Testimonials

Interview

Junaid SM ,  Officier d’équipage – LDPL

1) Could you summarize your career and present your current position? Could you please specify if you have evolved within the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs group?

I have always been passionate about ships even though I was a MBA graduate in HR & Marketing. But that did not stop me from gripping off my passion. After going through a few administrative roles in India and KSA, in 2018 I started my career in the marine industry as a crewing assistant. Truly, hard work pays off, I then started my career within LDPL in March 2021 as a crewing officer. Now, it’s such an honour for me to be here.

2) What do you like the most about your job?

To be honest, working in a crewing department is very challenging and exciting. But, if someone asks me now, I’ll say, crewing is the job which I like the most in my career. I sincerely enjoy every function of crewing and appreciate dealing with the crews by providing services, advice, support and so on.

Besides, it is obvious that LDPL has one of the finest working environment. I wish to grow more and more.

3) About your job: would you have a significant story or event to share?

As the first wave of covid hit the whole world, some of my vessels at my ex-employer were badly affected when they were in the company owned port. Three of them, containing 36 crew members (12*3) were tested positive. They totally panicked and it went chaotic. The government authorities had asked us to find a place for their quarantine. We checked for all possibilities but even hotels weren’t ready to accommodate a colossal number of crew members.

The QHSE coordinator & I took the initiative to take the lead. We arranged their quarantine on the vessel itself. It was a tough time.  I had to motivate the crews, to encourage them and support them by providing medicines and giving them exercices to keep their body fit followed by periodical tests and so on. It took one and half month for them to be tested negative.

It was a great experience for me and I received a lot of appreciation from the crews. Accomplishing this task successfully was truly a challenge but when you have a strong determination, you somehow make it.

4) What is your motto?

Live happily and make others so. Be the kind and loving person that you are, and your footprints will forever be cherished.

Interview

Ben Slimane ABDESSATTAR ,  Transshipment Vessel Captain- LDPL Middle East

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position?

I grew up on an island, the main activity was fishing and I come from a fisherman’s family.

In 1985, I graduated from the Naval Academy in Tunisia amongst the first promotion. I got a Master’s degree. I started navigating on board general cargo ships, chemical tankers and LPG carriers.

In 1990, I started working as a Master navigating all over the world, crossing most of all the seas, oceans and straits except for the Panama canal. I worked for different companies on board oil tankers, LPG tankers, RORO ships, tug boats, passenger vessels, fish carriers and offshore oil service vessels.

I currently hold the position of master of a transhipper vessel within LDPL in the Middle East. I am based in the port of Kamsar in Guinea. I still learn a lot and working on an offshore bulk carrier at LDPL has been a new challenge for me.

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

The job of a sailor is not suited for everyone, it is tough and impacts the sailor’s family and their offspring’s education. On my side I highly appreciate the role and support of my wife during my rotation at sea to handle all the family requirements.

To be successful, you must love your job. Travelling all over the world, discovering lands, waters, countries, civilization and people’s traditions is the privilege of the sailor.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

I have crossed the Bermuda Triangle twice and nothing happened. But once, on the Mediterranean Sea, as I was on board with my wife and my daughter who was 2 years old at the time, we got a blackout due to the bad weather conditions, wind 35 to 40 Kts and swell 4 to 5 m, we drifted for 36 hours and were eventually towed to a shipyard for repair.

4) What is your motto?

Learn new things every day and stay calm and confident as a manager.

Interview

Shaiju NARAYANAN ,  Field Mechanical Engineer & Workshop Manager – LDPL

1) Could you summarize your career and present your current position? Could you please specify if you have evolved within the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs group? 

I have more than 18 years of experience in project management and maintenance of bulk material handling systems, such as crusher, screening and heavy machinery. 

In 2019, I Joined LDPL as a field mechanical engineer. In 2020, I was promoted field mechanical engineer and workshop manager.

Today, my responsibilities are to supervise the maintenance activities on gantry type ship, the smooth unloading operation of cranes and the run of heavy machinery, for the Hassyan power plant in Dubaï, UAE. I also provide technical support to superintendents and onboard crews about the ship unloader system on our transshipment units.

2) What do you like the most about your job?

Every day I gain knowledge and I get exposure to prove my expertise.  I enjoy the freedom I have to explore and implement the solutions based on my experience. This is what I like the most about my day-to-day job.

3) About your job: would you have a significant story or event to share?

