Hydro Energy Group Interviews - Tony Doyal Client Rep for Aramco

First off Hydro Energy would like to thank Tony Doyal for taking the time out of his busy shift in order for us to fire some questions at him…

Tony is a time served professional who is currently working for Saudi Aramco as a client rep and works on some serious heavy lift barges. Tony has been in the sector over 20 years and I am sure during that period there isn’t much he hasn’t seen or heard.

Hydro Energy is planning to deep dive and engage with time served industry professionals to get an insight on the sector and their experiences within it.

The interview was conducted by Ben Burns.

BB – So Tony tell me how did you get involved in the offshore sector?

TD – It’s a funny story that which involved an ex wife and a brother in-law. At the time my brother in law was working for McDermott’s and always said they where short staffed and after a few drinks I suggested that perhaps the offshore life was for me? He laughed and a month later I found myself standing on my first barge.

BB – What do you think is the biggest benefit to working offshore apart from the money of course..

TD – Freedom and I know that sounds strange as you spend half the year offshore but a lot of people get too hung up on that side of things and forget that we actually get half the year off.

BB – Have you had any near misses while working offshore?

TD – A few as it’s the nature of the beast, you always have to have your head on a swivel especially on a barge as so much is going on at once. I remember one project where the over head rigging broke and came thundering down, just missed me and a clipped one of the lads. A very luck escape for all.

BB – If you hadn’t worked in the offshore sector what do you think you would off have done?

TD – Construction or some sort of engineering job as they are sectors I have always been involved in. Being hands on is something I have always enjoyed so something along those lines I would of thought.

BB – Where would you say is the most dangerous place you have worked offshore?

TD – Sakhalin island and that was due to the weather conditions at its worse I have seen it hit -40. Hot water freezes instantly.

BB – What is the nicest vessel/barge you have worked on and of course the worst?

TD – The best has to be the DB-30 an absolutely beast of a barge and one of the very beast heavy lift barges in the market. The worst is the intermac -323  but that was mainly down to the cramped facilities and not so good food.

BB – How important is good food and good entertainment during a project

TD – Essential, I remember one project up in Baku when new caters where brought in and within a week a lot of the crew had fallen sick. It was later concluded that bush meat had some how found its way on board. Fair to say it was not a pleasant project. Good food and a good gym for the staff is much needed, the ability to keep physically fit

BB – If you could change one thing about working offshore what would it be and why?

TD – Time away from the family and even the hardened contactor will tell you that even if they are not too keen on the wife. Ha. It’s sometimes means missing family holidays, children’s birthdays etc really important times which is hard and you do find you’re self playing catch up.

Myself and Tony actually meet playing Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes (my inner geek) his excuse for playing was it gave him something to do when he was on down time offshore and mine was I spend so much time in airports. I needed something additional to keep me out of duty free.

Worlds away but amazing how the offshore sector can unite us all and the key foundation within Hydro, we pride our self on the ability to shift the pyridine between office and offshore operations.

Tony acts as an adviser to Hydro on all things barge related and it’s a pleasure to have his experience just a phone call away.

“Strength in Knowledge, Power in-depth”

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