In this edition we will be meeting up with Marine Engineer Ahmed A. Al Babtain from the Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering Unit and get close and personal to the person and his job in Vela.

Ahmed Al Babtain

Question: Tell us a bit about you and your family and how did you join Vela

My name is Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Babtain, Saudi national, born and raised in the city of Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia, which is mostly inhabited by employees of Saudi Aramco or those working in service companies for Saudi Aramco.  I’m a proud father of three, one boy and two girls, and have a supportive wife.

My father, an “Aramcon” himself, is a keen fisherman, and he got me hooked on fishing and the love of the sea.  After completing high school I joined King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran and completed 1 year with high grades in all subjects.  My father informed me of a new group within Saudi Aramco, named Vela, which was formed to be the shipping arm of Saudi Aramco in charge of transporting Saudi Aramco crude and products to the company’s customers worldwide.  The thought of working with Saudi Aramco in a field close to my heart, the sea, was intriguing, and hence I didn’t think twice about applying for a job within Vela.  After successful interviews with Vela management I was approved to join Saudi Aramco and become a Vela holding employee after completing a 4 year college program to earn an engineering degree.  I graduated with a qualification in marine engineering from South Tyneside College in the UK in the summer of 1995, and my current illustrious voyage with Vela began.

Question:  What is your current job in Vela and how did you get to where you are?

I currently work for the Pollution Control and Environmental Engineering (PC&EE) Unit which deals mainly in emergency response plans and environmental regulations.  The unit consists of three people: the Senior Pollution Engineer who handles the influential and crucial issues relevant to international regulatory events, such as the International Maritime Organization, which is a United Nation’s subsidiary.

Myself, I’m dealing with the actual emergency response plan, its updates, and periodic drills that ensure Vela is ready to respond to any crisis affecting the ship, its cargo, or, more importantly, its crew.  In addition to these tasks, the PC&EE Unit is active in environmental seminars, maritime events, and shipping forums.

Before joining the PC&EE Unit, I worked for several years in Vela’s Marine Operations Department in various capacities, most notably as a Marine Superintendent in charge of daily activities, long and short range maintenance planning, and crew development for several ships.  My tenure in Marine Operations brought with it an understanding of how ships perform and react to emergencies as well as what and how rules and regulations affect the running of Vela’s fleet of tankers.

Question: What would you say is unique about Vela International Marine in comparison with competitors in the shipping industry?

Safety and Quality.  Vela is internationally recognized in both quality of management, crews, and the ships themselves.  The international recognition in quality is verified through the continuous and rigorous inspections and audits that the ships experience during service.  The office staff and systems are also constantly inspected and audited by both Saudi Aramco, the owner of Vela, and outside parties that deal in shipping systems and quality management controls.

In terms of safety, Vela is well and truly the industry leader among tanker owners and operators.  Our many awards and plaques are testimony to our glittering safety track record.  It must be said that crew safety is the Company’s top priority, as Vela recognizes that the crew are on the front line of Vela’s business. Therefore the well being of the crew and their families is given the utmost attention by Vela management. 

There is one more important and unique aspect of Vela, which is corporate awareness and involvement toward being a leader in Maritime Affairs. This is evident in Vela’s effective and important participation as a key member in Saudi Arabia’s governmental delegations that attend various sessions at the International Maritime Organization.
 
Question:  What would you say is the most important aspect of your current job and how does that serve Vela’s objectives

The most important aspect, currently, is emergency response ability of both shore-based and ship-based personnel and systems. 

Vela dedicates many resources in ensuring the protection of its vital assets; personnel, property, and customer’s cargo.  When an accident of any sort happens, and requires resources beyond those of our crew, then we, the PC&EE Unit, step in to help out.
The cornerstone of Vela’s emergency response is the ever important Emergency Response Plan (ERP).  The ERP is a document that contains details on how to respond to many scenarios, such as oil spills, collisions, major fires, propulsion, loss, ground, and many other crisis situations that a ship might, and hopefully won’t, come across. 

The ERP needs to comply with relevant international requirements and needs to be compatible with local regulations, so that the plan can be used in conjunction with local authorities involved in crisis response.  In addition, Saudi Aramco has its Global Oil Spill Contingency Plan, which takes into consideration the response activities and procedures laid out in Vela’s ERP.

Vela ensures readiness and relevance of the ERP by conducting drills that involve many different parties both within and outside of Vela.  The successful drills and cooperation done in many parts of the world using Vela’s ERP is testimony that Vela’s ERP is an all important document and the challenge is to maintain that document and continuously test the response of all those involved.

Question:  How do you see self-development in Vela and what have you done in this field?

It is a treat to be in a company that has many avenues for self-development.  Vela has provided various types of resources within the reach of the employee to develop him/herself.  Vela coordinated with Saudi Aramco to enable all of Vela’s employees to access e-learning material available on Saudi Aramco’s intranet.  Also, Vela encourages and enlists its staff on courses and seminars relevant to their field of work. 

I was given a golden opportunity to pursue further education when Vela and Saudi Aramco management supported my application to the prestigious Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration (EMBA) in Shipping & Logistics, from Copenhagen Business School, Denmark.  I graduated with this highly coveted degree in September 2007, and is recognized worldwide. The two year program was attended by many influential men and women in the shipping and maritime field.

Ahmed Al Babtain 

Question:  Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Vela has accustomed its staff to planning their work and placing objectives and realistic targets for them to pursue.  My current five-year objective is to work with the Chartering and Scheduling group within Vela. 

Working with Marine Operations exposed me to many facets of the business, including ship dry docking responsibilities, working with the environmental unit, being exposed to various rules and regulations, and attending high profile seminars. Now that I am able to work with the Chartering and Scheduling group brings me full circle in the shipping business cycle of experience and exposure, hence providing the tools to progress to executive positions in the shipping industry in the future.

Question: How does your job relate to your personal life and your family?

My family, and most notably my wife, all have endured the ups and downs that we all face during our professional careers.   My career in Vela has taken me many places around the world, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, South Africa, Singapore, India, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malta, and many other interesting places. 

The demanding work environment in Vela requires dedication and devotion to the work tasks that we, Vela employees, come across in our jobs.  Though Vela has provided ample rewards, enabling me to provide the best lifestyle for myself and my family and I’m able to support aspirations for my family. 

My wife, during my tenure here in Dubai, completed a four year degree program from Sharjah University, which was partly funded by my company.  Also, my children are able to attend the best schools thanks to the support of Vela and Saudi Aramco. 

My network of friends also includes my work colleagues.  Learning new games and attending outdoor events is a plus and relief after a hard day’s work in the office.

Questions:  What is your advice to those entering the professional field of shipping and the environment?

The shipping industry is one of the most volatile in the world.  Also, it is a well known fact that over 80% of goods delivered worldwide are done via ships.

To succeed in this demanding business you need to be dedicated towards your job and agree on clear goals and objectives for your allocated tasks.  The shipping business requires you to keep abreast of the rules, regulations, technologies, and local changes worldwide. 

December 2, 2007.