of any vessel. That s my contribution to helping Salt deliver the very best cutting-edge vessels possible. Flexible-cable laying operation

4 An overview of reels and tensioner on back deck during laying operation.

5 No room for compromises Pål Stenersen is convinced there are certain requirements a modern offshore vessel must fulfil and that there is no room for compromise. For those who work on board, that offshore vessel is a tool. That means safety and reliability are of outmost importance. She also has to be user-friendly and easy to operate, and attractive in the eyes of its owner. But in my opinion it s the seamen who cast the final judgement. He sometimes compares captaining a ship like that to operating a small hotel. Yes, there are many parallels. You need to get all the different teams working together: the people on the bridge, the ROV operators, and every hand in the galley. Everybody needs to be happy; only then do you have a really good vessel that will be able to operate professionally and optimally. Contrasts Being captain in the South China Sea is a very different world from being in charge of a North Sea supply vessel. For the most part the weather in those far eastern waters is great and offers very smooth sailing. They have a very different maritime culture, with greater distance from the true decision makers. And you need to find ways to deal with language barriers and cultural differences. Stimulating work at Salt Different seamen find different ways to relax during their time off. Pål has found his way. When you re doing something you love, it energises you. I am here at Salt because I like the people I work with. Their enthusiasm is contagious and their knowledge rubs off on me. That s why it s so stimulating. Privileged Close up operation with a platform in East Malaysian waters. Despite his busy schedule, Pål spends treasured time with his family and on his hobbies. Pål loves bringing his family up to their cabin at Voss. He also keenly appreciates life at home in Stord. We are incredibly privileged in Norway to have such a safe and secure life, surrounded by a magnificent wilderness. No one knows what happened to that red Pioneer. Today Pål s steady hand is steering a huge offshore vessel or his own sleek Karnic 22. That is, when he is not busy contributing to new ship designs in Salt s office, situated a mere stone s throw from Leirvik harbour. For me this is an adventure! I am incredibly grateful to be a member of their team, as Salt Ship Design continues its search for the very best ship designs possible. Text: eidetekst.no