Pioneerig Spirit. The Colossus

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The Colossus

It was September 2015. After four months of staying at home and making little effort to find a job, my friend Naxete encouraged me to try my luck with the renowned company Allseas. A few days later, they contacted me, offering a position on the Pioneering Spirit, one of the largest ships in the world.

Upon my arrival, I joined the TLS (Tandem Lifting System) team—if I recall correctly. Our primary task was to complete the assembly of the beams that would later be used to lift platforms and either place them onto or remove them from their jackets. Adjusting to the work environment wasn’t easy, as I was joining a team that had been working together for years. However, over time, I gained confidence in myself and my abilities.

That year spent assembling the TLS was likely the period in which I gained the most experience and fluency in my work. It was also one of the most dangerous environments I have ever worked in. Conflicting activities, heavy machinery, and equipment of all kinds made for a challenging and high-risk setting.

Shortly afterward, we began pipeline2 installation, and I took on the role of Team Leader on deck. Then, in early 2018, following the departure of another Rigger Foreman from the production line, I was offered the position. I accepted it with great enthusiasm. This was a pivotal moment, as the pressure in the pipe-laying line is unmatched anywhere else on the ship.

Despite the intensity, I got along well with my colleagues, though there’s always the odd black sheep in any group. The pace was relentless, with pipes moving at an astonishing speed. We completed major projects like South Stream and North Stream, adding to the ship’s impressive track record.

After several pipe-laying projects, we shifted focus to platform Commissioning & Decommissioning, including the addition of a 5,000 mT Huisman crane to the ship’s stern. One of my most memorable assignments was installing a 600 mT electrical module on the Buzzard platform in the North Sea (Scottish sector). Following several significant lifts, we embarked on yet another major challenge: assembling the JLS (Jacket Lifting System).

Without a doubt, the Pioneering Spirit has been the place where I have grown the most as a professional. On this ship, a 100-ton lift was considered ¨routine¨, and dozens of containers flew through the air daily using the ship’s various cranes. It was also where I received the best training of my career and met countless incredible people (and some not so incredible ones, as is often the case). Still, I choose to focus on the good memories.

Working on the Pioneering Spirit has been an unforgettable journey, filled with challenges, growth, and achievements that have shaped me into the professional I am today.

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