Managing Master Mariner
work
Houston
Career Summary
Capt. Oberlin’s maritime experience commenced while attending the Texas Maritime Academy at Texas A&M University in Galveston. In 1997 he received a B.S. degree in Marine Transportation and earned his United States Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer License. Additionally, he accepted a commission as an Ensign in the United States Naval Officer Reserves.
Background
Prior to his college career, Capt. Oberlin served his country honourably through service in the United States Marine Corps. He served one tour of duty in the Persian Gulf War of 1990 and was awarded a combat action ribbon for participating in the Liberation of Kuwait with the 2nd Marine Division.
After graduating from Texas A&M, Erik went to work for Noble Drilling as a Ballast Control Operator. He initially trained for this work through formal certification in Houston, Texas, and subsequently began work as a BCO aboard a moored Semi-Submersible in the North Sea. He continued to upgrade his BCO skills and went on to serve as BCO on a dynamically positioned semi-submersible in Brazil.
In 2000, Erik received formal training and certification as an Unlimited Dynamic Positioning Operator from the Nautical Institute. He started sailing for Transocean on a 5th generation drillship as Mate/DPO. He continued to gain valuable DP experience in the Gulf of Mexico and was eventually promoted to Sr. DPO. In 2003 Erik was recruited to join a DP Semi-Submersible newbuild project in Singapore. The shipyard evolution included significant experience leading and assisting commissioning teams in the QA/QC process for the construction and testing of marine systems, navigation equipment, and DP system components.
Erik started sailing as a Chief Mate in 2006 on a DP Semi-Submersible in the Gulf of Mexico, while still working for Global SantaFe. His duties included supervision of deck maintenance, supply boat operations, cargo planning, helicopter landing officer responsibilities, ISPS facility security officer, oversight and training of all emergency response activities, job risk analysis, creating work procedures, managing a permit to work system, and auditing the vessel’s Safety Management system.
Erik was recruited to work for Seadrill in 2008 for a new build DP Semi-Submersible project. The shipyard evolution included substantial commissioning work, as well as significant time spent developing operations manuals and preventative maintenance procedures for the new vessel. The vessel went to work in Brazil, and it was there that Erik gained valuable experience working in the Brazilian offshore regulatory environment.
In 2010, Capt. Oberlin was promoted to Offshore Installation Manager/Master while still working in Brazil for Seadrill. In this role, he had overall responsibility for all drilling operations on board the vessel, as well as primary responsibility for safe navigation and crew safety. His core management responsibilities as OIM included client relations, operational DP risk management, logistics planning, senior safety manager, and primary regulatory liaison for all external entities.
In 2012, Capt. Oberlin was recruited to work as Master/OIM for Rowan on a new build project in Ulsan, Korea. This project involved the construction of four 6th generation DP drill ships. This role required intensive collaboration with shipyard construction and commissioning teams to ensure the vessels were being built to specification. In addition, Capt. Oberlin worked as part of a team of master mariners and engineers creating operating procedures for the vessels, as well as developing training and competency requirements for nearly 400 personnel that needed to be hired to man the vessels.
In late 2013, Capt. Oberlin came ashore and accepted a role at Shell International working within the Houston-based DP risk management unit. In this role, Erik managed DP assurance activities for DP vessels contracted to Shell. Primarily, this included the coordination of annual DP trials and the development of Activity Specific Operating Guidelines in accordance with IMCA and MTS industry standards.
In 2014, Capt. Oberlin was recruited to work for Noble Drilling as a DP Superintendent. At the time, Noble had a fleet of over 15 DP drilling vessels. In this role, Capt. Oberlin had oversight for the coordination and planning of DP annual trials for all vessels, as well as providing technical guidance and support for DP system issues/incidents on board the vessels. Erik worked closely with DP assurance teams from client companies to ensure that DP risk management activities satisfied contractual agreements. Capt. Oberlin made numerous visits to fleet vessels to accomplish this work.
From 2015-2019, Capt. Oberlin worked for Marathon Oil as Corporate Marine Superintendent. Acting as the senior marine authority within the company, Erik had oversight for all marine activities globally, ensuring that Marathon’s corporate marine standards were being upheld. This role included planning and execution of vessel vetting activities as well as pre-hire audits for vessels contracted to do work for the company. This included work boats, fast boats, ROV vessels, project and construction vessels, MODU drilling vessels, as well as LPG tankers. Capt. Oberlin often personally attended and executed vessel pre-hire audits for offshore operations in West Africa, the North Sea Brae field, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Capt. Oberlin has attended numerous training and certification courses since graduation from Texas A&M University. He has successfully completed all the United States Coast Guard Management Level STCW courses including Advanced Navigation and Voyage Planning, Advanced Ship handling, Stability, Meteorology, Bridge Resource Management, Watchkeeping, Cargo Operations, Shipboard Management, Marine Firefighting, Medical Care Person in Charge, and Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS).
