TOS TIMES · Manager Vessels & Crewing, Remco van Bochove, and his team ... Vessels (CTVs),...

TOS TIMESpage 8

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The next generation

A matter of trust

A life of learning

2 | TOS Times TOS Times | 3

‘Quality and Resourcefulness. These have been the

core values of our company since the very beginning

of TOS, already over 25 years ago. Although, on behalf

of the new generation, I feel it is my responsibility to

navigate TOS into a safe and healthy future, these key

values remain intact. Growth in itself is not one of our

goals, but a consequence of our commitment to

quality, exclusive and long-term client relationships,

and our focus on niche markets. Together with our

clients, we are working on making their operations

even more professional and efficient. From offshore

wind to towing services, and from ship delivery to

inland shipping. Anywhere in the world and in any

market, you can count on the same service and

quality from TOS. In this magazine, we are pleased

to share with you how we realise this.

By delivering inspiring trainings and courses for

our employees, by taking on challenging projects,

and by quickly responding to changing laws and

regulations. We talked to colleagues who share with

us their passion for their work and asked clients for

their honest opinion about our services. We find it

important to let those stories speak for themselves.

We’re incredibly proud of our team and equally proud

of our clients. After all, TOS is and continues to be a

people business!’

Ivan Wagenaar

Commercial Director

It’s a people business

4 | Elephants, crocodiles and the port of Rotterdam

6 | A puzzle of vessels and people ...

8 | The next generation is eager to get started.

10 | A matter of trust ...

13 | The ocean cleanup

14 | Pioneering and adventurous!

16 | TOS was here ...

18 | Our neighbours in Rotterdam

20 | Port of the future

22 | 24/7 full service crew management services

24 | A life of learning

26 | What you need to know about GDPR

Long-term relationships are sacred at Damen. Not

only with clients, but also with personnel and

contracted parties. So, it makes perfect sense that

Damen Shipyards and TOS have worked together for

as long as Damen Chief Operations Officer Jan-Wim

Dekker can remember...

Their roots are firmly planted in Rotterdam. But in late

2015, Kotug set foot on the Asian market by opening

an office in Malaysia: Kotug Asia. The innovative

towage company called upon TOS Jakarta to supply

and manage the crew for the initial tug boats the

company operates...

Boskalis is involved in the construction of various

offshore wind farms throughout Europe and, in

the future, far beyond that, as well is the expectation.

The Boskalis business unit Subsea Cables & Flexibles –

formerly VBMS – carries out the installation and repair

of infield and export cables...

The ‘smartest port’ in the world. If it were up to

Rotterdam, our port would conquer this title in no

time. More and more vessels can be navigated from

a great distance. And a port with only self-driving

(autonomous) vessels is not inconceivable for the

near future...

14 Pioneering and adventurous!

22 24/7 full service crew management

06 A puzzle of vessels and people...

20 Port of the future


Two decades

As captain, John works two weeks on and two weeks off on ‘his’

tugboat in the Port of Rotterdam. ‘I’m telling you, this one is in

a league of its own!’, he says with a big smile. ‘8000 hp. And you

need that power, too, to guide those great big sea vessels from

the mouth of the port to their berth.’ John has been working for

FAIRPLAY TOWAGE for 20 years already and has stood at

the helm of many vessels. A lot has changed in the past two

decades. ‘We now also do offshore work and sail much more

often.’

‘Just call!’

When he thinks back to the past, he gets a twinkle in his eyes.

‘I’m 62 by now and very satisfied with the work that I’m doing.

But sometimes you drift off, daydreaming. Especially about

Gabon, where I went twice for a couple of months for TOS.

That was really something. Elephants on the beach, monkeys

on board, a crocodile on the ramp… And then it was also a

wonderful, challenging project… If TOS ever has another job

like that one, they can just give me a call!’

‘Well, it certainly doesn’t feel like hanging in there’,

John exclaims, laughing. ‘I just never had the urge to

look else where. At TOS, everything was and is always

well organised. I enjoy the contact with the team in

the office. People actually listen to what you have

to say here, and the work is challenging. What more

could you ask for?’

Teamwork

John is a man who never gets a bad review for his

work. He’s just not built that way. ‘Certainly, crewing

agencies earlier on didn’t have a very good

reputation. We had to prove the opposite. That is why

I made absolutely sure that clients wouldn’t have a

negative word to say about my work. I always went

the extra mile. And I still do that today.’ The state

of the shiny tug, FAIRPLAY XI underlines this drive.

Everything looks great, in the FAIRPLAY TOWAGE club

colours, tidy, clean and perfectly maintained. ‘It’s your

home, so you simply make sure to take good care of

it. And you don’t do it alone, of course. The other TOS

boys here on board have the same mentality. We are

a real team with everyone in charge of certain tasks.

The housekeeping is part of the chores to be done.’

Just ask him about his guitar and he’ll play you a

few chords. And how did he spend his holiday?

He will proudly tell you about his sailing boat. It’s

easy to feel enthusiastic when speaking to Kees

Wagenaar. He’s about to turn 65 next year, yet

he’s still bursting with energy. However, he has

begun to withdraw slowly from the operational

side of things. ‘The relationships from the first

hour will ultimately be joining him in retirement.

So, it is a logical moment for me to take a step

back. I’m happy to make way for the new

generation.’ Right now, the Managing Director

is still involved at TOS five days a week. With

a wink, he explains: ‘Only when I’m not on

vacation, of course!’ Kees is ‘super-duper curious’

and keeps track of everything there is to

know about sustainability and technological

innovation. He likes to look ahead to the future.

‘In order to continue to add value at TOS, we

need to keep developing and evolving ourselves.

I like to contribute to that process. Personally,

I also believe we all have a role to play in

supporting sustainability and technological

innovation. We owe it to future generations…’

Kees Wagenaar

Managing Director

What the future holds for Kees… ELEPHANTS,

CROCODILES AND THE PORT OF ROTTERDAM…He has no regrets. In 1993, after having worked for

years with companies such as Nedlloyd and Smit,

John Venis walked into the office of the young

company of Kees Wagenaar and Joop Keesmaat

(business partner at the time). And he never left.

What has he done over the years? And how has he

managed to ‘hang in there’ at TOS for 25 years?

‘I ALWAYS WENT THE EXTRA MILE. AND

I STILL DO THAT TODAY.’

John Venis

Captain


The Ndurance, Ndeavor and Spirit. The three Cable Laying

Vessels (CLVs) are the main assets in the offshore projects of

Boskalis Subsea Cables & Flexibles. They have a turntable

capacity from 2,000 to about 5,000 tonnes of cable and are

built specifically to operate both offshore and nearshore.

Manager Vessels & Crewing, Remco van Bochove, and his team

are responsible for project crewing and the management,

chartering and deployment of vessels. ‘And we’re not only

talking about CLVs, but also the support vessels like Walk-to-

Work (W2W), Anchor Handling Tugs (AHTs), Crew Transfer

Vessels (CTVs), transport barges and accommodation vessels.’

Modular conversion

The Vessel Management department of Boskalis Subsea

Cables & Flexibles deploys vessels from Boskalis’ Central

Fleet Management Department Offshore for the various

projects and in some cases from external parties. It is Vessel

Management’s job to select the vessels, like the Spirit, best for

project. ‘We, of course, prefer to choose for assets that are best

suited for the job. However, sometimes multiple projects are

running simultaneously, or a client requests a particular vessel

because of its track record. In this case it may be necessary to

modify a vessel’, explains Remco. ‘We always attempt to do

this in a modular fashion so that we can complete the

conversion quickly and efficiently. This is also because we

don’t only take one specific project into account, but also

future projects.’ Modifications are always the result of

thorough consultation between Projects, Operations,

Engineering, Vessel Management and Central Fleet

Management. During a scheduled docking, Central Fleet

Management can then carry out the adjustments directly.

‘Although our business unit does take care of the deck

layout and engineering.’

Better and better

Improving, innovating, increasing safety and efficiency in how

we work. The spearheads of the business unit’s improvement

programme ‘We Connect’ hang on the wall in every office as a

mantra throughout the organisation. ‘It’s in our DNA, but also

it is an absolute necessity’, Remco clarifies. ‘The operation has

a tremendous impact on our company. Operational excellence

is a top priority. If we drop the ball on a project, we might not

participate again next time. That is why we always hold a lessons learned meeting with everyone after

a project. How can we do things more efficiently – faster and safer – tomorrow with the knowledge

we have today and yesterday?’ Process improvement and innovation are on the agenda daily. This is

partially also because the market is constantly developing, and no two projects are alike. For example,

the boat landings of the wind turbines are different every time. ‘We are continuously modifying our

assets accordingly. We also do this for safety reasons. With new Crew Transfer Vessels and Walk-to-Work

Vessels, we put people right on top of the monopile. That saves the risk involved with stepping onto a

ladder and intensive climbing.’

No outsiders

Preparing projects that will only begin in a few years is always a challenge. The market is still very much

in the growth phase, and the legislation and regulations are maturing along with it. For example, what

requirements will our people and equipment need to meet in 2021?’, Remco wonders. ‘Will we need other

assets? There is a lot that you can prepare, but there is always a degree of uncertainty.’ An even bigger

challenge perhaps is recruitment, deployment and retention of people with the right competences,

qualifications and certification. ‘This changing market benefits from a stable organisation without too

many changes and fluctuations. We are therefore committed to the retention of people. Whether it

concerns our own people or hired crew.’ The magic word here is trust. We treat all people as our own.

‘We make sure that nobody feels like an outsider by treating the entire crew as equals. We expect

commitment, enthusiasm and drive from everyone, so they can also expect that from Boskalis. That is

why we are pleased with a partner like TOS, who shares the same philosophy. It creates a good synergy!’

A PUZZLE OF VESSELS AND PEOPLE…Boskalis is involved in the construction of various offshore wind farms throughout Europe and, in the future, far beyond

that, as well is the expectation. The Boskalis business unit Subsea Cables & Flexibles – formerly VBMS – carries out the

installation and repair of infield and export cables. These are challenging projects, often logistic puzzles and a complex

interplay of vessels, equipment and maritime professionals. Achieving operational excellence in this developing market

is not only a motivation for Boskalis, but also their greatest challenge.

Remco van Bochove

Manager Vessels & Crewing at Boskalis


‘THE NEXT GENERATION IS EAGER TO GET STARTED.’

What is Work2Learn?

‘Four days working and one day a week at school, also known

as a work-based learning pathway. Students who register for

these senior secondary vocational programmes are only

accepted once they have found a placement where they

can work and learn. This proves to be quite difficult in

practice. That’s where TOS comes in: we bring these

enthusiastic students and work placement companies in

contact with one another.

What is your role within TOS and what is your background?

