Team Insights: Debasish Nandi’s Journey of Resilience and Support

At Elevate Offshore, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment, and few embody this spirit better than Debasish (Deb) Nandi. Deb is a dedicated Geophysicist, QC Coordinator, Report Coordinator, Party Chief, and Client Representative. He has been a valuable part of Elevate Offshore’s team since November 2021 and an official staff member since March 2024. We recently sat down with Deb to discuss his career, experiences, and what makes Elevate Offshore unique to him.

A Passionate Beginning

Since childhood, Deb has been passionate about exploring new places and embracing challenges, alongside his interest in arts and crafts. Following his father’s sudden demise and financial constraints, he couldn’t pursue admission to an art college. Encouraged by his cousin Aditi Pal at Schlumberger, Deb opted for geology for his undergraduate studies, which was supported by a scholarship based on his school results. Despite personal hardships, he completed a Master’s in Applied Geology in 2008.

Professional Milestones

Before joining Elevate Offshore, Deb accumulated extensive experience during his combined 14 years at Sai Surveys and Fugro, where he honed his skills. His transition to freelancing in 2021 marked a significant turning point, driven by the encouragement and support of Andy Davidson, a mentor and friend from Fugro Academy. This period was challenging, marked by severe financial difficulties. Reflecting on those tough times, Deb recalls, “With no job in hand and facing severe financial crunch, I felt pushed against a wall with substantial debts and a family to support. I was desperate for employment, and despite numerous referrals from friends to various agencies, none of the job offers panned out in the end.” However, Deb’s perseverance ultimately paid off when he secured a position at Elevate Offshore.

A Lifeline from Elevate Offshore

The defining moment in Deb’s freelance career arrived when Andrew Blears, Managing Director of Elevate Offshore, reached out during this critical financial crisis. To his surprise, Andrew, whom Deb had known only through WhatsApp and calls, offered an advance payment despite not yet assessing Deb’s capabilities for the upcoming project. Deb vividly remembers the impact of that phone call, saying, “That phone call moved me greatly; I cannot even express it in words. And I assured Andrew on that very call that I would wait for the job to start, no matter when. I also decided not to accept the advance payment offer, but it really was appreciated nonetheless.”

After various delays, the job finally commenced in late November, with Deb struggling financially and managing on a tight budget. He stayed in a subcontractor-provided hotel, which incurred extra charges. Initially hesitant to disclose, Deb eventually shared his situation with Yana, who promptly arranged a credit to help settle his hotel bills even before his salary was credited.

Deb explains that he appreciates the company’s unparalleled support and the personal connections he has built with his colleagues. The team’s willingness to help during personal and professional challenges makes Elevate Offshore stand out in the industry. Deb notes, “Elevate Offshore is nothing short of the best. I wouldn’t consider going elsewhere, even for a hike. I view Elevate Offshore as my family. Everyone I have interacted with so far is very dear to me.”

A Day in the Life

Deb’s workday is a blend of rigorous tasks and continuous learning. He thrives on the flexibility and the opportunity to learn new topics and software. He explains that he creates a somewhat hectic schedule to avoid any shortcomings from his side, as each job role and project demands a different approach and execution style. His routine includes essential practices like Yoga and Meditation, offered by Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation, which keep him grounded and focused. These practices are indispensable to him, taking about 2 to 2.5 hours daily, and can be done offshore without any gadgets. Despite the demanding schedule, he finds time for his passion for art, adding a touch of creativity and relaxation to his professional life even while offshore. “And last but not least, speaking with my mother and playing with my daughter virtually makes me feel that any day has been well spent,” he says fondly.

Looking Ahead

Deb views every job as an opportunity for continuous growth and learning, always finding something new to explore. Whether it’s new equipment, software, job environments, or emerging technologies, the field is ever-evolving, much like life itself. He is excited about these advancements, as they keep the work dynamic and challenging. His advice to newcomers in the offshore industry is simple: hard work, perseverance, and passion. He suggests trying out the industry for a couple of years if given the opportunity but emphasises that long-term success requires a deep passion for the career. He believes that a willingness to learn and adapt every day is crucial.

Most Memorable Projects

Deb explains that every project is memorable and unique, cherishing each for the challenges faced, people met, relationships built, knowledge acquired, and places visited. However, a few stand out in particular.

One of Deb’s most cherished projects was his first freelance assignment as a SubCom Client Representative. Although it was not heavily technical or geo-skill-related, it will remain special due to Deb’s life circumstances at the time and the immense support he received from the Elevate Offshore family. “The unwavering support from Elevate Offshore during that time made it unforgettable,” Deb recalls.

During his tenure at Fugro, Deb’s last project as a geophysicist and report coordinator proved to be the toughest of his career. This project involved addressing a broken conveyor belt and a damaged port area caused by a destructive cyclone. With numerous clients to manage on a daily basis, and a relatively fresh team, the task was daunting. Additionally, this was the fourth survey at the location, and the client initially withheld previous survey results to test competence levels. Eventually, Deb had to correlate all previous survey data sets after accurately interpreting target locations from their own survey data. Remarkably, at the project’s conclusion, the client awarded a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for interpretation, reporting, and presentation. It was a perfect farewell before moving on to Elevate Offshore.

At Sai Surveys, Deb’s first nearshore project at a sea and river confluence remains memorable. He utilised geo-sensors such as analog thermal paper SBP, analog SSS, and SBES, processing and interpreting the data from scratch with only the support of Google and some scientific papers. Just before submitting the report, Deb re-checked his findings against client-supplied inputs and discovered an existing 16” pipeline was missing from his final results. By reviewing the paper roll data sets of the SSS and SBP sensors again, he learned to identify a buried pipeline with the help of Google, corrected the report, and successfully submitted it later. “It was a real fun learning”, he recalls. “This experience remains particularly significant to me.”

Testimonial

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Andrew, Yana, Sharifah, Anthony, Jack, Jodie and the entire Elevate Offshore team for continuously believing in me and my abilities by awarding me the annual contract. I am committed to deliver in every opportunity I receive. Honestly, I rarely need to reach out to Andrew directly because Yana handles everything so efficiently, professionally or personally. I feel truly blessed to have you all as my employers, and I will remain forever indebted.”

My current roles as a QC Coordinator and Report Coordinator have opened new avenues in my freelance career. While not entirely new, I am adapting well to the new company norms and am fortunate to have such exciting challenges for my professional growth.

When I share my experiences of working for Elevate Offshore, many potential candidates for Surveyor, Engineer, Geophysicist and Processor roles are keen to join. They are often surprised to learn about the company’s supportive and compassionate nature, which I prefer to call a family. Whether it’s assistance with job placements, annual leave, advance payments for personal emergencies, or yearly bonuses, everyone is amazed by the support provided. These kind gestures are greatly appreciated by me and even my colleagues from other agencies. Some of them have already applied, and a few have already started working with Elevate Offshore. I hope many others will join our family in the near future.

Overall, I am incredibly proud and happy to be a part of Elevate Offshore. Thank you once again for everything!”

Deb’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience, support, and community in professional success. At Elevate Offshore, we are proud to have him as part of our team and look forward to many more years of collaboration and growth.