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Monday 14 September 2009

Kick-off study Offshore Engineering & Automation

On Thursday September 1th, the Kick-of took place for the succesfull HBO minor ‘Offshore Engineering & Education, at the ‘Avans Hogeschool Den Bosch’. This minor, part of the bachelor study ‘Mechanical and Automation’ is held for its second year. This minor distinguishes itself by the many companies that are involved. 58 New students are registrated!

In 2007, initiator Robert Plat, investigated the oil& gas industry and its need for new employees (14000!), was lecturer at Avans that time. One of the outcomes of his report was the need of a oil&gas related school as an alternative for the wellknown ‘Noorderhaaks’ that doesn’t exist anymore. Together with his colleague Joannes Collete, and the coorporation of companies like Imtech, Allseas, Wärtsilä, Van Oord, IHC Merwede, Rexroth Bosch, Huisman, Siemens, Gusto Engineering, Damen, Bakker Sliedrecht, Boskalis, Heesen Shipyard, Fugro, Heerema, Jumbo, Dockwise and Saio we now have a good oil&gas minor that provides our industrie with enthousiatic, ambitious youngsters.

With the slogan ‘Kikken en Keihard werken’ that might be translated as ‘To have fun and work hard’’  this kick off conference was attended by the new students and representatives of the mentioned companies. Mr. Paul Schermer, the substitute of Robert Plat (Who joined IHC Merwede) introduced the company representatives. Then teh well known oil & gas expert Willem Schoonmade held a interesting speech about the position the Dutch offshore industry has got worldwide. After this speech, mr. Richard Noordermeer from SBM Gusto gave the attendents a good insight about the various projects that SBM Gusto is or has been involved with. Finally, Robert Plat finished this first part of the conference and told about the offshore related activities of IHC Merwede: windenergy and deepsea mining.

The second part of the contest was the announcment of the winning student team of the contest that was held amongst eleven teams. They had to find solutions for alternative way of installing power windmills  and how to win copperminerals at 2 km seadepth.

Special thanks to SAIO, who offered the students a introduction to the Basic Offshore Survival training at their trainingcentre at the ‘Heyplaat’ in Rotterdam.

IRO and her members are very happy with this succesfull minor and hopes that many more students will follow.

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