Stories

DOF reaches a historic milestone by operating a PLSV vessel under 100% female command for the first time. Captains Daniella Borborema and Débora Ferreira, with over 30 years of combined experience In DOF, now lead Skandi Vitória together - marking meaningful progress for representation offshore.

With years of experience in a traditionally male dominated sector, both captains emphasise that leadership at sea is ultimately about people.

"Everybody on board is under our responsibility, and leading in a fair, honest and humane way is essential", Daniella says.

On a vessel where around 120 people collaborate daily, they highlight the importance of emotional intelligence, maturity and the ability to bring people together. For Débora, this reflects what dedication can achieve:

“It is proof that competence, dedication and leadership have no gender."

Aware of their role as pioneers, they hope their journey encourages other women to see themselves in similar positions.

“It is an honour, but also a great responsibility. Knowing that we are opening the way for other women makes every challenge even more meaningful", Débora concludes.

Together, they represent a leadership style rooted in professionalism, care and the courage to open doors for the next generation.

Igor Rampal’s journey at DOF reflects long-term commitment, continuous development and leadership shaped through years of experience at sea. He joined the company in 2012 as a Nautical Cadet aboard Skandi Commander - the same vessel he commands today.

Over the years, Igor har served on several DOF vessels, building technical competence, operational awareness and teamwork across different crews and assignments, while steadily taking on greater responsibility.

“From early on, I focused on learning as much as possible from every situation and every colleague on board,” he reflects.

After progressing to Chief Officer and completing additional leadership training, he prepared for command.

"Leadership at sea is built over time, through preparation, responsibility and trust,” he says.

In 2025, Igor officially assumed command of Skandi Commander, returning to where his career began.

“I am proud to have grown my career within DOF, supported by people who believe in development and teamwork,” he concludes.

With a strong technical background, Bharath Kumar plays a key role in advancing DOF’s floating wind solutions.

As Global Technical Lead for Floating Wind, he collaborates closely with developers, clients and internal teams in early project phases. Drawing on his naval architecture expertise, he translates technical insight into practical solutions that address complex engineering challenges and support efficient, sustainable project progress.

"I work closely with several floating wind developers, guiding them through early project challenges and demonstrating how DOF’s expertise, experience and integrated approach can support their projects", Bharath explains.

Beyond direct project work, Bharath also represents DOF in external arenas, sharing knowledge and contributing to industry dialogue around floating wind and renewables.

"As a strategic technical expert in renewables, I take great pride in representing DOF at conferences around the world and showcasing how our capabilities can help accelerate the floating wind sector", Bharath says.

For Bharath, long-term success in the industry is closely tied to the people behind the projects.

“In my view, DOF’s strength lies not only in its impressive fleet and technical capability, but in our people - the dedicated teams and passionate individuals whose skills, spirit and commitment keep our vessels and projects moving forward,” he adds.

As Senior HR Specialist at DOF, Trudy Jackson plays an important role in supporting people, culture and organisational development across the company.

Working in a dynamic international environment, she is closely involved in a wide range of ongoing initiatives, contributing to both day-to-day HR operations and longer-term people-focused projects.

“No two days are the same, with a variety of exciting projects ongoing at any given time, this leads to some very interesting days”, Trudy shares.

A key part of Trudy’s role is engaging with DOF’s diverse workforce and supporting a culture where people feel valued and motivated. She highlights the strong sense of community within the organisation, shaped by collaboration, trust and shared values.

“We have a very talented and diverse group of employees and a fantastic culture. It’s truly a joy to come to work every day,” she adds.

In 2025, Trudy took part in the DOF Ambassador Programme, which gave her the opportunity to travel to Bergen, Norway and connect with colleagues from across the organisation.

"The Ambassador Programme helped me enhance my personal and professional growth and allowed me to meet colleagues from all over the world,” Trudy says. “It’s an experience I’m very grateful for.”

Reflecting on what makes DOF stand out as an employer, Trudy points to the people within the organisation. She describes a workplace where achievements of all sizes are recognised and celebrated. For her, this strong people-first culture is central to DOF’s continued success.

With a thesis on energy efficiency recognised by both academia and industry, Oliver Karlsen brings fresh analytical insight to DOF in his role as Market Analyst.

After graduating from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in 2025, Oliver joined DOF full-time. His connection to the organisation started earlier, when he and fellow student Martin Sollesnes Kleppe wrote their master’s thesis in collaboration with DOF.

"Martin’s vessel experience in DOF sparked the idea and my interest in the maritime industry made it a natural fit", Oliver shares.

Their work focused on one of the key challenges in offshore operations: the high energy demand of dynamic positioning. By combining vessel data with weather patterns, they developed a digital tool that recommends the most energy-efficient vessel heading, showing potential fuel savings of up to 15.5 percent. The thesis earned them the Lehmkuhl Scholarship for its relevance to business and society.

Working from DOF's central Bergen office, the pair received valuable guidance.

"Having direct access to advisors in DOF made it easy to ask questions and discuss ideas", Oliver says.

Now part of DOF Subsea, Oliver continues to apply the same analytical approach in his daily work.

