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?
Jim Lokkerbol | Naval Architect & Engineer, Longitude UK
What does your day-to-day look like at Longitude?
I spend the majority of my time building, running and then analysing vessel models performing various operations. This involves cooperation with the client to ensure our inputs and assumptions are correct and cooperation with the team to ensure my part fits in correctly with the wider project. So, I’m usually either working on a vessel model, or talking to others about vessel models.
What inspired you to join your industry?
Throughout my degree at the University of Exeter I was really drawn to renewable energy solutions and the multitude of challenges involved in building and implementing them. The challenges seem to be immense but the solutions being brought forward were amazing, adapting current technologies to meet their needs. The Jack-Up wind turbine installation vessels being an impressive example. I then saw Longitude had a small Exeter office and decided that was were I wanted to be after University so I could work on these technologies, and form a challenging new perspective for me, adapting Mechanical Engineering into Navel Architecture.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
I’m currently supporting a client plan a Skidded Mooring in very shallow waters. This is to lay an export cable for a wind farm in Asia Pacific. The operation is quite limited in terms of equipment, and complex to model with the right balance of conservatism and accuracy. It has really challenged my understanding and skills, to try and get as much operability out of the mooring as possible. I’ve really enjoyed this challenge and it’ll be very rewarding to see the final product.
What does the future look like in energy and oceans in your region?
The energy transition is really exciting to see, and while offshore wind is rightfully the main technology at the moment, it’s exciting to see the other options being tried and tested such as tidal and wave energy which will work really nicely in tandem with offshore wind.
What do you most enjoy about working as part of the ABL Group team?
Seeing the various branches of ABL Group come together is really fun to be a part of. There’s a lot of cooperation, between my immediate team at Longitude and the wider organisation, which makes it an enjoyable and wholesome working environment.
Discover more about the service lines that Jim contributes to:
Moorings: Engineering, Design & Analysis
Advanced Analysis & Simulations
