Meet Paulo Chambel, Marine Team Leader & Managing Director at Hidromod
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?
Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at Hidromod so far. What keeps you on your toes?
I focus on coordinating Hidromod’s marine team’s efforts to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining the high technical standards that have distinguished us from our competitors since our inception.
What drew you to our industry and what keeps you passionate about it?
I am drawn to the interdisciplinary nature of modelling marine processes, which requires expertise in mathematics, computer science, physics, geology, biology, and chemistry. This diverse knowledge base keeps me passionate about the field.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I am currently working on the hydrodynamic and sediment dynamics characterisation, using numerical modelling and satellite data, to support the design of a harbour in Guinea-Bissau. This infrastructure project has the potential to make a significant impact in the country.
What do you think the future of oceans and coastal energy development looks like in Portugal, and how can modelling tools support that transition?
The future of oceans and coastal energy development in Portugal is promising. Portugal has a historical tradition of successfully investing in marine endeavours, as seen in the 15th century when it developed the world’s best marine pilotage, leading to two centuries of prosperity.
Today, Portugal is making substantial investments in ocean and coastal energy development. Numerical modelling is a cost-effective tool that supports these investments during the planning, design, and operational phases.
Beyond the work, what’s your favorite part about being part of the Hidromod team in Portugal? Any fun team moments you’d like to share?
Being part of Hidromod feels like being on a special operations team. We tackle complex projects together, adapting to challenges, supporting one another, and ultimately accomplishing our mission.
A fun “fact” at Hidromod is that when a team member’s son is born, it’s seen as a sign that more work is on the way. We currently have 27 sons, with one more on the way, and, true to form, more projects are coming in.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
I would help clients understand that the most effective way to save money when building and operating coastal infrastructure is to invest in observations (both in situ and remote) and numerical modelling. These tools provide critical insights that enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
More about Paulo
Position: Marine Team Leader & Managing Director at Hidromod
Office: Portugal
Hobbies: Running, working out at the gym, taking long walks in nature, and sharing and listening to daily life stories with my wife, son, and two daughters (always good for a laugh).
Favourite book: I have read many fascinating books throughout my life. The most recent one that left a significant impact on me is The First Day – Chronicles of Heaven by João César das Neves. In this book, the author narrates his first day in heaven from a Catholic perspective.
Favourite song: My favourite song is “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
MOHIDing 2025
In the summer, Paulo attended the premier workshop for the MOHID Water Modelling System, held at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) in Lisbon, Portugal! This hybrid event brought together global experts to advance the MOHID system, a powerful tool for simulating hydrodynamics, water quality, and sediment transport.
Hosted at IST’s Civil Engineering Pavilion, MOHIDing 2025 welcomed researchers, engineers, and developers for two days of in-person and online. MOHIDing 2025 was a hub for collaboration, with Hidromod’s contributions sparking discussions on integrating AI and IoT into environmental modelling.
Hidromod, a long-time contributor to the MOHID community, contributed to several insightful discussions addressing challenges like erosion and sediment dynamics to support sustainable coastal management, integrating scales to simulate the impact of positive (e.g. thermal and freshwater) and negative (e.g. saline) buoyant outfall plumes in coastal environments, parallel and cloud computing, etc.
Our work continues to drive real-world impact, from consultancy to operational forecasting. A huge thanks to the MOHID Working Group and IST for hosting, and to all participants for their insights!
