The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?

Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at ABL. What keeps you on your toes?

“My day typically involves marine survey activities, either offshore or desk-based. Offshore cases can be particularly challenging, requiring vessel visits, data collection, analysis, or on-site damage assessments. In contrast, my office work involves preparing reports, handling correspondence, and managing project-related tasks.

I also collaborate fully with our talented teams to ensure that we stay on track and meet our objectives. The dynamic nature of the maritime world, along with the interesting cases that require in-depth analysis, keeps me on my toes every day.”

What drew you to the maritime world and what keeps you passionate about it?

I’ve always been captivated by the marine engineering sector and the ocean—its vastness and its crucial role in global trade. The maritime industry uniquely blends cutting-edge technology, logistics, and international operations. What drives my passion is the continuous innovation within the sector and the essential role it plays in connecting nations and facilitating global trade.

Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?

Currently, I’m working on a case that involves developing a specific procedure for a vessel’s long-term lay-up. This project enables me to leverage my background experience while also acquiring new and interesting skills in procedure development.

Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL Group team in Dubai? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?

The best part of being part of ABL Group is the team spirit. We work hard but also know how to have fun. 

If you could change one thing about the maritime industry, what would it be and why?

If I could change one thing about the maritime industry, it would be to enhance the integration of digital technologies for more efficient and streamlined operations. While the industry has made progress in areas like automation and data analysis, there is still much room for improvement in terms of real-time monitoring and decision-making. Embracing these technologies would not only drive innovation but also make the industry more competitive and resilient in the long term.

More about Yuriy

Position: Senior Surveyor

Office: ABL Dubai

Hobbies: Basketball / Diving / Snowboarding / Cars

Favourite Movie: Shutter Island | Favourite Book: Papillon by Henri Charriere | Favourite Song: Queen by Bohemian Rhapsody

Contact our Dubai Office:

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The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?

Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at ABL . What keeps you on your toes?

“As Regional Dynamic Positioning Lead at ABL, my role is always dynamic. One day, I’m conducting DP audits or FMEA studies; the next, I’m on an OVID inspection, offshore witnessing DP trials, meetings with Clients, etc..

Staying ahead of evolving technology and regulations keeps me on my toes, ensuring vessels operate safely and efficiently in complex offshore environments.

Ultimately, my goal is to enhance operational reliability and safety for our clients, whether it’s an oil and gas project or a renewables operation. Every day presents a new challenge, and that’s what makes this job so rewarding.”

What drew you to the maritime world and what keeps you passionate about it?

“I was born in Gijón, a beautiful city in the North of Spain with a deep maritime heritage, the sea has always been part of my life. This connection naturally led me to the maritime world, where technology and offshore operations constantly evolve.

What keeps me passionate is the challenge of ensuring safe and efficient vessel operations, knowing that our work directly impacts the industry and those who depend on it.”

Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?

Right now, I’m focused on growing our DP assurance services in the region by emphasizing quality, knowledge, experience, and honesty. The biggest challenge—and the most exciting part—is demonstrating to vessel owners and oil majors that thorough and transparent onboard testing is the key to ensuring safety in DP operations. It’s a rewarding effort, as building trust through expertise and integrity is what truly makes a difference in the industry.

Looking ahead, how do you see advancements in Dynamic Positioning contributing to a more sustainable future for the energy and maritime industries

“Advancements in DP technology are playing a key role in reducing fuel consumption and emissions, making offshore operations more energy-efficient. Improved automation, hybrid power integration, along with last generation DP control systems are helping vessels maintain position with greater precision, minimizing environmental impact.

As the industry shifts toward greener energy solutions, DP technology will be essential in supporting offshore wind, floating production, and other sustainable initiatives.”

Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL Group team in Dubai? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?

The best part of being in ABL Dubai is the team spirit—we’re a diverse group with a shared passion for the maritime industry. Whether it’s collaborating on challenging projects or enjoying team outings, there’s always a great energy. Each and every single day you can have fun, having a coffee with any of my lovely team, not only from Dubai, but also Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain – KSA teams, which I do collaborate a lot and use to catch up several times during the year. The funniest moment is always the UAE Christmas Party, it always become an unforgettable evening where all together have good fun, really.