‘I’m no stranger to the Port of Rotterdam and the maritime

sector. I worked for over four years in a commercial position

at Stemat and am now Business Manager at TOS. My goal?

Providing our service to new clients, improving our service for

existing TOS clients, and offering as many young students as

possible a bright future in this wonderful harbour city. I do this

together with an enthusiastic team of three consultants and

a back-office employee. The consultants guide the students

throughout their placement, both during their education

programme and on the work floor. They are the point of

contact for the students and the work placement company.’

What was the reason for starting this new service within

TOS?

‘In October 2017, MHR became a part of TOS. This was a

conscious step towards further growth in the harbour and

logistics sector. Besides maritime professionals, we can also

help our clients to get in touch with ‘promising young talent’.

Young employees with a practical, technical education.

Additionally, we want teachers in maritime and logistics to

know that their students can come to us for a great career.

They can build their entire career via TOS. And our clients

can also count on TOS for all their personnel needs!’

Where do you see the synergy for TOS and its clients?

‘Our clients often do much more than the services for

which we provide personnel. Now, we are able to fill

entry-level jobs, for example, and a number of logistics

and onshore positions. And it works the other way around,

too. For students who have finished their studies, we can

provide guidance in finding a maritime position. We are

always looking for all kinds of personnel, such as riggers.

Our pool is constantly growing. This is the way for our

clients to find skilled, motivated people. We’ve found that

students who enjoyed their work-based learning pathway

often work for a longer period at their work placement

company after their studies. So, investing in their

education means investing in your company.

Last, but not least, subsidies are available.’

What areas do you expect to be challenging? For you

personally and for Work2Learn?

‘In the Port of Rotterdam, we’re experiencing a shortage of

people. There is plenty of work, but not enough people are

choosing for a practical and technical education. Soon, an

entire generation of the workforce will retire. So,

this means there is a tremendous opportunity for us.

Graduates can be the start of a new flow of personnel.

Young people who are able and willing to work hard. By

sharing with them the fun experience of working in the

port, we can grow together. And my personal challenge?

Creating a clear identity for Work2Learn. Becoming more

widely known and growing in market share. Making sure

that TOS is the first call in the search for good students

and graduates from the work-based learning pathway,

without losing sight of the human factor and personal

touch.’

The learning and coaching programme ‘Standing Strong

Together for the Future of Rotterdam-Zuid’.

‘The project offers a learning pathway for thirty young

people that have become estranged from education and

the labour market. As a Rotterdam family business, we

consider it our moral duty to provide them with a helping

hand. TOS guides these youth in finding placements in

the port, because each of them are potentially valuable

employees. In a ten-week training, the STC prepare them

for a future in the port. And it’s paying off. It’s nice to be

making a contribution!’

Good knowledge of the market, a generous smile and an enthusiastic story is what she brings to her network and new

relationships. Her focus: to find learning and work placements for ‘her’ youth. Her ambition: establishing TOS as the

intermediary between senior secondary vocational students and training companies in the Port of Rotterdam. Business

Manager Work2Learn at TOS Giuseppina – ‘Pien’ – Donnina tells us about the Work2Learn philosophy, the challenges of

working in the port and logistics sector and the synergy with other TOS services.

‘After an introductory traineeship in

high school at EMO, I was convinced:

the port is where I want to be! So, a

work-based training programme at

STC was a logical choice. You gain

work experience and get to know

companies in the harbour. TOS

arranged my placement with ADM

Europoort: a company that is a great

fit for me and vice versa!’

Lorin Vintu

work-based training programme, Coordinator Port Operations level 4 STC

Giuseppina Donnina (on the right)

10 | TOS Times

The decor: a charming, historic and classic restaurant along

the Maas. Those present three stylish, cheerful women. While

they certainly also discuss business, there is plenty of room

for personal questions and interests. The relaxed atmosphere

and the friendly interaction is a sign of partnership and trust.

Sophie: ‘The contact between TOS and Sodexo goes back

quite some time’. We have been working together for about

three years now. And it’s going well!’

‘Puzzle’

In the beginning, Sophie was mostly in touch with Marleen

concerning the needs of Sodexo. ‘The HR policy for Sodexo

Offshore & Marine focuses on providing the best labour

solutions for our clients, explains Sophie. ‘Marleen and I

discussed the solutions that TOS could deliver to meet our

needs for personnel. Marleen then spoke about this internally

with Marlena because we are subject to international law and

regulations.’ She continues with a wink: ‘And, eventually, I got

a direct ‘hotline’ to Marlena for these matters’. Marlena chimes

in: ‘Sodexo doesn’t have any standard situations. Every new

project is different. They need people for rigs, for example,

but also for vessels that travel to all kinds of European waters.

Then it is especially important to know under which flag they

sail in order to find out which law and regulations apply. Every

time again it is a challenging puzzle, Marleen adds: ‘Together,

we look for the best solution that not only is legally sound,

but that is competitive, too. This can lead to some differences

of opinion internally. But we are very transparent with each

other and towards the client. We understand the market and

know the kinds of challenges Sodexo is up against. That is why

we are always able to work things out. After all, we share the

same goal: helping the client well and according to the rules.

It is a real joint effort from Sophie, Marlena and me!’