I had the great opportunity to work for the commissioning of the onboard ship unloader system on 3 vessels : Al Maria, Al Hamra and ALM Loura. The ALM Loura vessel is dedicated to our operations in Guinea.

Furthermore, the commissioning and the first cargo operation of ALM Loura took place during the pandemic period. Due to travel restrictions, the installation team of the ship unloader was only able to provide us with remote support. It was very challenging for my team and I to perform the installation ourselves, but we achieved it successfully! 

I was also involved in the training sessions for onboard crews to learn about the ship unloader system.  

For the Hassyan project I was involved in the set-up of the maintenance system for shore facilities, the workshop functions and also the inventory system for the warehouse. It is a great record in my career path.  

4) What is your motto?

“Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” Dalai Lama. 

Interview

Leo HAMBRO ,  Commercial Manager – LD Sea

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position ?

My career has evolved from commodity trading via forestry through to offshore crew vessels. One common theme has been the focus on renewable energy. Firstly while trading sugar, a key area of development was the bio-ethanol industry and the transfer of its production technology. Then in forestry it was about maximising the yield from each tree which led to a considerable focus on biomass and pelletisation. My next step into the marine sector was due to development of the offshore wind sector off my local North Norfolk coast. The industry has grown dramatically since my move 11 years ago and so have the boats used to service it, hence my involvement with LD SEA and their fleet.

I am currently UK Commercial Manager for LD Sea covering the marketing of SOV’s primarily into the UK offshore windfarm. In addition I co-own Tidal Transit Limited, a crew transfer vessel (CTV) provider in the UK which is in partnership with LDA in France (LD Tide SA).

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

What I love about my job is that firstly everyday presents different challenges and secondly what we are doing is making a difference. Offshore wind is a major part of the global decarbonization plan and our business provides a means of access to maximise the yield of these farms. Working with LDA has been fantastic as it has allowed expansion of our CTV venture in to the huge growth market of France. In addition, since I have been representing LDA and their SOVs in the UK, I have been well supported and have learnt a great deal about the decarbonization opportunities for this niche area of the sector. It is phenomenally exciting to hear what the new build team are working on [my advice is stay tuned] !

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

My first trades as a commodity broker involved Louis Dreyfus therefore it is wonderful to have nearly circled around over 20 years later to be representing LDA in the UK.

4) What is your motto ?

LinkedIn is littered with hashtags that I have used over the years but the one I feel the strongest about is #ElectrifyEverything – We are at a turning point where more and more processes and movements can be done without using fossil fuels. Now is the time for change! Don’t wait!

Interview

BOUZIA Nour-El Houda, Purchaser – LDA

1)  Could you summarize your career path and present your current position?

I graduated in international trade in Morocco, then I came to France, as part of an exchange for a master’s  degree in international purchasing management. During my studies, I had the opportunity to do several internships in the purchasing department of different companies in the hotel, food, retail and automotive sectors. In order to deepen my knowledge and to live an experience abroad, I decided to join the SKEMA Business School for a a program specialized in supply chain management and purchasing. I am working part time  at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs as an apprentice.

Since September 2021, I have joined the company’s technical department as an apprentice buyer. I am mainly in charge of purchasing for two ro-ro vessels: the City of Hamburg and the Ciudad de Cadiz. I have also analysed all the orders of the fleet in terms of consumable. I have grouped them together in order to identify suppliers with whom we could set up framework contracts. I really enjoy what I do, I meet new challenges every day and, at the same time, I acquire new knowledge. This motivates me to keep on working in this field.

2) What do you appreciate most about your job?

Its international outlook: the search for reactive suppliers who offer quality products at a good price can take the purchaser to the end of the world.

I also appreciate the job for the diversity of tasks and missions and especially for the human contact, very present.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an outstanding fact to share?

I’ve  known the maritime environment since I was a child. Indeed, my father owns fishing trawlers and I used to accompany him during the landing. I like this sector. That’s why I feel at ease working for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs.

4) What is your motto?

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Interview

Adrien QUEGUINER, Head of Engineering Department – LDA

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position? If you have evolved within LDA, could you please specify it?

