Meet Karl Walter, Senior Surveyor, ABL South Africa
The team at ABL Group shares the passion, vision and values for working in energy and the world’s oceans, de-risking and driving the energy transition. We are driven by the idea that the best work is born from professionalism, diligence… and fun. You know ABL Group, but do you know our team?
What does your day-to-day look like at ABL?
Every morning there is a catch-up session with our Country Manager, Anne Myers. We then hit the work button and get reports out. I enjoy career development as there is so much to learn out there. We are a small office, so have a chat with my colleagues when they arrive at work and if joint projects are on the go, we tackle those before moving on with answering emails, queries etc. Afternoons are spent with at least two hours of solid writing time and then wrapping up for the days and getting last minute emails out and preparing for the next day challenges.
What inspired you to join your industry?
I started my career as a cadet Engineer onboard container ship and I was always in awe of the guy in the squeaky clean white overall, who oozed intelligence and calmy looked onto a piece of steel, with a scratch on it and then calmly walked away and produced a 100-page report. I later realised I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I have always wanted to be a surveyor / consultant, I simply can’t explain it.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
Apart from the day-to-day work I’m currently reading a paper titled “A Guide to Fuel, and Engine Concerns Relative to the IMO 2022 Fuel Oil Sulphur Reduction Mandate” to educate myself on the changes that have come in regard to low sulphur fuels and the effect on shipping and ultimately the Insurance Sector.
What does the future look like in energy and oceans in South Africa?
We are recently witnessing small progress into investment into sustainable energy. The local government is backing it, but we cannot expect anything to happen before it’s fully pushed by foreign investments. Having spent my life in or on them, oceans are my playground and my passion. We are expecting a huge increase in passenger vessels visiting Cape town and are hoping to see more coastal conservation and eco-tourism as locals who live near the ocean are becoming increasingly more vocal and outspoken about being better stewards of what we have been blessed with.
More about Karl:
Position: Senior Surveyor (Engineering)
Office: ABL Cape Town
Hobbies: Diving (SCUBA), open water swimming (cold), building up my training to swim RI (Robben Island, a 7 km open water swim from Robben Island off our coast to Milnerton beach), hiking, Lego, cars (plastic model of a working V8 engine)
Movie: The Big Blue
Book: Anything Clive Cussler
Song: The Sound of Silence by Disturbed
Karl will be joining the ABL team in Athens for this year’s Posidonia event. Our local team of experts in the Greek market will be complimented by an international delegation. Find out more about who is attending and out networking reception on Wednesday June 5.