Keeping things interesting

The biggest challenge for Sodexo, according to Sophie, is

finding and retaining personnel: ‘We ask quite a lot of our

people. You spend a lot of time away from home, working

together with all these different nationalities. The group

dynamics are very important. Especially because we want to

deliver an outstanding service. Additionally, you have to be

flexible, and able to change gears quickly.’ Finding people that

match this profile is already quite a challenge, keeping them

interested even more so. Certainly, now that the market is on

the rise and they can ‘shop around’, TOS is experiencing the

same. Marleen explains: ‘It goes without saying that we select

candidates that are a good fit with our clients. But we also

arrange for the right training and proper paperwork for our

people. We invest a lot in training and certification, so it is a

shame when people only stay in their role for a short time. We

try to build a relationship through strong personal contact

and training opportunities.’ Sodexo considers all people

as their own employees, the training curriculum

and development possibilities are also available for

contingent workforce in order to stay the preferred

employer and retain our employees.

Sodexo has...

Sodexo has 427,000 colleagues around the

world, serving more than 100 million consumers

per day with the objective to improve their

Quality of Life. All Sodexo employees

participate in an engagement survey once

every two years. ‘We use the feedback to set up

concrete action plans to continuously improve

their Quality of Life at work’, adds Sophie.

A MATTER OF TRUST...

INTRODUCING

Sophie Broers

HR Manager Offshore & Marine Netherlands at Sodexo

Energy & Resources

As HR Manager, Sophie is responsible for the HR policy

at Sodexo Offshore & Marine Netherlands, with all of

the aspects that go along with that: recruitment,

compensation, evaluation, absenteeism and training.

Making sure her people are always well-trained and

motivated is one of her many tasks. What does she like

most about her work? The diversity of it. ‘No two days

are alike, no two projects the same. That takes a lot of

hard work, but it is also tremendously satisfying every

time we come up with a good solution together!’

A good conversation is the driving force behind a strong collaboration. Transparent communication is what keeps things

running smoothly through change and challenges. Sodexo and TOS know this like no other. They discuss their collaboration

on a regular basis. How is TOS contributing to the service offered by Sodexo? And which expertise does TOS have in house

that Sodexo needs most? In a round-table discussion, Sophie Broers from Sodexo and Marleen Stuurman and Marlena

Holdermans from TOS share their views on this partnership.

‘TOGETHER, WE LOOK FOR THE BEST SOLUTION THAT

NOT ONLY IS LEGALLY SOUND, BUT THAT IS

COMPETITIVE, TOO.’

TOS Times | 11


‘The balance’

Although all three women work primarily with men, none

of them experience this as a bad thing. ‘It has never held me

back in my work’, says Marlena. Sophie, on the other hand,

is very aware that she is working in a predominantly male

industry. ‘Within Sodexo, Diversity & Inclusion is an important

commitment. For offshore when it comes to gender balance,

there is a lot of ground still to cover. So, we focus more of our

efforts in that area. After all, women are very welcome when it

comes to improving group dynamics.’ It’s up to TOS to inspire

women and support them in building a career in the maritime

and offshore industry. ‘We recently deployed two women for

an offshore project at Sodexo. But that could be many more’,

tells Marleen. It’s often for positions in cleaning or catering,

but Sodexo stimulates the development of these women so

they have the opportunity to grow within the company. ‘For

example, one of our camp bosses is a woman managing the

larger sites’, explains Sophie. ‘So, it’s possible!’ The three

women are themselves testimony to this: building a great

career in a man’s world. Perhaps that is also the reason behind

their strong collaboration and personal click. ‘We are taking

on more and more projects together’, admits Marleen. ‘We

often have the same clients and can therefore work together

more often’, Sophie explains further. Our collaboration is

starting to look more and more like a steady partnership.’

She smiles: ‘A good development, if you ask me!’

SODEXO: QUALITY OF LIFE…Sodexo is world leader in ‘Quality of Life Services’. With

more than one hundred services, like catering, cleaning,

maintenance and laundry, it contributes to the Quality of

Life of the people it serves. Both close to home and faraway,

isolated destinations like those where the Offshore &

Marine division operates. The people of Sodexo are the first

point of contact and ensure that the offshore and maritime

personnel are as comfortable as possible despite being so

far from home. TOS contributes to this by recruiting and

deploying good people for Sodexo.

‘We are poisoning our earth and ourselves.’ Captain George

Zwart was born in 1956 and has sailed for many decades. So,

the onset of this plastic soup is something he witnessed

first-hand. ‘We are located just above the northern edge of all

the plastic’, he explains. ‘In Northern Europe you still see small

boats fishing the plastic out of the harbour and rivers. But the

further south you go… I once sailed along the French coast

through a thick stream of plastic that was flowing straight out

of a river. Really crazy! So, being able to make a contribution to

the pilot felt really good!’

‘Too smooth’

The Marilyn M was selected for the pilot: a multicat from GSS

Marine Services B.V. from Maassluis. George worked together

with two other guys via TOS: an Able Seaman and a Chief

Engineer. The goal of the pilot is to test the sustainability

of the system. In practice, the installation’s arms will be

stretched out on the ocean and will have to withstand heavy

weather conditions. The pilot, located fifteen miles west of

Scheveningen, consisted of different phases. ‘On the first day,

we conducted a towing test. The sail was fastened behind the

ship and weighted to keep it hanging down. While sailing,

there are all kinds of forces coming from different directions.

Our speed was faster than initially intended in order to

simulate bad weather. The sea was just too smooth!’