I majored in Product – Process – Management and graduated in 2010. I got hired as a designer by the company in which I had done my apprenticeship. It was a company specialized in the design and production of automated production systems in the food industry. A few years later, as I wanted to get to know new activities, I worked for a company designing and manufacturing quarry conveyors, still as a designer. I had the opportunity to perform on-site installations. The interest layed in seeing the product installed on field. As a designer, it allowed me to see the results of my labor and think about optimizing it. When the design activity was less demanding, I asked to intervene in quarries during technical stops. I welded, I installed structures, I wired engines… This allowed me to acquire new skills.

Then, through a friend of mine in the region of Nantes, I seized the chance to work in different sectors, performing different missions ranging from head of a design office to site manager, including head of production of large machined parts. These numerous experiences allowed me to design a wide variety of machines, to develop my expertise and to join the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) group.

Indeed, I joined LDA ten years ago. With my wife, we had decided to leave Nantes in France. In March 2013, I embarked on the cable ship Ile d’Aix in Calais as a submarine pilot. Becoming a sailor was a major life change and I have really enjoyed sailing during all these years. In 2017, at the request of the technical manager, I joined the group headquarters as a designer for the Quintillion Alaska project. We identified the blocking points and enabled their resolution. To follow up on this mission, I went on board the ship to perform tests.

Quintillion Project

LDA performed a challenging installation during the summer of 2017 in Northern Alaska for Alcatel Submarine Network. This was the first fiber network around Alaska: The Quintillion Subsea Network. The 16km segment was to be installed during the open water season which lasts 3 months in this region.

 In January 2018, I was back at sea in Calais and took my first steps as a subsea department manager on the cable ship Ile de Batz. But this second episode at sea was shortened for the needs of the integration project of the new plough on the vessel Ile de Ré. In 2019, I returned to work in the technical department. It is at this time that the design office of the LDA group was created. In November 2021, I took the head of the design office and became its manager. Today, we are a team of 6 and we are involved in many study projects.

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

The diversity of the subjects we work on and the fact that we contribute to the optimization of industrial operations. This makes it possible to measure customer satisfaction.
The feeling of success through the collective is a powerful driver.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

The project that made the biggest impression on me was the Quintillion project mentioned above. This project was very complex technically and operationally. The deadline for completion was extremely tight.
We managed to complete it on time!

4) What is your motto ?

Together to see better, further…

Interview

Junaid SM ,  Officier d’équipage – LDPL

1) Could you summarize your career and present your current position? Could you please specify if you have evolved within the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs group?

I have always been passionate about ships even though I was a MBA graduate in HR & Marketing. But that did not stop me from gripping off my passion. After going through a few administrative roles in India and KSA, in 2018 I started my career in the marine industry as a crewing assistant. Truly, hard work pays off, I then started my career within LDPL in March 2021 as a crewing officer. Now, it’s such an honour for me to be here.

2) What do you like the most about your job?

To be honest, working in a crewing department is very challenging and exciting. But, if someone asks me now, I’ll say, crewing is the job which I like the most in my career. I sincerely enjoy every function of crewing and appreciate dealing with the crews by providing services, advice, support and so on.

Besides, it is obvious that LDPL has one of the finest working environment. I wish to grow more and more.

3) About your job: would you have a significant story or event to share?

As the first wave of covid hit the whole world, some of my vessels at my ex-employer were badly affected when they were in the company owned port. Three of them, containing 36 crew members (12*3) were tested positive. They totally panicked and it went chaotic. The government authorities had asked us to find a place for their quarantine. We checked for all possibilities but even hotels weren’t ready to accommodate a colossal number of crew members.

The QHSE coordinator & I took the initiative to take the lead. We arranged their quarantine on the vessel itself. It was a tough time.  I had to motivate the crews, to encourage them and support them by providing medicines and giving them exercices to keep their body fit followed by periodical tests and so on. It took one and half month for them to be tested negative.

It was a great experience for me and I received a lot of appreciation from the crews. Accomplishing this task successfully was truly a challenge but when you have a strong determination, you somehow make it.

4) What is your motto?

Live happily and make others so. Be the kind and loving person that you are, and your footprints will forever be cherished.

Interview

Ben Slimane ABDESSATTAR ,  Transshipment Vessel Captain- LDPL Middle East

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position?

I grew up on an island, the main activity was fishing and I come from a fisherman’s family.

In 1985, I graduated from the Naval Academy in Tunisia amongst the first promotion. I got a Master’s degree. I started navigating on board general cargo ships, chemical tankers and LPG carriers.

