Team Insights: Marcin Dmochowski’s Journey From Land Surveying to Party Chief

In the fast-paced realm of offshore operations, skilled professionals like Marcin Dmochowski play crucial roles. As a Party Chief at Elevate Offshore for the past 15 months, Marcin brings over 17 years of experience to the job.

“My journey into offshore work began unexpectedly,” Marcin recalls, reflecting on his transition. “A former trainee from my land survey job offered me a traineeship in a leading survey company. I leaped, thinking it would be a short-term adventure, but here I am, 17 years later.”

A Day in the Life

Marcin’s dedication to his craft is evident in his daily routine. “It starts with coffee,” he emphasises, underscoring the importance of beginning the day on the right note. His day unfolds with meticulous project updates, strategic meetings, and rigorous data quality control, highlighting the structured processes and adaptive mindset required in offshore operations.

“Constant changes. Expecting the unexpected. Exposure to something new all the time,” Marcin reflects on the dynamic nature of his work. “I’ve met so many fantastic people throughout my career, and it’s always fulfilling to reconnect with someone on a job with whom I crossed paths years ago.”

Memorable Projects and High-Stakes Operations

Marcin’s career is peppered with memorable projects, among them the intricate floatover operation in a South Korean shipyard. “It was a high-stakes endeavour,” he recalls. “We were preparing for a floatover operation, merging a topside too heavy for any crane lift with a floating hull.” He describes the challenge of manoeuvring a huge vessel between hull legs with mere centimetres to spare, followed by the meticulous task of ballasting the weight down with millimetre accuracy.

The Future of Offshore Industry

Marcin is optimistic about the industry’s direction, noting significant developments and trends. “Renewables are taking a bigger and bigger share of the market,” he observes. He also highlights the gradual integration of remote operations as another exciting advancement in the field. “With advances in remote and AI technologies, I can see a gradual shift towards office work or working from home for most current offshore survey staff. We’re already seeing a significant shift towards GIS databases, and it will become increasingly important to build and maintain them properly. Programming skills, especially geared towards AI programming and overseeing QC, will also become increasingly important in our line of work.”

Advice for Aspiring Offshore Professionals

For those considering a career in the offshore industry, Marcin re-emphasises, “Develop your programming skills. It will come in handy to automate and speed up many tasks you do and might make your career future-proof.”

Marcin stresses the importance of preparation and teamwork when navigating challenges in offshore projects. “Understanding your role on a project that involves many different departments and ensuring you can deliver what is required without losing time,” Marcin emphasises that preparation is key to overcoming challenges. “If given the luxury of time, preparing as much as possible is always good. Sometimes, you spend days preparing for an operation that will only take an hour to complete. Communicating all the challenges and requirements with the team is crucial and helps remove any doubt during the operation, instilling confidence in the team.”

The Elevate Offshore Experience

When asked about Elevate Offshore’s distinct qualities, Marcin praises the company’s supportive culture and appreciation for contractor roles. “They understand the complexities of offshore work,” he explains. “You feel valued and well-prepared for every project.” Marcin underscores the company’s commitment to contractor welfare and career development. “They foster a supportive environment,” he affirms. “Elevate Offshore takes good care of its contractors, ensuring they are well-suited for their assigned job. They’re always there to help and are very flexible. You feel you’re in good hands.”

Marcin’s journey underscores the dynamic nature of offshore operations and the exciting prospects ahead as the industry evolves towards sustainable energy solutions and remote operational capabilities.