{"id":1381,"date":"2025-10-31T22:27:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T22:27:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/?p=1381"},"modified":"2025-10-31T22:42:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T22:42:09","slug":"sailing-the-sustainable-seas-stena-drillings-commitment-to-guyanas-people-and-produce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/2025\/10\/31\/sailing-the-sustainable-seas-stena-drillings-commitment-to-guyanas-people-and-produce\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing the Sustainable Seas: Stena Drilling\u2019s Commitment to Guyana\u2019s People and Produce"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since entering Guyana in 2016, Stena Drilling has established itself not just as a leader in offshore operations, but as a conscientious partner in the country\u2019s economic and social development. Its operations extend beyond advanced drilling vessels to meaningful integration of local talent and agriculture into its day-to-day functions\u2014 particularly in the catering sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeding Offshore Crew with Local Flavour<\/strong>
Far beyond the technical capabilities of the Stena Carron drillship lies a story of collaboration between offshore operations and local agriculture. Here, fresh Guyanese produce and local catering professionals play a central role in feeding hundreds of crew members working at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ensuring that fresh, locally sourced food for weeks reaches the offshore rigs\u2014sometimes more than 100 miles from shore\u2014is a complex logistical operation that requires precision, coordination, and reliability. Stena Drilling works closely with local suppliers, logistics firms, and port handlers in Georgetown and other coastal hubs to carefully plan and execute these deliveries. Fresh produce, meats, dairy, and dry goods are packed according to strict food safety protocols, stored in temperature-controlled containers, and transported via supply vessels on scheduled runs to the drillship. Timing is critical: the catering team aboard must plan menus weeks in advance, considering weather windows, inventory rotation, and storage capacity on board. Despite these challenges, the result is a consistently high-quality, nutritious offering for the crew\u2014made possible by a seamless land-to-sea supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To boost morale and create a sense of camaraderie among crew members, the catering Stena\u2019s talented catering teams aboard Stena Drilling vessels regularly organise theme nights \u2014 special evenings where meals and decorations revolve around a specific cultural or culinary concept. From \u201cGuyanese Heritage Night\u201d showcasing traditional dishes like pepperpot, curry, and roti, to international evenings featuring Mexican, Asian, or Mediterranean cuisine, these events offer a welcome break from routine and celebrate the diverse backgrounds of the offshore team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The galley staff go the extra mile with vibrant presentations, and even music to match the night\u2019s style. For many crew members working long stretches away from home, Theme Nights are more than just meals\u2014they\u2019re a celebration of culture, teamwork, and hospitality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Fresh Approach: Bringing Guyana\u2019s Produce Off
<\/strong>Traditionally, offshore catering relies heavily on imported ingredients, especially in remote or developing oil regions. This is not so for Stena Drilling in Guyana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognising the richness of Guyana\u2019s agricultural sector\u2014from vibrant tropical fruits to locally farmed chicken and seafood\u2014the company made the deliberate decision to source much of its food locally. It\u2019s an approach that not only boosts freshness and flavour but reduces the environmental impact of international shipping and supports local farmers and suppliers and offers a \u201ctaste of home\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On any given day aboard the Stena Carron, crews might enjoy:
\u2192 Creamy avocado and cassava from Guyanese fields
\u2192 Locally caught butterfish and banga, served fresh with rice and pepper sauce
\u2192 Tropical juices from local fruits like pineapple, papaya and banana
\u2192 Baked goods crafted with locally milled flour and sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This integration of local produce is not just logistical; it\u2019s cultural. It gives crew members\u2014 many of whom are Guyanese\u2014a familiar and comforting connection to home while offshore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For international staff, it\u2019s a chance to experience the unique flavours of the region, adding a layer of cultural immersion to their work.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Guyanese Hands in the Galley: Empowering Local Catering Professionals<\/strong>
Behind every meal served offshore is a dedicated team of catering professionals. And in Guyana, Stena Drilling has made it a priority to hire, train, and promote local Guyanese personnel into those roles. Stena Drilling\u2019s commitment to local workforce development is evident\u201443% of its staff in Guyana in 2024 were Guyanese, exceeding its 30% target. The catering department, in particular, benefits from skilled local professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo, crew from the Stena Carron\u2014 Melissa George (Night Cook Baker), Kolis Batson (Head Chef), Shervin Wayne (Lead Steward), and Sherman Oxford (Radio Operator)\u2014staffed the company\u2019s booth and shared their offshore experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kolis Batson reflected on the event: \u201cIt was inspiring\u2026being actively involved provided me with not just professional growth, but also a sense of pride in the work we all do.\u201d This sentiment was echoed by other colleagues who also attended the event and praised the collaborative environment Stena Drilling fosters offshore.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Localising Procurement and Economic Engagement
<\/strong>Beyond manpower and catering, Stena Drilling actively invests in the Guyanese supply chain. By early 2025, the company had spent over USD85 million with local vendors and employed 157 Guyanese personnel across diverse roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also hosts initiatives and participates in Vendor Days and Supplier Forums, the most recent being held in August 2025, encouraging local businesses to engage directly with its procurement team\u2014 creating transparency and opening doors for local tenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Galley to Guyana, a Model for Meaningful Partnership<\/strong>
In a sector often dominated by technology and geopolitics, Stena Drilling\u2019s story in Guyana is refreshingly human. By feeding its crew with Guyanese-grown food and empowering local catering professionals, the company has found a way to blend world-class operations with grassroots impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a model of: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Sustainability, through local sourcing
\u2022 Empowerment, by elevating local talent
\u2022 Economic participation, via domestic supply chains
\u2022 Cultural respect, shown through every meal served aboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Stena, it\u2019s not just about drilling\u2014it\u2019s about nourishing futures, one plate at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since entering Guyana in 2016, Stena Drilling has established itself not just as a leader in offshore operations, but as a conscientious partner in the country\u2019s economic and social development. Its operations extend beyond advanced drilling vessels to meaningful integration of local talent and agriculture into its day-to-day functions\u2014 particularly in the catering sector. Feeding […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1382,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":18,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,23],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1381","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured","8":"category-sponsored-content"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1381"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1388,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1381\/revisions\/1388"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/energyguyana.gy\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}