In 1990, I started working as a Master navigating all over the world, crossing most of all the seas, oceans and straits except for the Panama canal. I worked for different companies on board oil tankers, LPG tankers, RORO ships, tug boats, passenger vessels, fish carriers and offshore oil service vessels.

I currently hold the position of master of a transhipper vessel within LDPL in the Middle East. I am based in the port of Kamsar in Guinea. I still learn a lot and working on an offshore bulk carrier at LDPL has been a new challenge for me.

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

The job of a sailor is not suited for everyone, it is tough and impacts the sailor’s family and their offspring’s education. On my side I highly appreciate the role and support of my wife during my rotation at sea to handle all the family requirements.

To be successful, you must love your job. Travelling all over the world, discovering lands, waters, countries, civilization and people’s traditions is the privilege of the sailor.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

I have crossed the Bermuda Triangle twice and nothing happened. But once, on the Mediterranean Sea, as I was on board with my wife and my daughter who was 2 years old at the time, we got a blackout due to the bad weather conditions, wind 35 to 40 Kts and swell 4 to 5 m, we drifted for 36 hours and were eventually towed to a shipyard for repair.

4) What is your motto?

Learn new things every day and stay calm and confident as a manager.

Interview

Shaiju NARAYANAN ,  Field Mechanical Engineer & Workshop Manager – LDPL

1) Could you summarize your career and present your current position? Could you please specify if you have evolved within the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs group? 

I have more than 18 years of experience in project management and maintenance of bulk material handling systems, such as crusher, screening and heavy machinery. 

In 2019, I Joined LDPL as a field mechanical engineer. In 2020, I was promoted field mechanical engineer and workshop manager.

Today, my responsibilities are to supervise the maintenance activities on gantry type ship, the smooth unloading operation of cranes and the run of heavy machinery, for the Hassyan power plant in Dubaï, UAE. I also provide technical support to superintendents and onboard crews about the ship unloader system on our transshipment units.

2) What do you like the most about your job?

Every day I gain knowledge and I get exposure to prove my expertise.  I enjoy the freedom I have to explore and implement the solutions based on my experience. This is what I like the most about my day-to-day job.

3) About your job: would you have a significant story or event to share?

I had the great opportunity to work for the commissioning of the onboard ship unloader system on 3 vessels : Al Maria, Al Hamra and ALM Loura. The ALM Loura vessel is dedicated to our operations in Guinea.

Furthermore, the commissioning and the first cargo operation of ALM Loura took place during the pandemic period. Due to travel restrictions, the installation team of the ship unloader was only able to provide us with remote support. It was very challenging for my team and I to perform the installation ourselves, but we achieved it successfully! 

I was also involved in the training sessions for onboard crews to learn about the ship unloader system.  

For the Hassyan project I was involved in the set-up of the maintenance system for shore facilities, the workshop functions and also the inventory system for the warehouse. It is a great record in my career path.  

4) What is your motto?

“Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality.” Dalai Lama. 

Interview

Leo HAMBRO ,  Commercial Manager – LD Sea

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position ?

My career has evolved from commodity trading via forestry through to offshore crew vessels. One common theme has been the focus on renewable energy. Firstly while trading sugar, a key area of development was the bio-ethanol industry and the transfer of its production technology. Then in forestry it was about maximising the yield from each tree which led to a considerable focus on biomass and pelletisation. My next step into the marine sector was due to development of the offshore wind sector off my local North Norfolk coast. The industry has grown dramatically since my move 11 years ago and so have the boats used to service it, hence my involvement with LD SEA and their fleet.

I am currently UK Commercial Manager for LD Sea covering the marketing of SOV’s primarily into the UK offshore windfarm. In addition I co-own Tidal Transit Limited, a crew transfer vessel (CTV) provider in the UK which is in partnership with LDA in France (LD Tide SA).

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

What I love about my job is that firstly everyday presents different challenges and secondly what we are doing is making a difference. Offshore wind is a major part of the global decarbonization plan and our business provides a means of access to maximise the yield of these farms. Working with LDA has been fantastic as it has allowed expansion of our CTV venture in to the huge growth market of France. In addition, since I have been representing LDA and their SOVs in the UK, I have been well supported and have learnt a great deal about the decarbonization opportunities for this niche area of the sector. It is phenomenally exciting to hear what the new build team are working on [my advice is stay tuned] !

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

My first trades as a commodity broker involved Louis Dreyfus therefore it is wonderful to have nearly circled around over 20 years later to be representing LDA in the UK.