The big question

On the second day, the system was installed on the previously

positioned anchors. Boskalis had set out buoys earlier to mark

the anchors’ locations. ‘We fixed the cylinders with sails to the

buoys with rope. We worked closely together with the people

of The Ocean Cleanup. Sympathetic and smart people who

definitely know what they’re doing.’ However, George is left

wondering if it will make a difference. ‘I hope that it proves to

be a solution in some shape or form. For now, we are fighting

a losing battle because there is so much plastic being

dumped into the sea. But if we’re going to address that issue

as well, I have full confidence that they will be successful with

this system. For a healthy future for my grandchildren!’

THE OCEAN CLEANUP‘A HEALTHY FUTURE FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN’

There is enough plastic in the world’s oceans to cover entire continents. Every year, the oceans collect another eight billion

kilos. In 2012, Delft student Boyan Slat decided to do something about this problem. He designed an installation with long

floating arms that gather and hold on to plastic until a ship comes to pick it up. More than five years later, The Ocean Cleanup

is now ready to be tested. Captain George Zwart contributed to a pilot along the coast of the Netherlands.

Marleen Stuurman

Operations Director

Marleen is responsible for the operational activities

concerning HR and crewing. She has been with TOS

since the very beginning, so she knows our services and

clients like no other. With her years of experience and

background in HR, she is an indispensable sparring

partner for colleagues and clients.

Marlena Holdermans MSc LLM

Compliance Director

Marlena is responsible for the quality, tax and legal

implications of our projects. Educated in both Business

Administration and Commercial Law, she is always able

to come up with the right solution for often challenging

problems that our clients are facing.


How did you first come into contact with TOS?

‘I began at Damen in 1994 in the Customer Finance

department. Cees Moolenburgh was the Financial Director

at the time and his assistant, Trudy, is the partner of Kees

Wagenaar. So, I have known Kees from the moment I began

working here. And I knew Joop Keesmaat, Kees’ business

partner at the time, from before 1994 even. Both men are real

go-getters who know the maritime world and Damen very

well. When they founded TOS in 1992, a collaboration was a

logical step. The partnership with TOS has simply always been

there.’

What is ‘The Damen Standard’ and how does the TOS service

measure up to this?

‘Damen has been growing since the acquisition by Kommer

Damen in 1969 and his decision to build stock vessels. The

central theme in this development: deliver quality and deliver

on time. That is The Damen Standard. The client always comes

first. Damen has traditionally always set out into the world.

We go looking for new challenges and don’t shy away from

unexpected circumstances. That pioneering and adventurous

spirit lives at TOS, too. Perhaps it’s typical for Rotterdam or

simply part of our maritime identity. Either way, the bottom

line is that our companies and our philosophies are a good match. TOS always provides a committed

crew with the right paperwork. They know exactly how we want things done and strive for the same

level of quality by delivering our ships spick and span. They did this 25 years ago and they still do it

today.’

How is Damen preparing for the future?

‘Pioneering and discovering new markets is something we continue to do. We are always trying to

come up with new product-market combinations. As long as it meets the wishes of our client and we

can deliver the level of quality the market expects of us. For example, we look at the (for our company)

slightly larger offshore projects and submarines. And when you think about the future, you also

automatically think about sustainability, of course. Such as scrubbers that clean the exhaust gases

from our engines. But also, ballast water treatment. And while the law and regulations sometimes

lag behind, we are already investing in these techniques. When it comes to sustainability, we like to

march at the front. Besides, you cannot look to the future without focusing on technological

innovation.’

Can you give some examples of technological developments?

‘With the RSD Tug 2513, for example, we have a revolutionary innovation on our hands. The vessel

has two bows, so you can always operate bow first. Additionally, the vessel has a remote monitoring

system. On shore, we can read all of the vessel’s data. We can see if it is in operation, read the

temperature of the equipment, the pressure, speed, etcetera. Using this data, we are better able to

plan ahead for maintenance and predict wear and tear. This has a tremendous impact on efficiency

and costs. Also, we are using more and more digitisation and robotisation in the building of our ships.’

What opportunities do you see for the collaboration with TOS?

‘Kees is a free spirit with a wide range of interests. He has a good understanding of the business we are

in so I’m positive that he himself sees plenty of opportunities for TOS. But given the parallels between

our companies when it comes to quality, experience and commitment, I certainly see us partnering

up even more often in the future. For

example, in countries where maritime

development is still in its early stages,

where together we can really make a

difference.

What are you most proud of?

‘Of the fact that we have stood our

ground in a very competitive market.

We are grateful to our people who have

made this possible by serving clients

around the world. Clients who have faith

in our service and keep coming back

to us. Once again, the long-term

relationship… that’s what it’s all about!’

PIONEERING AND ADVENTUROUS!

Long-term relationships are sacred at Damen. Not only with clients, but also with personnel and contracted parties. So, it

makes perfect sense that Damen Shipyards and TOS have worked together for as long as Damen Chief Operations Officer

Jan-Wim Dekker can remember. We found out about his first memories of TOS, how Damen has developed over the years

and how the collaboration with TOS has evolved along the way.

Jan-Wim Dekker

Chief Operations Officer

at Damen Shipyards


POLANDLOCATION GDYNIA

Gdynia Maritime University is the largest state school of higher maritime education in Poland and one of the largest in Europe.

TRAVEL DESK

Myrthe Soetens runs our in-house travel

desk. The airline software, ATPI, enables

her to book all kinds of airline tickets.

Other services include hotel, car rental,

taxi and visas.

INDONESIALOCATION JAKARTA

There are many developments in the region and the demand for Indonesian seafarers is increasing.

CYPRUSLOCATION LIMASSOLFor several global projects TOS provides a Cyprus payroll and administration.

UKRAINELOCATION ODESSA

TOS UKRAINE – 10 YEARS!

