This summer, three talented students have spent six weeks with us at SEAM. They have had summer jobs through Sildikon Valley and contributed fresh perspectives on both sustainability work and regulations regarding DP classification. Anne Gard Isaksen, Nora Wirkestad and Tor Nedland have worked on everything from climate reporting to safety in power systems and here they share their experiences from an educational summer.
Anne Gaard Isaksen has worked on laying the foundation for SEAM's climate goals, focusing on how we can get our ambitions approved by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi). "Among other things, I have learned that sustainability and emissions reporting in practice are far more complex than in theory," says Anne.
Her work has involved hundreds of pages of requirements and the aim is to create a system to collect data that strengthens SEAM's credibility and ensures that we achieve our goals.
"If my work can be used further, it will hopefully strengthen SEAM's position on the sustainability front," she adds.
Nora Wirkestad and Tor Nedland have both worked on a joint project related to safety and energy efficiency. They have delved into DNV's guidelines to satisfy the requirements for a specific additional notation for DP classification.
Nora explains: "I have had a special focus on all the functionality that must be included in the associated APSP system, which acts as an extra layer of protection to make it safe to run dynamic positioning with a closed bus, even in areas where it is critical to avoid position loss".
"Qualifying SEAM's systems for this additional notation could contribute to reduced emissions during DP operations, including through the safe use of closed bus connections and better energy management," adds Tor.
"I had no previous practical experience with power systems," explains Nora, "which made it challenging to get started in the field. At the same time, it has been very educational and has given me a better overall understanding of the considerations that must be taken into account when applying theory to practice".
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Tor also emphasizes the importance of the project in understanding the whole: "these weeks have given me insight into how technical innovation and regulatory understanding go hand in hand in the development of sustainable solutions".
All three highlight the work environment as one of the biggest positive experiences of the summer. "There is a low threshold for asking questions and it is easy to get good input," says Tor. Nora describes the culture as "open and welcoming," and Anne adds that the "extremely inclusive environment" has made it more motivating to come to work.
When it comes to advising future students, the message is clear: "Be curious and ask questions early," says Tor. Nora also encourages attending as many social events as possible to get to know your colleagues better.
Anne has a personal tip: "Do your best, and most people will be happy with the job you do, even if you don't always feel like you're performing that well yourself".
The summer has been an important bridge between studies and working life. Nora brings valuable insight into the maritime industry that she believes is very relevant to her master's degree in robotics and vessel control.
Anne has learned that there is not always a definitive answer in business, a realization that has been personally developing. Tor has gained a deeper understanding of DNV's regulations and how power systems work, knowledge he believes will be very useful later in his career.
"I've had a great time at SEAM with great people," concludes Anne.
We thank Anne, Nora and Tor for their efforts this summer and wish them good luck in their studies. Their contributions have been valuable to us and we hope the experience has given them a good foundation for the path ahead.
