Read the story of

Bart - 3rd Engineer

Read the story of

Bart - 3rd Engineer

As an engineer on a ship, you are often away from home: the duration and how well things are organised can vary greatly depending on the employer. Bart Bauw made the switch from fishing to Van Oord a few months ago. He shares his initial impressions.
As an engineer on a ship, you are often away from home: the duration and how well things are organised can vary greatly depending on the employer. Bart Bauw made the switch from fishing to Van Oord a few months ago. He shares his initial impressions.
'I wanted to see if there was something else out there. I really enjoyed my work, but I found 6 weeks at sea a bit too long. Additionally, my salary was partly based on a share system: how much and when I earned money depended on how good the catch was. So, I was looking for more stability.

An acquaintance of mine works at Van Oord, and that's how I started talking to the organisation six months ago. I was a 3rd Engineer and could have continued advancing with my previous employer, but I chose to join Van Oord in the same position. First, I need to get used to it here, and then I'll see how I can progress.

It was clear right away that there are opportunities for advancement here. I already receive regular updates on courses I can take and how I can develop myself. A logical next step for me is to become a 2nd Engineer, and I definitely want to pursue that growth.'

From fishing trawler to LNG trailing suction hopper dredger

Bart switched from a traditional fishing trawler to the latest generation LNG trailing suction hopper dredger. Is there a big difference?

'As an Engineer, the biggest difference is the regulations. We use cleaner fuel, but handling LNG requires caution. That's why I had to undergo specialisation first. However, the ships are so state-of-the-art that practically everything is automated. So, I don't notice much difference in my work otherwise.

On board, we work on a schedule of 5 weeks on and 5 weeks off. I find that one less week away from home quite a nice difference. We work 12-hour shifts here, and during my watch, I'm ready to respond to any issues and conduct maintenance. I regularly do visual inspection rounds: checking screens and the engine room. This way, I can spot any issues early, and we can address them immediately or plan for maintenance.'
 'I wanted to see if there was something else out there. I really enjoyed my work, but I found 6 weeks at sea a bit too long. Additionally, my salary was partly based on a share system: how much and when I earned money depended on how good the catch was. So, I was looking for more stability.

An acquaintance of mine works at Van Oord, and that's how I started talking to the organisation six months ago. I was a 3rd Engineer and could have continued advancing with my previous employer, but I chose to join Van Oord in the same position. First, I need to get used to it here, and then I'll see how I can progress.

It was clear right away that there are opportunities for advancement here. I already receive regular updates on courses I can take and how I can develop myself. A logical next step for me is to become a 2nd Engineer, and I definitely want to pursue that growth.'  

From fishing trawler to LNG trailing suction hopper dredger

Bart switched from a traditional fishing trawler to the latest generation LNG trailing suction hopper dredger. Is there a big difference? 

'As an Engineer, the biggest difference is the regulations. We use cleaner fuel, but handling LNG requires caution. That's why I had to undergo specialisation first. However, the ships are so state-of-the-art that practically everything is automated. So, I don't notice much difference in my work otherwise.

On board, we work on a schedule of 5 weeks on and 5 weeks off. I find that one less week away from home quite a nice difference. We work 12-hour shifts here, and during my watch, I'm ready to respond to any issues and conduct maintenance. I regularly do visual inspection rounds: checking screens and the engine room. This way, I can spot any issues early, and we can address them immediately or plan for maintenance.'  

Certainty and stability

With only two rotations under his belt, Bart is relatively new to Van Oord. Is he satisfied with the switch so far?

'It aligns with what I've been told and what I expected: it's a serious company that offers a lot of certainty and stability. I receive a fixed salary, paid on time. I have my own account and on the intranet, I can find contact persons and ask questions.

Even when I'm at home, I can look things up and manage my affairs: a big difference from what I was used to. So far, I'm very happy with the choice I made!'  

Certainty and stability

With only two rotations under his belt, Bart is relatively new to Van Oord. Is he satisfied with the switch so far?

'It aligns with what I've been told and what I expected: it's a serious company that offers a lot of certainty and stability. I receive a fixed salary, paid on time. I have my own account and on the intranet, I can find contact persons and ask questions.

Even when I'm at home, I can look things up and manage my affairs: a big difference from what I was used to. So far, I'm very happy with the choice I made!'

Persoonlijke en professionele groei

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Goede arbeidsvoorwaarden

Persoonlijke en professionele groei

We zorgen voor elkaar

Goede arbeidsvoorwaarden

'Ik heb hier mooie kansen gekregen. Om te groeien, maar ik heb ook de hele wereld gezien. Thuis kan ik op Google Maps laten zien wat ik gemaakt heb!' 

André

Hoofd Stuurman

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