Meet Erastus Nashima, Senior Surveyor, ABL Dubai, UAE
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 look like at ABL?
Being a surveyor requires flexibility, which includes attending to existing cases and new cases. When I am not out on survey, I prefer to get to the office pretty early, when it’s a bit quieter. I attend to client emails, whilst monitoring active cases and on occasion I handle towage and voyage approvals. Day-to-day in the office, I will also be arranging surveys required for the day or week ahead.
What inspired you to join your industry?
“I started as a deck cadet in 2003, in offshore diamond drilling operations, working in my home country of Namibia. Since that time, I have always been inspired by Mariners who have dedicated their lives at sea and come ashore to drive and enhance the marine industry. In terms of surveying, I purposely transitioned into it from sea, as I believe that seagoing experience and technical knowledge assists in creating transparency and a 3rd party oversight over ships and marine assets for the Underwriters and Owners.
I just love the ocean and ships and believe their effects globally are at times underestimated.”
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I have recently transitioned from the Maritime department to the Offshore department, for marine warranty survey (MWS) exposure, where I look forward to playing an integral part in executing rig moves and various MWS related tasks. I have also recently attended surveys of dredgers that are engaged in gas pipeline deployment from sea to ashore in Afungi, Mozambique. I am enthusiastic about this ongoing project, which will require continued involvement, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
With Africa’s initiatives to enhance trade and sustainability in its maritime sector, Can you tell us what you think the future of energy and oceans looks like in your home country of Namibia?
The recent oil discovery in my home country reflects a potentially bright energy future for the country, with suggestions even of Namibia being the next Guyana for oil. Green hydrogen has gained momentum as a new renewable energy, and considering the abundance of heat and wind, Namibia can be considered as well positioned for renewable energy development. Furthermore, there are plan for the local port authority to expand its infrastructure to align with the future oil and gas demands, creating more new opportunity in energy and oceans locally.
Though my work is with ABL’s operations in the UAE, I am very excited to see our operations and team in South Africa diversifying its support to the Namibian energy sector. With collaboration as one of our core values across ABL Group, I hope and look forward to the opportunity to also contribute as ABL and our sister company, the renewable energy consultants, OWC, further develop their footprint in Namibia.
What do you enjoy most about working as part of the ABL Group team in Dubai?
The team is very diverse and professional in all areas and the vast amount of experience makes work a lot of fun and easier in a way. I find the social gatherings during tea /lunch breaks, interesting in that colleagues get to discuss global topics and those that are not work related, allowing one to take their mind off work.
More about Erastus
Position: Senior Surveyor
Office: Dubai
Hobbies: Running / jogging and watching football also learning to play the guitar 🎸⚽
Favourite book: ‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’.
ABL brings together the deepest pool of multi-disciplinary expertise to support all areas of shipping, from early advisory and technical due diligence, navigational planning, early engineering, vessel design and modifications, through to operations, with surveys, inspections and audits as well as world-class marine warranty survey, to supporting in the minimising of losses with marine casualty management, salvage and wreck removal, and expert witness work.