We’re proud! Business is going well, thanks to our great seafarers!

TOS was here...

HQ ROTTERDAM

Great view at Waalhaven port

BOSKALIS BEACH CLEANUP TOUR 2018

CABLE LAYING PROJECTSLocation: European waters

Kwade Hoek is clean again! In total

six TOS colleagues participated to

collect marine litter (litter in the sea)

and plastic debris.

The TOS project teams are involved in cable laying

activities in the waters of the North Sea. Our Riggers,

Foreman, Operators and Superintendents are assisting

the laying of infield and export cables and their repair

on more than 20 wind farms.

CZECH REPUBLICLOCATION DĚČÍN

Děčín is located in northwestern Bohemia at the confluence of the rivers Elbe and Ploučnice. Decín also has its own inland shipping college, with which TOS maintains close ties.

DOUBLE TOW SHIP DELIVERYFrom: Lagos, Nigera

Destination: Astakos, Greece

The Afrik Magpie is towing

the Afrik Eagle & Afrik Eider.

Great performance by our ship

delivery crew and especially

Captain Jan!


What project is a good example of your services and core

values and makes you proud?

‘Honestly, we’re proud of all the projects we do. Of course there

are the large, ten-year contracts for major oil companies. But

for me personally, the projects in more extreme countries are

the most special. For example, we started operations in Liberia

in 2010. The country had just been through a war and was still

licking its wounds. Nevertheless, we went over there and started

work in the port of Monrovia and the port of Buchanan. It’s eight

years later now and we’re still there and we’re still profitable. We

localised part of the crew and people are happy. We have good

relationships with our clients and the government. And we just

signed a five-year extension on one of our contracts. In short,

we’re still going strong over there and that’s something I’m

proud of.’

In what way do our services help you be successful?

‘Smit Lamnalco is specialised mainly in terminal towage. We

work for oil majors all across the globe assisting tankers during

berthing and unberthing or on an export or import buoy.

However, we’re not specialised in sailing our vessels half-way

across the world. Of course our people are used to working

offshore or off the coast, but sailing from one continent to

another requires a different skill set. That’s where TOS comes

in. They have the specialists in terms of sailing and seamanship.

What’s more, they are masters at sailing ships in the most

economic way possible: finding the exact right balance

between speed and burning fuel.’

How has the collaboration been with TOS? How would you

characterise it?

‘The collaboration has been excellent. What stands out is TOS’

flexibility. Sometimes a change of plans is unavoidable or

unforeseen circumstances come up. TOS doesn’t seem to skip

a beat whenever that happens. Taking care of the unexpected

seems like business as usual for them. What’s also important for

us is that TOS has professionals available to perform the tougher

tasks. A good example is a recent delivery, where a tug towed

two smaller tugs on two separate lines from Nigeria all the way

to Greece. A complicated job, but all problems were taken care

of. The captain came by our office the other day to debrief. He

shared his experiences and advice, which is a valuable way for

us to keep learning. It’s typical for the openness and honesty of

our relationship. All in all, I’d say we’re good neighbours.’

OUR NEIGHBOURS IN ROTTERDAM

We have been working together for over a decade. A few doors down from our office in Rotterdam is the office of Smit

Lamnalco. The company provides marine support all across the world in the most challenging environments. We speak

with Peter Koster, Marine Manager Africa.

Could you introduce yourself for our readers? How did you

end up working at Smit Lamnalco?

‘When I was nineteen years old I applied for a job at Smit. That

was in December 1972. I started the following month and have

worked for the company ever since. In those 46 years, I’ve held

many different positions and I’ve lived all over the world.

The most memorable period was definitely my time in the

Bahamas, where we set up an office in 1997. I was the only

expatriate, though I felt like a national too after a while. My office

consisted of not much more than a laptop, which was cutting-

edge technology back then, so much of my work was done on

my lap. I’m still very proud of what we accomplished together

over the eleven years I worked there.’

Every market and region has its specific challenges and

particularities. What are the main challenges for Smit

Lamnalco?

‘Over the last decade or so, the worldwide recession has been

the biggest challenge. It was slow to hit us, because we tend to

work with long-term contracts up to ten years. But gradually, we

noticed the effects. Prices in the oil and gas industry were under

pressure and as a result ours were too. For quite a while, there

weren’t too many developments and the new work that came in

was limited as well. Economies across the world are doing better

now, but just like the recession, the economic uptick has been

slower to reach our market. There is a clear upward trend though

and we are optimistic about where things are headed.’Operation in Liberia

‘WE ARE OPTIMISTIC

ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE

HEADED’

PORT OF THE FUTURE

Perth (AUS)

Rotterdam (NL)

20 | TOS Times

The ‘smartest port’ in the world. If it were up to Rotterdam, our port would

conquer this title in no time. More and more vessels can be navigated from a

great distance. And a port with only self-driving (autonomous) vessels is not

inconceivable for the near future. An Internet of Things platform is currently

preparing the 42-kilometres of port for autonomous shipping and making

the Port of Rotterdam more competitive. In addition, this initiative makes an

important contribution to the sustainable development, the management

and the operation of the port. Below is an overview of the smart sensors

and the technology of the port of the future.

Internet of Things platform

(cloud-based)

Sensors in mooring posts,

waterways and quay walls

Cyber securityRealtime information concerning, for

example, current, windspeed, water

level, and visibility is combined with

data collected by sensors on ships, in

quay walls, waterways and mooring

posts to minimise congestion in the

port and optimise the time needed for

mooring, loading and departure. The

primary focus of this technology for

the Port of Rotterdam is performance

and safety.

