Meet Alexander Shterev, Principal Surveyor and Director ABL Romania
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?
My daily work includes participation in various projects and cases from Hull & Machinery to offshore projects. I conduct surveys on-site and implement reviews of the reports and documentation for cases carried out in the region.
Additionally, I’m involved in the business aspect of our operations in the Black Sea region, collaborating with the Country Managers and colleagues to grow as a business and identify opportunities where our solutions are applicable in Maritime, Oil & Gas, Renewables and Engineering Consultancy.
What inspired you to join the industry?
I was born and grew up in a beautiful city on the coast of the Black Sea called Varna. Like every little boy I loved to stare at the horizon and dream that one day, I would become the captain of my ship or at least a brave fisherman experiencing a lot of adventures. At the same time, I have always possessed the curiosity to understand how things work and what they are made of. So, my love for the sea and my curiosity led me to my future profession, namely marine engineering. As such I had the chance to travel over seas and my childhood dream came true. I have more than 10 years of experience as a Marine Engineer, gaining valuable knowledge and facing all kinds of challenges.
I joined the Salvage Association in 2006 now incorporated into the ABL Group and from then till now I have not only grown and developed together with the company, but I can also say that I have been part of the team here in the Black Sea Region who aided on the expansion of our business.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I’m always busy working on several projects at a time. We just completed a very interesting and rewarding load-out in Romania on a renewable energy project and I’m currently working on Hull & Machinery (H&M) cases which require out unique damage investigation expertise.
What does the future look like in energy and oceans in the Black Sea?
One of the most likely scenarios is the Renewable Energy Expansion. There will probably be an increased focus on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power in the Black Sea region. Countries bordering the Black Sea will invest in renewable energy infrastructure to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. The Black Sea’s relatively shallow waters make it suitable for offshore wind energy development. Countries like Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Ukraine may explore the potential for offshore wind farms to harness the region’s wind resources.
The Black Sea is also known to have significant hydrocarbon reserves, and countries bordering the Black Sea have already been involved in oil and gas exploration and production in the region. Future developments in technology and exploration techniques could lead to further discoveries and extraction activities.
Investment in maritime infrastructure, such as ports and shipping routes, may increase to facilitate trade and energy transport in the Black Sea region. This could involve the expansion and modernisation of existing ports and the construction of new infrastructure to support growing maritime activities.
Given the transboundary nature of the Black Sea, international collaboration and cooperation will be crucial for addressing common challenges such as pollution, overfishing, and maritime security.
More about Alexander Shterev
Position: Director ABL Romania, Principal Surveyor
Office: ABL Bulgaria
Hobbies: Reading
Favourite book: “Peter Simple” from Frederick Marryat
We will be hosting an official launch party for our new office in Constanta, Romania, as part of our growing Black Sea Operations on the 9th of May in the evening. We will be hosting an exclusive industry panel discussion, bringing together perspectives from different industry stakeholder in the local market, together with our own expertise from the perspective of a marine warranty surveyor and a maritime consultant. Find out more and register your interest to join: