Brent Sappington
Project Manager
Q. How many years have you been in the industry?
A. 28 years
Q. What is your educational background and training?
A. I’ve had on the job training as well as factory training from seven different OEM factories that manufacture marine equipment, under Rolls Royce Commercial Marine and Wartsila.
Q: What inspired you to get into this industry?
A. I had a good family friend who had his own business. He wanted me to work for him, so really, he opened the door for me. He was later bought by a Norwegian company and after other acquisitions, the company became Rolls Royce. I started out in field service and moved up as the company and my experience grew.
Q. What roles have you held?
A. I’ve been a Field Service Engineer, Service Manager and Mechanical Superintendent. Most recently, I was the Thruster, Engine and Winch, Corporate Subject Matter Expert for Transocean.
Q. Can you share one of your most memorable work experiences?
A. I was the lead of a three-man team that designed the concept and plan for an underwater 80-ton thruster changeout on a drill ship off the East coast of India. We completed the project flawlessly with just a deck barge, which saved the company $100k a day. Because the project was taking place on the East coast of India and we’d have to mobilize a derrick barge or other vessel with a 250-ton crane from the West coast, our plan was a major time and muti-million-dollar cost saver.
Q. What do you like best about working in this industry?
A. I have lived and worked around the ocean since I was born. I enjoy being near the ocean and working here. I also love mechanical work and facing challenges that require thinking outside the box to find time and cost saving solutions. Finding those solutions with the assets you have available is very rewarding.
Q. What are the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A. The most rewarding part about the job is coming up with new ways of doing things that save time and money. That and working with a great team of people. The best asset is a great team. I feel we have that team and are steadily adding to it.
Q.How can your expertise support and help Hydra’s clientele?
A. Time on projects, experience and knowledge of offshore marine work, especially my extensive thruster change expertise, have taught me a lot which benefits our clients.