DPS (Dynamic Positioning System)

Sensors

Satellite communication

Mobile communication via 3G and 4G

Lidar laser scanning

Cameras and night-vision cameras

Remote control room

Unmanned bridge

Operational data

SHIPS

PORT

CLOUD PLATFORM


For example, when we need a flight booked,

we simply email TOS a date and they will do the

homework, finding the best price around that date,

taking into account any local festivities or holidays and

making sure all documents are in order. More generally,

I like the way we communicate with each other. We are

able to discuss anything with TOS and are always able to

reach a consensus. I appreciate their advice and feel they

are committed to finding the best solution for us.’

Eric Cheah Ban Li

General Manager Operations

24/7 FULL SERVICE CREW MANAGEMENT SERVICESTheir roots are firmly planted in Rotterdam. But in late 2015, Kotug set foot on the Asian market by opening an

office in Malaysia: Kotug Asia. The innovative towage company called upon TOS Jakarta to supply and manage

the crew for the initial tug boats the company operates. Eric Cheah shares his thoughts on the Asian market,

the challenges of dealing with different cultures and languages and his experience of working with TOS.

What has it been like to open the new office?

‘It has been a growth period for me personally. I have

a maritime background, meaning I had experience

piloting vessels and berthing and unberthing with tugs,

but not managing them. We’ve worked hard to achieve

industry best practices, develop a cost-efficient structure

and learn from and implement the quality standards

that our mother company has established worldwide. It

has been very helpful to work with a partner that takes

equal concern in how the crew is taken care of. I’ve found

that the people at TOS Jakarta really listen to our ideas

and challenges and help us figure out the best course

of action. For example, when we just started out the

exchange rate for the Malaysian Ringgit shifted

dramatically. TOS’s advice and support was invaluable

in dealing with that obstacle.’

Every market and region has its own challenges and

particularities. What are some of the challenges Kotug

Asia deals with?

‘Language is a big item: we work with people speaking

Malaysian Malay, Indonesian Malay, Dutch and English.

It can be tricky to tune into the different pronunciations

and styles of grammar from different cultures. Initially, it

could be difficult to understand everyone and get your

message across. There are also cultural differences.

Asians tend to be more reserved than Europeans,

causing a delay in the feedback to senior

management and the parent company..’

What are your expectations of how the Asian

market will develop?

‘The Asian market is notoriously difficult to predict. It is

constantly growing, causing a changed market outlook

every few years. That said, I expect that the current tugs

in Malaysia will need an upgrade in response to the

growth of the container and liquid bulk sector. We are

located in the middle of the passage between China

and Europe and I expect part of the transition to spill

over from Singapore. Most tugs in Malaysian ports and

terminals have a bollard pull of 45 tonnes. Kotug Asia

started out with a bollard pull of 65 tonnes and we are

working with our clients to see if they would like to have

the tonnage increased. The Asian towage industry might

also find a niche in the oil and gas sector. With the oil

prices no longer being what they once were, we might

see a move from oil rigs with pipelines to floating storage

units offshore (FSUs). Such a development would create

a demand for harbour or towage services to berth ships

at the FSUs.

What has your experience in working with TOS been

like?

Having a lean setup in Asia, TOS Jakarta is our 24/7 full

service crew management services team. Instead of

just providing the crew and merely responding to our

requests, they take a much more proactive role. They

arrange contracts, certifications, documentation, salaries,

flights, ferry tickets, assessments…

‘THE ASIAN MARKET IS

CONSTANTLY GROWING

AND DIFFICULT TO PREDICT’


At TOS and Seafox, we use an online platform called

Traqqr to keep our documents organised. If something has

expired, it is directly visible (gets flagged) in the system. This

platform really is a must for us with the number of certificates

we have on file and given their validity period of only two

years. Also, sometimes, new clients require new certification:

a life of learning

‘I would like to develop my skills to become Project Manager

or Project Coordinator in my current field of occupation. By

the way, everything was well organised at my last course.’

‘In the future, I see myself working as Supervisor Engineer.

A nice job that I would like to work towards. I will handle any

problems and challenges I come across along the way with

the right education, training or course. That is what a life of

learning means to me. With a bit of patience and common

sense, there is no challenge too big.

‘WE GET THE JOB DONE!’

‘I work as Deckhand at Seafox and the next step in my career

is Offshore Crane Operator. In preparation of this step, I am

currently taking a 5-day course at the SOMA College in

Harderwijk. After the course comes the practical part. I will

work forty operating hours offshore. Both operating the crane

on deck as well as heading out to the supply boat. After that,

an examiner will come on board for my assessment. If

everything checks out, then I can begin as ‘substitute crane

operator’. So, I just have to gain as much experience as I can

until a position becomes available for fixed crane operator.’

‘Working offshore is a challenge where no two days are the

same. So, you adjust your education accordingly. Once I get

a job as crane operator, I will need to take the CAA course to

be able to work as HLO on the helideck. These days, you won’t

make it without training. Which other programmes I’d like to

do in the future? That depends entirely on which direction I

go. But I believe: you’re never too old and it’s never too late to

learn!’

‘Logistics is my kind of world! That’s why I chose an

education programme in logistics. I want to continue to grow

in this field. At logistics company GAC in Rotterdam, my work

is diverse, and it goes well with what I learn at school. There

are also many career opportunities for me here. Once I finish

my study programme, I would like to do the work-based

learning pathway (BBL) for Logistics Team Leader. Hopefully,

I can continue on at GAC. Why work-based learning? I earn

my keep and am learning at the same time. It’s perfect!’