If you could change one thing about the maritime industry, what would it be and why?

If I could change one thing about the maritime industry, it would be to restore the respect and recognition that seafarers deserve. They are the backbone of global trade and offshore operations, yet their invaluable contributions are often overlooked. Ensuring better working conditions, fair treatment, and appreciation for their expertise would not only benefit them but also strengthen the entire industry.

More about Juan

Position: GCC Dynamic Positioning Lead / Marine Principal Engineer

Office: Dubai, UAE

Hobbies: Football, water sports, reading a good book.

Favourite Movie: El Secreto de sus ojos || Favourite Book: “Don Quijote” by Miguel de Cervantes

Favourite Song: “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

At ABL, Our Dynamic Positioning (DP) services encompass all aspects of the DP system, from initial design consulting, procedures and documentation, proving trials, audits, incident investigation, life extension studies, maintenance and management, providing value to our clients at every step of the way.

The post Meet Juan Antonio Vieiros Cañal, Dynamic Positioning Lead, ABL Middle East appeared first on ABL.

Baltica 2, located 40 km offshore Poland in the Baltic Sea, will comprise of 107 x 14 MW wind turbine generators (WTGs) and four substations installed on monopile foundations. Once fully completed, the Baltica project is expected to provide enough renewable energy to power 2,5 million Polish homes, according to developers.

ABL’s scope of work covers the marine transportation and offshore installation (T&I) of the 107 WTGs. The project is expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2027.

Under the terms of the contract, ABL will provide technical review and approval of project documentation, drawings and calculations, marine assurance and risk services including vessel suitability surveys for the proposed fleet and DP trials where required, and also on-site attendance to review, approve and oversee all warranted operations.

“Along with our sister company OWC, who is based in Poland, we have significant experience in supporting the Baltic Sea’s offshore wind development in a number of capacities. This includes our work as MWS to support the construction of the Baltic Eagle offshore wind project and supporting more than 3 GW of potential offshore wind capacity with a range of engineering services, from technical advisory, cost engineering, geotechnical and GIS support.”

Tilo Klappenbach, ABL’s Country Manager in Germany

ABL’s operation in Hamburg, Germany, will manage the project. On-site attendances and vessel surveys will be supported by ABL’s wider European footprint, including ABL’s offices in Norway, Netherlands, France and UK. It may also draw on the specialised advisory and engineering consultancy expertise of OWC Poland, based out of offices in Warsaw and Gdansk.

“We will bring ABL’s global expertise in marine transportation and installation operations for offshore wind to support this important step in Poland’s offshore wind development. We combine the track-record, multi-disciplined marine and engineering expertise, and footprint across Northern Europe to execute this project.”

Adds Klappenbach

ABL is part of global consultancy ABL Group ASA, which delivers energy, marine, engineering and digital solutions to drive safety and sustainability in renewables, maritime and oil and gas in more than 43 countries worldwide.

Contact ABL to discover more on how our offering in marine warranty survey (MWS) supports offshore wind projects across Europe, whether at construction, operations and maintenance (O&M), or at decommissioning:

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The ULTFARMS project  

ULTFARMS is an ocean multi-use project that aims to increase European capacity for low-trophic aquaculture by sharing the marine space in multi-use settings with six pilot projects based in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.  

The project brings together stakeholders from the offshore wind farms and low trophic aquaculture value chains to develop environmentally sustainable, low-carbon, and safe low trophic aquaculture products, from design to commercialisation. 

Coordinated by Deltares, ULTFARMS is funded by EU Horizon Europe R&I program and has a total budget of around €10 million. It started in January 2023 and it expected to be concluded in June 2026. 

ULTFARMS aims to move beyond the current application of Low-Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) systems with novel engineering, technical, ecological and biological processes. This will both optimise production in harsh offshore conditions, low-salinities, and their integration within Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs).  