4) What is your motto ?

LinkedIn is littered with hashtags that I have used over the years but the one I feel the strongest about is #ElectrifyEverything – We are at a turning point where more and more processes and movements can be done without using fossil fuels. Now is the time for change! Don’t wait!

Interview

BOUZIA Nour-El Houda, Purchaser – LDA

1)  Could you summarize your career path and present your current position?

I graduated in international trade in Morocco, then I came to France, as part of an exchange for a master’s  degree in international purchasing management. During my studies, I had the opportunity to do several internships in the purchasing department of different companies in the hotel, food, retail and automotive sectors. In order to deepen my knowledge and to live an experience abroad, I decided to join the SKEMA Business School for a a program specialized in supply chain management and purchasing. I am working part time  at Louis Dreyfus Armateurs as an apprentice.

Since September 2021, I have joined the company’s technical department as an apprentice buyer. I am mainly in charge of purchasing for two ro-ro vessels: the City of Hamburg and the Ciudad de Cadiz. I have also analysed all the orders of the fleet in terms of consumable. I have grouped them together in order to identify suppliers with whom we could set up framework contracts. I really enjoy what I do, I meet new challenges every day and, at the same time, I acquire new knowledge. This motivates me to keep on working in this field.

2) What do you appreciate most about your job?

Its international outlook: the search for reactive suppliers who offer quality products at a good price can take the purchaser to the end of the world.

I also appreciate the job for the diversity of tasks and missions and especially for the human contact, very present.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an outstanding fact to share?

I’ve  known the maritime environment since I was a child. Indeed, my father owns fishing trawlers and I used to accompany him during the landing. I like this sector. That’s why I feel at ease working for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs.

4) What is your motto?

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Interview

Adrien QUEGUINER, Head of Engineering Department – LDA

1) Could you summarise your career path and present your current position? If you have evolved within LDA, could you please specify it?

I majored in Product – Process – Management and graduated in 2010. I got hired as a designer by the company in which I had done my apprenticeship. It was a company specialized in the design and production of automated production systems in the food industry. A few years later, as I wanted to get to know new activities, I worked for a company designing and manufacturing quarry conveyors, still as a designer. I had the opportunity to perform on-site installations. The interest layed in seeing the product installed on field. As a designer, it allowed me to see the results of my labor and think about optimizing it. When the design activity was less demanding, I asked to intervene in quarries during technical stops. I welded, I installed structures, I wired engines… This allowed me to acquire new skills.

Then, through a friend of mine in the region of Nantes, I seized the chance to work in different sectors, performing different missions ranging from head of a design office to site manager, including head of production of large machined parts. These numerous experiences allowed me to design a wide variety of machines, to develop my expertise and to join the Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) group.

Indeed, I joined LDA ten years ago. With my wife, we had decided to leave Nantes in France. In March 2013, I embarked on the cable ship Ile d’Aix in Calais as a submarine pilot. Becoming a sailor was a major life change and I have really enjoyed sailing during all these years. In 2017, at the request of the technical manager, I joined the group headquarters as a designer for the Quintillion Alaska project. We identified the blocking points and enabled their resolution. To follow up on this mission, I went on board the ship to perform tests.

Quintillion Project

LDA performed a challenging installation during the summer of 2017 in Northern Alaska for Alcatel Submarine Network. This was the first fiber network around Alaska: The Quintillion Subsea Network. The 16km segment was to be installed during the open water season which lasts 3 months in this region.

 In January 2018, I was back at sea in Calais and took my first steps as a subsea department manager on the cable ship Ile de Batz. But this second episode at sea was shortened for the needs of the integration project of the new plough on the vessel Ile de Ré. In 2019, I returned to work in the technical department. It is at this time that the design office of the LDA group was created. In November 2021, I took the head of the design office and became its manager. Today, we are a team of 6 and we are involved in many study projects.

2) What do you particularly like about your job?

The diversity of the subjects we work on and the fact that we contribute to the optimization of industrial operations. This makes it possible to measure customer satisfaction.
The feeling of success through the collective is a powerful driver.

3) About your job: would you have an anecdote or an important fact to share?

The project that made the biggest impression on me was the Quintillion project mentioned above. This project was very complex technically and operationally. The deadline for completion was extremely tight.
We managed to complete it on time!

4) What is your motto ?

Together to see better, further…