Meet Kevin Sirski, Principal Naval Architect & Technical Decommissioning Lead EWA, ABL Aberdeen
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?
A glimpse into your day at ABL & what keeps you on your toes?
“My day-to-day is pretty varied; I’m currently involved in dozens of projects across multiple offices within the Group. A typical day might include reviewing engineering and operational documents, organising and supporting project attendances, meeting with clients and subcontractors or supporting junior engineers as they build up their T&I and decommissioning skills.
I also still spend a reasonable amount of time onsite or offshore overseeing installation and decommissioning activities either as a Client Technical Representative or the Marine Warranty Surveyor.”
What drew you to our industry and what keeps you passionate about it?
I get this question a lot; especially since I grew up in the Canadian prairies. My path into the maritime world started early; when I was three, my eldest brother made a diorama of the Titanic sinking. I was completely captivated, and that sparked a lifelong fascination with the Titanic and ships in general, which eventually led me to become a Naval Architect.
My transition from maritime into marine and offshore energy came about when I was hired as an intern by, what would become, ABL Norway while I was still at university. I was immediately drawn to the diversity of the work, especially offshore heavy lifting. That fascination with the complexity and variety of offshore T&I and decommissioning is what’s kept me at ABL, in one role or another, 17 years on from that first internship.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
Right now, I’m working closely with client teams on early-phase planning for decommissioning North Sea assets. In some cases, we’ve got plenty of options on paper , but no clear or practical way to actually remove the assets. That’s pushing us to think creatively and explore more innovative approaches, often stepping outside the usual playbook to find workable solutions.
In your role, what do you see as the biggest challenges facing the Decommissioning industry in the North Sea (incl the UK, Holland, Norway) and how can these be effectively addressed to deliver efficient projects?
One of the bigger hurdles we often face in decommissioning, especially early on, is the quality (or lack) of available information. Many of the assets we’re dealing with have been in service for over 30 years, some have had multiple owners & operators, and most have undergone countless modifications over time. Unfortunately, proper documentation hasn’t always followed those changes. More often than not, there’s no central database to rely on. If we’re lucky, we might find original design and installation documents tucked away in hard copy, buried in archive boxes, which makes getting accurate information a real challenge.
To tackle this, experienced engineers and mariners typically go out to audit the asset firsthand. They gather what they can and convert it into modern structural engineering models so we can design a workable solution. Thankfully, this process is becoming more streamlined thanks to advances in digitalisation and AI, which are helping us build better workflows and improve efficiency.
Beyond the work, what’s your favourite part about being part of the ABL team in Aberdeen? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?
One of the things I really appreciate about working for ABL is the camaraderie and the genuinely friendly atmosphere across the company.
I’ve had the good fortune to work out of several ABL offices around the world, and no matter where I’ve been, the teams have always been welcoming and easy to get along with. I’ve made a lot of great friends, people I enjoy working with and also spending time with outside of the office.
More about Kevin
Position: Principal Naval Architect & Technical Decommissioning Lead EWA
Office: Aberdeen
Hobbies: Reading, Baking, Hiking and Video Games
Favourite movie: The Count of Monte Cristo
kevin and the wider ABL Group team are LIVE at the Offshore Decommissioning Conference in Aberdeen! Visit us on Stand 41 to discuss how ABL is providing wide-ranging consultancy and engineering services that support safe, efficient, and compliant decommissioning operations.
With decades of experience in offshore oil and gas operations, and a proven track record in complex maritime salvage and wreck removal, ABL Group is uniquely positioned to support a wide range of decommissioning projects: