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20 February 2013
Frank van der Zijde is the only male member of his family who chose a career in the shipping industry. While it is often a family tradition passed down from father to son, things with Frank went slightly different. After high school, he had no idea as to which career path to take, he only knew he wanted to do something with his life. When the opportunity came along, he made a choice to work offshore. So far, it’s a decision he hasn’t regretted.
Don't dawdle
Frank has worked through Atlas Professionals for several years now. At the moment he is seconded to the ‘Atlantis’ (a motorized pontoon where cables are laid) for several dredging and wind farm projects in Western-European countries. "That's what I like about Atlas", says Frank, "They offer you a lot of varied work and at the same time keep an eye on your development." Frank has been given the opportunity to acquire various certificates through contract education. "After nine years as an Engineering Officer on the small coastal trade, I found it to be the right moment to investigate other opportunities within the shipping industry, so I studied to become a Maritime Officer. Now I have the possibility to work on a bigger range of vessels." However, Frank soon found out the small coastal trade appealed to him more. “It’s less formal and I’m more versatile. If necessary, I put on overalls to repair an engine, for example. I’m not only present on the bridge, I assist wherever I'm needed."
Ashore? Never.
Last year, Frank completed his training as a Dynamic Positioning Officer. Currently he is getting the required experience to be able to work in the offshore sector. Frank doesn’t think he’s ever going to go for a job ashore, he is aiming for a career within the shipping industry and wants to gain as much work experience as possible in as many ship types as possible. "Not one day is the same and you see a lot of the world. What more can you wish for?" he says enthusiastically. If, in the distant future, there would ever be a job ashore, he would only take it if it has anything to do with shipping, for example a job in a port. If we ask Frank what he is most proud of, he doesn’t have to think for long: "I got the chance to work on a stone dumping vessel that is used for the construction of the Second Maasvlakte (an offshore land extension project in the North Sea). “For a Dutchman from Rotterdam it doesn’t get any better, I am applying my maritime knowledge and skills while building and expanding my own city!"
