Meet Allan Wänk, Shipping Manager and Head of Maritime Services | ABL Australia
At ABL people are our business, and our people are our business. Our teams are constantly expanding, into more locations, in expertise and in sectors of influence, so that our people can truly drive safety and sustainability across our energy and oceans.
Each week we introduce you to another member of our staff, for you to meet the energy behind change…
Allan Wänk, Shipping Manager and Head of Maritime Services, ABL Australia
What inspired you to join the industry and what led you to ABL?
I’ve always loved shipping especially as a kid when we lived on the coast, and I could see the Safmarine “Big Whites” tramp past (so called because of their large size and gleaming white hulls that reflected the sun). I joined the Navy and later on the Merchant Navy until I jumped ship to join a Polar Research vessel undertaking various research voyages including servicing the National Antarctic research bases. We suffered rudder damage whilst in the polar ice and we initially thought we would never make it out – but we did! Mostly, as we as well had a positive and growth mindset. It was then that I realised my skills and abilities could be further developed over time through constant effort and persistence and by working with multi disciplined Subject Matter Experts. This is what led me to eventually join ABL!
What does your day-to-day look at ABL?
Due to our ever-expanding group and with offices and locations globally, a typical morning would be prioritising our Australian East Coast client requests (UTC+ 11) and then our London Office (UTC+ 01) based client requests for services for Marine related activities in Australia, New Zealand as well as PNG to ensure that we have the answers and resources for when they come online in the afternoon our time. It’s always a full and exciting day juggling meetings, coordinating, and prioritising people and activities especially when as a group we continue to grow our capabilities and resources.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I can’t say that there is any one job that I can single out at the moment, as they are all demanding yet exciting especially with the optimistic schedules to deliver projects on time and on budget. However, there is one motor explorer yacht that we are project managing here locally in Perth as part of a 8 month refit that will ensure that the yacht will be capable of delivering many more years of trouble free globetrotting voyages or circumnavigations around the globe for its current owner.
It’s always a huge feeling of satisfaction though once we deliver a project scope of work safely and successfully where the clients have a positive outcome in the long run.
What does the future look like in energy and oceans?
In 2022, 32% of Australia’s total electricity generation was from renewable energy sources. There are currently 80 projects that are under construction (or due to start construction soon) around Australia. These are wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy projects. Alongside our new subsidiaries now all under one roof, ABL Group is well placed to not only support the traditional oil & gas sector but their energy transition and the renewables sector. I’m very excited to be part of this next essential journey!
Find out more about ABL Group’s presence in Australia.