YP Life Offshore: A story of people, knowledge, and belonging

Maria Badia, Young Professionals and People and Culture committee member, shares her thoughts on offshore life.

'When I think back on my time offshore, the first images that come to mind are far from towering rigs, platforms or complex subsea systems, though I was lucky to learn so much about them, and every time I look at the pictures, I'm in awe. It’s the people I met: the roustabouts, roughnecks, crane operators, toolpushers, assistant drillers, derrickmen, barge engineers, company men, mechanics, electricians, ROV pilots, wireline specialists, scaffolders, cementing engineers, equipment engineers and countless third-party crews who welcomed me with curiosity and kindness.

From day one, they answered my questions, shared their routines, and explained why each task mattered. They showed me how to run calculations, opened up about their lessons learned, and passed on knowledge you would never find in a manual. Offshore, spoken knowledge is alive and the only way to truly capture it is to be there, to watch, to ask, to listen.

I still remember flipping through tally books of toolpushers, assistant drillers, and derrickmen. They weren’t just records: they were treasures. Packed with tried-and-tested methods, and reminders of learnings turned into improvements. Each one felt like a personal diary of offshore wisdom, a collection of tips on how to do things faster, better, safer.

Talking to people in the same role across different rigs made me realise something: there isn’t just one way to work offshore. Each person develops their own style, a unique rhythm born from a combination of inherited knowledge and discoveries made through practice. That blend creates a culture where learning never stops, and where you’re always encouraged to find your own way of making the job not only more efficient, but also more enjoyable.

And beyond the work, there’s the offshore family. The laughter and inside jokes, the biscuits dunked in tea - always a race against time before they dissolved into the mug whilst busy sharing gossip with your peers. The “bonds” you pay when you mess up, in the form of chocolate for everyone. Those moments might seem small, but they are the very ones that bring people together and are the most memorable.

I’ll never forget the sight of dozens of people from different working in perfect synchrony during a complex operation. Each one playing their part, each one trusting the other, the whole crew moving like a single well-oiled machine. It was beautiful to watch, and even more powerful to feel part of.

Most of all, I felt safe. Not just because of procedures and equipment, but because people look out for each other. Offshore, wellbeing isn’t just about hard hats and harnesses; it’s about making sure your peers are both physically fit and mentally okay. I was always empowered to speak up, listened to when I had something to say, and treated with respect, just as everyone else was.

That’s what offshore life is to me: not just the equipment, not just the operations, but the people. Their stories, their laughter, their knowledge, and their humanity. That’s the legacy I’ll always carry with me and the reason I smile whenever I think about my time out there.'