"The thesis was all about analysing operational data - something I now do every day. The maritime industry is one of the most exciting sectors to work in, and DOF is a market leader with a large fleet, great trust in its people and truly engaging projects", Oliver reflects.

‍

‍

More than ten years ago, Léa Guatterie brought her engineering background from France to DOF Australia. Since then, she has contributed to a wide range of offshore operations across Australia, New Caledonia, Brunei, and Vietnam. Her work has included ROV and saturation diving projects, as well as more specialised scopes such as navigational aid replacements and 3D mapping of subsea assets.

"Each project, no matter the size, brought its own lessons and learning opportunities", Léa shares.

Over the years, Léa has taken on new challenges and grown within DOF. In 2023, she stepped into the role of Project Manager for a major IMR contract in Australia, where she leads a team of seven Project Engineers and oversees near-continuous vessel operations.

As her responsibilities grew, and with curiosity and a strong interest in people and progress, Léa was selected for the DOF Ambassador Programme - a global initiative that connects colleagues across regions to strengthen collaboration and professional growth.

“The experience helped me grow professionally and personally, expand my network and strengthen my strategic thinking”, Léa says.

After completing the programme, Léa hosted the 2024 DOF International Women’s Day Panel, highlighting her passion for inclusion and teamwork. Today, she continues her engagement through the DOF Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which works to promote an inclusive and supportive workforce across the Group.

“DOF’s support and culture of equal opportunity have empowered me to take on new responsibilities and contribute beyond my technical role”, Léa reflects.

Marius Hersvik Jensen, Regional Operation & Project Support Manager at DOF, has been part of DOF since 1999. His career path is a testament to the growth opportunities and dynamic challenges available in a forward-thinking company.

"My journey at DOF has been incredibly exciting. I'vehad the chance to take on new challenges almost as quickly as I’ve been ready for them. DOF has consistently invested in me," Marius shares.

Starting with a technical background as an ROV trainee, Marius steadily climbed the ranks. Early on, he took responsibility for training new trainees, a role that paved the way for greater responsibilities. “After three and a half years, I became the leader of an offshore team,” he explains.

Over the years, Marius has collaborated closely with engineers and operations teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality projects.

Today, he oversees operations across the entire Atlantic region, spanning from Norway down through the Mediterranean to Africa. His responsibilities range from optimising offshore operations to supporting the development of cutting-edge technologies.

"We’re a company with many skilled individuals who have been here for a long time. Despite significant growth, we’ve managed to preserve the culture that binds us together. It’s a great workplace where people feel valued and appreciated," Marius says.

For Marius, the most rewarding part of his job is helping people grow within the company.

"Following their journey, seeing their development, giving them what they need, and watching them excel in their jobs”

‍

"There has been a lot of learning and a steep learning curve. Every day brings something new, and as time has passed, I have become more comfortable in my role and given more responsibility", says Athena Allaix who is one of DOF's project engineers.

This position is Athena's first job. As a newly graduated engineer from France, with a Norwegian mother who gave her a strong connection to Norway, Athena took a big step when she moved to Bergen. The enthusiasm for starting a career in a global company where she immediately felt at home was great.

Athena primarily works from the Bergen office, where she oversees the planning and coordination of our projects. Over the past year, she has also had the chance to travel offshore, providing her with fresh insights into her work.

"Every trip offshore brings me new experiences that I bring back to the office. Each time I'm at sea, I gain a deeper understanding of our operations," she says.

Project engineers do not follow a fixed rotation offshore, but they prefer to travel offshore when the project is active.

"It can feel daunting when everyone seems to know what they're doing, and you arrive thinking people expect you to have all the answers. I had to remind myself that no one expected me to know everything from the start," she explains.

‍
By engaging in both onshore and offshore work, Athena can track projects from conception to execution, enriching her professional expertise and personal experiences.

"I feel very lucky because our team gets along well, both on and off the job. We feel at ease sharing our opinions and exchanging ideas. Everyone listens to each other, so it's really good," she says.

‍

What is it like to be an ROV-pilot on an offshore vessel? Kristoffer’s journey started as an apprentice in DOF and he now works as an ROV-pilot.

An ROV – pilot operates a remote operated underwater vehicle that is used for various underwater operations. It can be used for anything from mapping the seabed, installing various modules or performing inspection or maintenance of what is already down below on the seabed. The ROV is on deck when it is not down below. The job is then to do the repairs, maintenance and configuration on it using various tools. 

Kristoffer believes that this profession is well suited for anyone who likes travelling around the world, who enjoys working in a team and has technical experience. ROV pilots works on a rotation and in DOF we have different and varied rotations.

"Through my job, I have been able to see most of the world. I have travelled to many places along the coast of Norway,  UK, Denmark, different places in the Mediterranean Sea, West-Africa and Australia."

Kristoffer says that in many ways, being an ROV-pilot is a lifestyle. You are away for extended periods of time, but you also have long periods of free time. When you are working, you are completely focused and switched on and when you are at home you can enjoy the time off.

“I have chosen to remain with DOF mainly because of the people I work with. I have great colleagues and there is a great atmosphere onboard the vessels. We enjoy working together”.

