Support for Guyanese to undergo capacity building training for career growth is part of SBM Offshore Guyana’s local content development commitment.
Through the company’s Graduate Engineers’ Programme, several Guyanese engineers have benefitted from training overseas in Singapore and the Netherlands. It has positively impacted their career growth within the oil and gas sector, and they have secured employment opportunities at SBM Offshore Guyana. Being a part of the programme allowed the engineers to work on three phases of the life cycle of the FPSOs – designing, construction, operation. The first cohort of graduate engineers was inducted in 2020 and the second cohort followed in 2022. Both cohorts assisted with the construction of the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels that are operating in Guyana.
Maryam Nasir has a background in computer science; she was enrolled as part of the programme, after which she became a Data Scientist at SBM Offshore Guyana. She was part of the first batch of engineers in 2020 and she believes that being part of the company has significantly improved her career.
“It’s one of the best decisions I have made…when I first started, I did not expect to be a data scientist. SBM provides this opportunity, it provides the environment, it is very flexible and it allows you to experience, experiment and move around as well,” she said and further added that the company has supported her with pursuing a Master’s Degree to further excel at her job.
SBM Offshore Guyana is constantly seeking ways to develop its employees and those with the potential to work within the industry. By introducing programmes such as this, it has managed to better equip the local workforce to perform in the oil and gas sector in Guyana.
Kirsten Caesar, who was part of the second batch of engineers, transitioned into the role of Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) Specialist after completing the programme. She pursued a career within the industry because of the opportunities it presents for advancing the nation’s economy. Through her journey with the company, she was able to interact with mentors and worked in cross functional disciplines of oil and gas.
“I think the programme is an excellent initiative for Guyanese. It provides a platform for young engineers to gain world-class training while contributing to the oil and gas sector. It shows SBM Offshore’s commitment to local talent which is crucial to the long-term success of the industry in Guyana. This programme will not only strengthen our workforce but will also ensure that Guyanese are well equipped to take up leadership roles in the near future,” Caesar said.
Johanan Dolphin, also part of the second batch, was a civil engineer student at the University of Guyana before he embarked on the training. He was able to advance and pursue a career in the discipline of Structural Top Sizing Engineering. He is now employed as an Operations Interface Engineer at SBM Offshore Guyana.
Asked about the programme’s impact on his “I developed an appreciation of the phases of the lifecycle of the FPSO…in the event that there is an opportunity for me to move on to a different role, it’s not a case where I’m starting from scratch completely. The programme exposed me to facets of the oil and gas industry, that would help me to transition smoothly into a new role, should that opportunity arise.”
Kimbley Sardinha, who was also part of the second cohort, transitioned into the role of Completions Engineer at SBM Offshore Guyana. Sardinha was able to improve her technical knowledge and better her understanding of the compliance and execution strategies to work efficiently in brownfield project.
She said, “The training was an excellent learning experience providing hands on exposure to FPSO quality construction. It gave me a solid foundation in fabrication, inspections and industry best practices, all of which are essential for my current role.”
Jethro Adams, another Guyanese who benefitted from the programme and was part of the second batch, is employed as a Construction Engineer at SBM Offshore Guyana. He said his interest in the industry’s innovative and dynamic nature led to him being part of the company’s ever-growing team.
“The hands-on sessions, technical insights have been especially beneficial allowing one to learn practical knowledge that will be essential for the filed. Working in Singapore and the Netherlands, I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with experienced professionals in their respective fields,” Adams said.
The Graduate Engineers’ Programme is designed to immerse students in real-world projects, providing hands-on experience and deep insights into its industry. The Dutch company is the builder and operator of the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, and Prosperity FPSOs currently producing oil offshore Guyana and the ONE GUYANA FPSO, which will arrive in Guyana in 2025. The company has maintained its ability to positively impact the growth of job opportunities in Guyana through programmes such as this, which are crucial for skill development.