‘Studytube, the online learning platform at our HQ, provides

micro-learning videos and online academies in various forms

and on numerous topics. The TOS Academies, presented

monthly by TOS employees, are available for all colleagues

to follow and learn from. Everyone at the HQ has received a

‘learning line’ that matches the skills and competencies

needed for their specific position. The best-performing

departments were the Back Office and the Recruiters! And,

because I finished the ‘learning line’ in the shortest period

of time, I was given the title: Master of Studytube!’

BORIS ORCIKOV

Material Coordinator (MATCO) on the Seafox 5

Last course: FOET, Further Offshore Emergency Training

MICKEY HOOGDUIN

Technical Engineer / Operator

Last course: GWO WIND

DENNIS GEUSEBROEK

Deckhand

Last course: Offshore Crane Operator

JOEY KUYP

Deckhand

Last course: Crane Operator Offshore Installations 1.2A

KAJ NIEUWLAND

Logistics Employee

Last course: Work-based Learning Pathway

GINA WEEDA

Back Office Assistant at TOS

Last course: Studytube Learning Line

A LIFE OF LEARNINGWhether we are conscious of it or not, we are all learning all of the time. Every day, for our whole lives. Courses, trainings,

learning on the job… How do our colleagues see this ‘life-long learning’?


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT….

The same privacy legislation for all countries of the European Union (EU). Since 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection

Regulation (GDPR) or, in Dutch, the Algemene Verordening Gegevensbescherming (AVG) is in force. The Act regulates the

protection and privacy of individuals and has consequences for everyone who processes personal data within the EU. Even

outside of the EU, the GDPR applies when the data pertains to services offered in the EU. What are the main provisions of this

Act? Which rules are relevant for companies and what are the rights of the data subjects?

Since 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation

(GDPR) is in force. This means that the same privacy legisla-

tion applies throughout the European Union (EU). For many

companies with head offices in Europe, the GDPR requires an

adjustment in global policy.

The Dutch Data Protection Authority (Dutch DPA) has

announced fines of 20 million euros or 4% of annual global

revenues for a violation of the new law.

We make a distinction between regular personal data (e.g.

name and address, driving licence), special personal data

(e.g. religion, passport photo) and other personal data of a

sensitive nature (e.g. citizen service number, login details).

Data may only be requested for legitimate purposes. So, it is

primarily a matter of raising awareness. Do I really need the

‘special’ data or will ‘regular’ data suffice?

Implement data minimisation: store as little private data as

possible and work with short-term retention periods.

Medical data should not be stored and may only be

consulted by company doctors.

The data subjects always reserve the right to access their

data, to withdraw their consent and to request removal of

their data.

A data leak should be reported to the data subjects and to

the Dutch DPA.

GDPR - A BRIEF OVERVIEW

Right to access stored data.

Right to request removal of data.

Right to withdraw consent for

processing data.

Responsibility of the organisation: to take

technical and organisational measures to

protect personal data and to implement

retention periods.

Obligation to report data leaks to the

Dutch DPA + data subjects.

CHALLENGES FOR MARITIME AND CREWING SECTOR

Other priorities in the maritime sector have often prevailed over privacy. Due to the safety protocols carried out on board,

everything is transparent. Across the sector, a lot of information is recorded and shared with authorities, insurance

companies, etc. This could be (medical) information in the event of an accident on board… Fiscal regulations also

require the recording and processing of personal data, such as the IMO crew lists.

The GDPR ensures that the security of this type of personal data is guaranteed. The challenge for TOS and its clients is

to guarantee safety, while complying with all maritime regulations and, at the same time, protecting personal data.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

This article is intended to provide information on the application of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). No rights can be derived from the

contents of this article; it is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Although this article has been drafted with the

utmost care, we cannot fully guarantee that the contents will remain at all times up-to-date and correct. More information regarding the GDPR can be

found on this website: http://bit.ly/dataprotectionEU

Gina Weeda, Back Office Assistant (left) and Sophie Bouhuys, Legal Counsel

TOS TASKFORCE

TOS works with and processes personal data on a daily basis.

This includes visas, passports, seamen’s books, citizen service

numbers, passport photos, Certificates of Competence (CoC),

training certificates… TOS aims for the highest standard of quality

in everything and compliance with the law is no exception. We

ensure the protection of data through the use of well-secured

systems and procedures that are subject to periodic audits. All

arrangements with our suppliers are set out in data processing

agreements and we keep a register of our processing activities.

Our Task Force monitors compliance with these agreements

and processes. The Task Force also serves as a support desk for

colleagues and clients.

‘HAVE YOU CLEARLY DEFINED THE RETENTION PERIODS

FOR PERSONAL DATA IN YOUR ORGANISATION?’

www.tos.nl/meet-us

A solid footprint

arises between

ebb and flood,

justifying

a thrill of the heart

a glorious sunset

occurs between

day and night,

verifying

a touch of friendship

a poetic gesture

exists between

open and closed,

clarifying

a rainbow of languages.

Living these moments in difference

we rely on changing perspectives.

Celebrating these moments in difference

we invent new stories, ocean-wide.

***

Paul Kuijpers October 2018

TOS TIMES · Manager Vessels & Crewing, Remco van Bochove, and his team ... Vessels (CTVs),...

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