Pierre Kuma, an experienced Project Engineer, speaks about the many opportunities in DOF.

Pierre has been a part of DOF since 2018, and in 2022, he was selected to participate in the company's "Ambassador Programme." This 12-month program is designed to identify and develop talent and leadership from within the organisation. While ambassadors are typically selected to represent an organisation, DOF takes it to the next level. The program is aimed at providing employees with a structured professional development opportunity to advance their careers. It is a unique chance for individuals to expand their skillset, knowledge, and collaboration abilities across various functions and regions within DOF.

‍

‍

One of the great things about working in DOF is that it’s given me an opportunity to grow and try different things. There are a lot of interesting places one can go. There is also a lot of flexibility in DOF which makes you more adaptable. But the biggest thing I like about DOF is that there is an atmosphere to make it OK to ask for help.

‍

Kristian has worked at DOF for almost 20 years. Although DOF has its roots in Austevoll, a small island outside of Bergen, the company's influence and opportunities extend far beyond Norway's borders. As a global player, DOF allows employees from all corners of the world to apply and work in the company, regardless of their geographical origin. For Kristian however, the start of his journey with DOF was associated with the local roots of DOF.

"My career in DOF has been progressive. I started as an apprentice, completed my technical education, and over time, I climbed the ranks. In 2019, I transitioned to working onshore," Kristian says.

Nearly 20 years later, he remains very satisfied with his choice. He views DOF as a stable and supportive player in his career.

"DOF has always shown me trust and provided opportunities to advance in the company, from my time as an apprentice to the role of chief engineer. Now, in the position of Vessel Superintendent onshore, I focus more on administration, logistics, and coordination, serving as a link, as opposed to earlier when I worked directly with machinery on board the vessels".

Kristian believes in the importance of facilitating effective collaboration every day among people with diverse cultures.

"DOF offers an incredible range of opportunities. You can always find a niche, whether it's locally in the North Sea or in more distant regions".

‍

There is a deep sense of belonging among those who work at sea and those who work on land.

“Our integrity and unity are what distinguish us from other workplaces. There is a deep sense of belonging among those who work at sea and those who work on land,” says a DOF colleague.

From an early age, they felt a strong connection to the sea and spent a lot of time on boats, which helped shape their interest in a maritime career. They first had contact with DOF as a teenager, when they began working onboard one of the company’s vessels.

After a period away from the company, they returned to DOF in the early 2000s and have since worked both offshore and onshore in a variety of roles.

“Working at DOF provides good opportunities to explore different career paths. However, it requires courage to seize the opportunities when they arise,” they say.

They have experienced firsthand how challenging it can feel to step into a new role. After working at sea for several years, they took on a position in a shore‑based role with leadership responsibilities – an opportunity they appreciated, but also found daunting.

“I worried about whether I had taken on too much. Suddenly, I was going to be leading people who had previously been my leaders,” they explain.

However, the transition proved more positive than expected.

Several colleagues were incredibly supportive and provided valuable feedback along the way. Today, in a senior operational role, they work closely with the wider team to influence how work is carried out for customers and to support important decision‑making.

Together with colleagues across the business, they help ensure that DOF continues to deliver high‑quality services, guided by shared values and a strong sense of unity across both offshore and onshore teams.

This story reflects the experiences of a DOF employee. 

‍

Meet Sara, a Commercial Specialist from a little island just outside Bergen.

Sara kicked-off her career as a maritime trainee in DOF, having completed her Master’s degree in industrial economics and technology management from NTNU.

“There was a degree of skepticism surrounding the offshore industry when I first started studying maritime technology, due to a recent oil and gas downturn. However, now there are so many new and innovative developments taking place in the offshore sector, I am excited to be a part of it!”

‍The ocean is where it’s happening.

Growing up on a little island just outside Bergen, on the coast of Norway called Turøy, Sara has always had an interest in the ocean. Becoming a maritime trainee, Sara’s confidence in learning more about the offshore industry proved well founded.

Sara’s first assignment was with DOF’s Vessel Chartering team.  Her second was project engineer in the subsea and renewables team. The timing was perfect, as DOF was involved in the installation of the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm, Equinor’s Hywind Tampen.

“Being part of the transition to renewable energy is great fun – we are making the vessels greener and delivering renewable survey and construction projects. I get to experience many different aspects of the job and meet people with diverse backgrounds.   Also, having the opportunity to not only partake in various tasks, but also to shape projects is truly rewarding".

‍From Graduate to Godmother .‍

After the last turbine on Equinor’s Hywind Tampen project was assembled and installed, Sara was officially crowned Godmother to one of the turbines. A proud moment Sara says she will never forget. And dare we say, a proud moment for DOF, as our team help build a greener future.

On completing the 18-month-long maritime trainee program, Sara was happy to accept a permanent position with DOF as a Commercial Specialist.

Convinced this is a career with a fantastic future, Sara says:

‍

‍

‍“I’m happy to have found a job where I get to be part of the transition to renewable energy. DOF’s track record and extensive experience from the conventional energy sector is a huge advantage in the floating offshore wind market as we use the same vessels, experience, and general “know-how”, just in a different market”.