Liam Petch, Master of Wind Orca
“Whenever I get the chance to fly over or sail past a wind park that we had a hand in building, it gives me this amazing sense of purpose.”
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What do you do as Master of Wind Orca?
“As Master onboard the Wind Orca I have overall responsibility for the safety of the crew, the vessel, our environmental interactions, and the overall client operations. I am responsible for making sure we operate in line with all the legislative requirements as well as implementing the Cadeler policies, and motivating the crew in their daily tasks. This is not a job I could do without the close cooperation and teamwork of all onboard and with the support of the Cadeler Office ashore. Everyone onboard has an important job, and each role onboard plays an important part in keeping the vessel in tip-top condition and getting the job done safely. It is important that the crew feel appreciated.”
How did you end up here? What motivated you in your career?
“When I was 14, I went to sea with my father who was Master on an oil tanker. For the 4 months I was onboard, I completely fell in love with life at sea. All we saw around us was the crisp horizon - occasionally broken by some far off country or an approaching storm. We also regularly saw pods of whales and dolphins. It was like a different world. A quieter, more peaceful world. During my time onboard I got to see true teamwork in action with seafarers from all over the world and different backgrounds living and working together to get the job done. After this trip, I knew this was the life for me.”
Which parts of the job do you enjoy most?
“The most satisfying part of the job is getting it done safely, on time, and having everyone get home in one piece. The complexity of the vessels, and the difficult conditions in which we operate, motivate me. We are operating large vessels, jacking in difficult locations, and installing some of the largest turbine components in the industry, all while working to a deadline with safety at the forefront.”
“I particularly like it when I fly over or sail past a wind park that we had a hand in building, it gives me a great sense of purpose.”
How is your family handling it when you are away for a long time?
“My children know nothing different than me working away and find it normal. Much like I did when growing up with my own dad working away for 4 months at a time. When I am home, we ensure we spend as much time together, and my wife is an absolute warrior when I’m not there. But it is easier to keep in contact today. I still manage to read the bedtime story once or twice a week, and see the presents being opened on Christmas morning.”
What is the best part about working offshore?
“Seafarers are a special breed, and you need a certain amount of resilience to work away from home for such long periods. We keep morale up onboard, and we have a good level of camaraderie between us. Everyone onboard knows they can always come to me if they for instance have problems at home. We like to laugh and make jokes, but when life gets rough, we are sensible to each other’s feelings. As you know, we are all in the same boat.”
What is the worst part of working offshore?
“As anyone working away will say the worst part is missing your family and friends, and occasions such as Christmas, birthdays, weddings and births. I missed the birth of our first child and have been told by my wife that missing the birth of our next one, due this October, is not an option!”
“It was particularly difficult during the first Covid lockdown in 2020 when I was stuck onboard and my wife had to spend 10 weeks in the house with two children under five, my grandmother died and we had to stream the service on my phone.”
What is a good leader in your opinion?
"I think this quote from Arnold Glasgow reflects it well: A good leader takes a little more than his share of the blame, and a little less than his share of the credit."
What is the best part about working for Cadeler as a company?
“We have a proven track record with our two current vessels. On the back of that knowledge and experience, new vessels will join the fleet in the coming years. The company are very open to input from its staff and are actively working to ensure operations and procedures are streamlined and workable for the crew onboard. We have some exciting times ahead of us in Cadeler, and I look forward to playing my part.”