With 25 partners from 9 different countries, ULTFARMS will encompass expertise across the entire value chain for LTA production in OWFs. Through collaboration between research and industry, the project drives the co-development and co-management of innovative designs and operations tailored specifically for offshore environments across the project’s six Low-Trophic Aquaculture Pilots (LTAPs). 

Hidromod’s involvement  

New cultivation structures, grow-out systems, and both nature restoration and eco-friendly design measures are advanced throughout this project. Utilising existing open databases and operational forecasting systems like Copernicus and SeaDataNet, and integrating them into Hidromod’s monitoring and management platform, AquaSafe, enables enhanced technical support for the effective planning and operation of LTAs. 

Hidromod’s scope of work for this project is to provide numerical modelling expertise and to define the parameters required for monitoring using AquaSafe as a platform to process the data and deliver user tailored information. 

This includes Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and provision of capabilities to make use of decision support systems that use operational or on-demand models and algorithms.  

The goal is to achieve an effective monitoring strategy for ecological, environmental, production, and safety requirements, developing the data flows from different sources and integrating them into a platform to serve the users (OWF and farmers). 

ABL Group is committed to advancing innovative solutions that enable responsible marine resource use while supporting the global transition to renewable energy.  

By contributing expertise in digital monitoring and decision support, we help create smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious offshore developments. Projects like ULTFARMS reflect ABL Group’s mission of driving sustainability across energy and oceans. 

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As we mark International Women’s Day this week, we’re celebrating the remarkable women at ABL Group who are shaping the future of our industry. Among them is Jani Viljoen, Marine Surveyor and a nominee for the Top 100 Women in Shipping. With a career built on hard work and a drive to push boundaries, Jani plays a key role in supporting safe and sustainable maritime operations in Bahrain and across the globe.

Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at ABL. What keeps you on your toes?

A day in the Bahrain office is quite diverse. Some days, I’m on-site completing surveys or attending specific jobs, while other days involve desktop work, meetings, and technical administrative tasks. With our small team of 11 in the ABL Bahrain office, everyone covers a range of tasks and assists where needed. This variety ensures that no two days are ever the same, keeping me on my toes and continuously learning.

What drew you to the world of marine surveying and what keeps you passionate about it?

“I have always had a passion for the ocean, marine operations, and understanding how things are fixed and broken. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, marine surveying provided the perfect opportunity to combine my interests and expertise.

The uniqueness of each job and the continuous learning in this field keep me engaged. There are always new scenarios and challenges, making it an ever-evolving and exciting career.”

Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?

I am currently finishing my Master’s degree in Renewable Engineering, which has been both challenging and exciting. I recently completed my first solo MWS attendance for loading a drilling rig onto a Heavy Lift vessel.

Congratulations on your nomination for the Top 100 Women in Shipping! How does it feel to receive such recognition, and what does it mean to you personally and professionally?

I am incredibly grateful for the recognition and the opportunity to be nominated for such an achievement. The nomination confirms the hard work I’ve put in, especially in a region where females are rarely seen in the maritime industry. Professionally, it sets new goals and brings excitement for the future.

This accomplishment is due to the fantastic examples, motivation, and support from ABL, my family, and mentors. ABL truly exemplifies inclusivity and the drive to nurture the next generation.

Looking ahead, what trends or opportunities do you see shaping the energy and ocean industries in Bahrain?

While the Gulf Arab states are known for their major oil and gas production, we have noticed a shift towards supporting global efforts to achieve net-zero goals. The ABL Bahrain/KSA office is aiming to diversify into a wider range of sectors. ABL in the region is well-positioned to bridge the gap between the oil & gas, marine and renewable industries. This shift is bringing forward new and exciting opportunities.

If you could change one thing about the maritime industry, what would it be and why?

In Saudi Arabia (where most of our operations take place) females face significant limitations offshore as we are not allowed in certain ports and cannot stay offshore overnight. Despite the slow evolution in KSA, there is still a pressing need for change to provide equal opportunities for women in the maritime industry.

What advice would you offer to young women aspiring to build a successful career in the maritime industry?

Be a sponge in every room you enter—experience is the most valuable resource, and knowledge builds confidence. As women in a predominantly male industry, celebrate your unique perspectives and strengths. Use these to innovate and lead with confidence. Your diverse background is an asset that can drive change and progress in the industry.

Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL Group team in Seef?

The people. ABL Bahrain is a close-knit team who are not afraid to roll up their sleeves when the work needs to be done. As a South African working abroad, the team makes Bahrain feel like home, especially when the Rugby is playing

More about Jani

Position: Marine Surveyor

Office: ABL Bahrain, Seef

Hobbies: Traveling, Crafting

Favourite song: Don’t look back in anger – Oasis

Get in touch with ABL Bahrain to connect with Jani and the team. Let’s discuss how we can support your marine and energy projects with our expertise:

The post Meet Jani Viljoen, Marine Surveyor, ABL Bahrain appeared first on ABL.

As the sector evolves to meet the demands of neighbouring markets, our experts will be on hand to discuss how ABL’s engineering, risk management, and digital solutions can support safe, efficient, and sustainable port operations.

When: 1st – 2nd April, 2025

Where: John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland

ABL is a globally recognised leader in Ports & Harbours Consultancy, providing comprehensive expertise in marine studies, technical due diligence and engineering consulting services to support the development and operations of new and existing port projects. Our services span:

• Port Development
• Marine Risk Assessment
• Vessel Manoeuvring Simulations
• Port Capacity and Utilisation Studies (Operational Simulation)
• Dynamic Mooring Analysis
• Technical Due Diligence
• Business Interruption
• Civil engineering and Geotechnical studies
• Emissions consulting and electrification
• Metocean studies and software to support safe port operations
• Asset integrity management and training
• Port Marine Personnel Competency Framework
• Climate change Risk Assessment and Adaptation

Who will be there

• Daniel Wood – Head of Ports and Harbours Governance, ABL
• Chris Cox – Maritime Electronic Data Analyst
• José Chambel Leitão – Manager, Hidromod

Contact with us for more details about our stand and to book a meeting with one of our consultants

The post ABL at UKHMA Spring 2025 Conference appeared first on ABL.

“ABL has been supporting energy and marine projects in Namibia for over a decade. Opening an official entity is the natural next step for us, and cements ABL’s commitment and local engagement to support the country in delivering on its energy objectives.”

Anne Myers, ABL’s Country Manager to South Africa and Namibia

Namibia is a significant player in African energy, with a focus on traditional oil & gas development, alongside plans to harness its extensive solar and wind energy resource. The country’s renewable energy potential is also evident in its promise as a green hydrogen hub for the African continent.

ABL Namibia will provide the company’s full technical service offering in energy and marine consulting, with a focus on marine technical due diligence, rig inspections and rig moving, marine inspections and surveys, marine warranty survey, and maritime services including ports consulting.

Via the support of its sister company the renewable energy consultancy OWC, the new entity will also provide a springboard off which to expand the company’s expertise in energy transition and green energy technical advisory, engineering and consulting.

“ABL Namibia adds to our legacy presence in the South African market, based in Cape Town. It also represents the next step in our continued expansion as the go-to energy and marine consultant to support safety and sustainability in African energy and oceans. We are very excited to see what will come next from this exciting new venture.”

Donald MacMillan, ABL’s Regional Managing Director for Middle East, North & South Africa & India

ABL Namibia complements the company’s further presence in the African continent, with offices in Egypt, Republic of Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa. ABL is further supported by consultancy presence in Algeria and Morocco.

ABL Namibia is contactable at enquiries.namibia@abl-group.com.

ABL is part of Oslo-listed ABL Group ASA, an independent energy and marine consultancy group to the global oil & gas, renewables and maritime sectors.

Get in touch to discover ABL’s service offering in-country in Namibia:

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ABL’s scope of work was to mark up the plant’s piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) drawings, build an asset hierarchy and material masters system, and catalogue all actuators and solenoids. Consequently, the client was no longer required to go out in the field to check equipment as it was all loaded up in its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. 