As Master and Unlimited Offshore Installation Manager on MODU’s, Capt. Oberlin also received certification in Major Emergency Management, TOPSET incident investigation procedures, and Process Safety Management/Process Hazard Analysis.
Capt. Oberlin was also a certified OCIMF OVID inspector during his tenure at Marathon Oil, as well as being a certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.
Capt. Oberlin also has oil tanker experience. As a cadet in 1995 he sailed with ARCO on the ARCO SPIRIT, a 266,585 DWT tanker and completed cargo runs between Valdez, Alaska, and Long Beach, CA. Later, while working for Transocean in the Gulf of Mexico he earned a Tankerman (PIC) endorsement on his license for participating in offshore lightering operations of crude oil from drilling vessels to tanker barges.
Capt. Oberlin also had a year of experience working as an Audit Chief for the State of Vermont Department of Transportation. In this role, Erik managed a team of auditors. His primary responsibilities included oversight of internal performance audits of agency activities, planning and leading internal audits for the purpose of evaluating agency internal controls and reporting on the results of annual audit activities to the Transportation Committee members of the Vermont State Legislature.
Capt. Oberlin has recently joined Brookes Bell and is working closely with team members to support consulting work being completed for client law firms in support of litigation proceedings.
Professional Qualifications
- USCG issued Unlimited Master’s License
- USCG issued Unrestricted Offshore Installation Manager MODU
- USCG issued Unrestricted Barge Engineer MODU
- IADC Well Control Drilling/Completion/Workover Certification
- STCW Certificate endorsed Tankerman (PIC)
- USCG Fast Rescue Boat Certificate
- USCG Proficiency in Survival Craft Certificate
- USCG Vessel, Company & Facility Security Officer - ISPS
- 49 CFR IATA/IMDG Dangerous Goods Transportation Certificate
- Military Sealift Command Damage Control Certificate
- US Navy Small Firearms Instructor Certification
Academic Qualifications
- BSc - Marine Transportation Texas A&M University
Previous Employment History
- Noble Drilling Inc., (Gulf of Mexico, North Sea UK, Brazil, Singapore), BCO/DP Superintendent
- Transocean, (Gulf of Mexico), Dynamic Positioning Operator/Mate
- Global SantaFe, (Gulf of Mexico, west Africa, Singapore), Sr. DPO/ Chief Mate
- SeaDrill International, (Singapore, Brazil), Chief Mate/Master/Offshore Installation Manager
- Rowan Companies Inc., (South Korea), Master/Offshore Installation Manager
- Shell International, (Houston, TX), DP Risk Mgmt. Operations Engineer
- Marathon Oil Corporation, (Houston, TX) Corporate Marine Supt.
- State of Vermont - Department of Transportation, Audit Chief
- United States Navy Reserve Officer Corps, Final Rank Lieutenant
Vessel / MODU Work History
- 1998 Noble Semi-Sub Ton Van Langeveld
- 1999 Noble DP Semi-Sub Paul Wolff
- 2000 Transocean Drillship Discoverer Enterprise
- 2002 GSF Semi-Sub Celtic Sea
- 2003 GSF DP Semi Development Driller 1
- 2005 GSF Drillship Jack Ryan
- 2008 Seadrill DP Semi-Sub West Taurus
- 2012 Rowan DP Drillship Resolute
- (2013-2019) Experience on board 100+ vessels for the purpose of completing management led SMS audits, pre-hire audits and surveys, Annual DP Trials participation, and incident investigations.
Survey Experience
- Erik attends surveys and inspections for personnel injury work, oil and gas, offshore installations, and general marine survey work on behalf of owners, law firms, P&I clubs, and underwriters.
Publications
Capt Oberlin has published the following:
- Best Management Practices for Maintenance and Inspection of Void Spaces and Cofferdams on MODUs. (Fleet guidance for DP Semi-Submersibles, Seadrill of Brazil)
- Best Management Practices for Routine Maintenance of Helideck Landing Area and Auxiliary systems on MODU’s. (Fleet guidance for DP Semi-Submersibles, Seadrill of Brazil)