“Digitising and optimising the data configuration of the gas plant’s asset base will provide significant time and cost savings for our client in the execution of their asset management programs,”

says Luis Gonzalez, ABL’s US country manager for asset integrity management. 

The asset hierarchy build and material masters were done using ABL’s Effio software. Effio is a cloud-based master data build and optimisation software that makes it easy to build and upgrade an asset management strategy and optimise data during operations. 

In addition, ABL used its ePAV software to conduct an on-site physical asset verification, identifying missing data for actuators connected to shutdown valves in the plant and compression stations. ePAV is a digital data collection, audit, and verification tool that enhances the accuracy of the on-site physical asset data collection process and ensures alignment with company data standards. 

ABL’s asset integrity management team in Houston, Texas, managed the project. The company has not disclosed the value of the contract.   

“This project exemplified ABL’s commitment to advancing industry standards and operational excellence, focusing on optimising the client’s work management processes and data architectures across facilities in the United States.

“Utilising our software on this scope of work allowed the team to accurately mark up the plant’s P&ID drawings so they were correct first time and didn’t have to be manually uploaded to the EAM system, which prevented the need for rework from the client’s team,”

adds Luis Gonzalez.   

ABL has coast to coast presence in the US

ABL’s extensive footprint runs coast-to-coast in the USA and Canada, supporting with the full range of marine assurance & risk services, ports and harbours consultancy, asset integrity management, and offshore and onshore wind consultancy.

Our US Asset Integrity Management team are based in Houston and can support your business by offering invaluable advice and helping to implement a range of fully optimised asset management strategies including:

• Maintenance strategy optimisation
• Benchmarking and analysis
• Data migration
• Inventory and materials management
• Process safety management
• Asset life extension
• Training and competency

Find out more about our services and get in touch with our Houston office by clicking the buttons below:

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The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?

Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at ABL in Qatar. What keeps you on your toes?

“As the Country Manager, my day-to-day duties involves overseeing the team and our operations in Doha, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

A big part of my role is business development which is engaging with clients, understanding their needs, and delivering the high standards of service that ABL is known for.”

What drew you to the world of marine surveying and what keeps you passionate about it?

I’ve been in the industry for 18 years, and what initially drew me to marine surveying and keeps me passionate about it is the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the work. The marine industry presents constant challenges, which makes every day interesting and pushes me to stay sharp.

One area that has always fascinated me is rig moving. No two days are ever the same, especially when working in challenging environments and conditions. I also enjoy the tight-knit nature of the rig-moving industry. It’s a small community where you often cross paths with familiar faces, building strong professional relationships over the years.

Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?

I recently took over the role as Country in the Doha office, and have enjoyed working closely with the team here. Looking at how we, as a team can grow the business in Qatar has been especially interesting to me and understanding the wide range of services the ABL Group, as a whole can assist clients with. We have a great team in Qatar, so it’s a pleasure to work with them, and luckily they share my vision to grow, and adapt.

Looking ahead, what trends or opportunities do you see shaping the energy and ocean industries in Qatar?

“Qatar is quite buoyant at the moment, and there are many areas for growth in the Energy sector especially.

The move towards greener shipping will be  an exciting challenge to get involved in, in the next few years.”

Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL Group team in Doha? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?

I particularly enjoyed meeting the Middle East and North Africa and South Asia(MENSAI) management team, at the regional management meeting in Dubai in December. Meeting everyone face to face, made dealing with everyone on a day to day basis, much more interesting, and pleasurable.

If you could change one thing about the maritime industry, what would it be and why?

I wouldn’t really change anything, as it’s a very dynamic and interesting sector to work in. New challenges and opportunities emerge on a daily basis.

 ABL provides comprehensive through-life support for rig moving procedures for jack-up rigs, mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and all other types of rigs. Our MWS teams are supported by significant in-house engineering & design capabilities specialising in rig moving operations, including in-house geotechnical engineering support. 

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