Jeff Baillie, Atlantic's Director of Shutdowns, Contractual Service Agreements and Projects, calls for local energy sector collaboration to optimize manpower in maintenance.

 
Atlantic is calling on the local energy sector to collaborate to optimize the use of manpower and other resources in the maintenance of upstream and downstream production facilities.

The topic was raised by Jeff Baillie, Atlantic’s Director of Shutdowns, Contractual Service Agreements and Projects, who was speaking recently at the Energy Chamber’s annual Energy Conference.

“Maintenance is an essential contribution to the service life of any process plant operation,” Mr. Baillie said.  “It ultimately influences total facility production. However, manpower is the essential component to maintenance, and Atlantic wants to call on the local energy sector to work together to ensure that we optimize how existing manpower is deployed for everyone’s mutual benefit.”

Atlantic, the world’s seventh largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has four natural gas liquefaction units (called “trains”), including Train 4, until recently the world’s largest train.  At the heart of the company’s production capacity is its fleet of twenty-seven (27) GE Frame 5 turbine compressors, the largest fleet in the world.  Atlantic’s turbine complement also boasts the world’s highest availability rate (99.45%), a measure of the equipment’s actual capacity available for processing.

Describing Atlantic’s recent experience in the annual maintenance of its facility, Mr. Baillie explained that routine maintenance entailed outages to service the company’s turbine fleet.  Atlantic’s maintenance outages employ some 2,000 artisans, craftsmen and technicians over month-long periods, and also require large quantities of equipment, including scaffolding and giant cranes.

“This often puts pressure on supply of these services at other facilities or even other locations in the country,” Mr. Baillie explained. “This is further complicated whenever Atlantic’s maintenance coincides with maintenance at Point Lisas facilities or even upstream with the gas suppliers.”

Mr. Baillie described the local sector’s annual maintenance cycle as contributing to “peaks and troughs” in the annual demand for service provider firms.  “There are periods of very low demand and periods of very high demand.  This doesn’t help create optimal use of resources, and it also doesn’t help some of the firms offer stable employment,” Mr. Baillie said.  “We may all need to work together to spread our maintenance activity throughout the year, or help give the contractor companies greater sight of our annual plans so that they too can plan ahead for recruitment and training.”

Another complication identified by Mr. Baillie was the shortage of contractors with HSE certification to do some of the higher-risk maintenance activities.  He said that initiatives such as the Energy Chamber’s Safe-To-Work (STOW) and the Safety Passport programme of the Point Lisas employers Association (PLEA) only partially addressed this challenge.

“We need HSE training opportunities that are consistent in their depth of approach.  The local sector also needs to develop a universally agreed minimum core curriculum for training for high-risk activities,” Mr. Baillie explained.

“These solutions require a multilateral approach, with upstream speaking with downstream, downstream speaking with downstream, and everybody speaking with the contractor companies,” Mr. Baillie said.  “In these challenging times in the global energy market, we have to work together to keep Trinidad and Tobago as a competitive source of natural gas and petrochemicals to global markets.”

(left to right) Canadian High Commissioner Karen McDonald; Anil Seunath, Brand Officer, Atlantic; and Minister of Education, Hon. Dr. Tim Gopeesingh were deep in outer space thanks to the 3D technology used in the documentary Hubble 3D. Occasion was the recent launch of the 2012 season of the Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip, the education programme at Digicel IMAX sponsored by LNG producer Atlantic. In addition to the footage filmed in outer space, “Hubble 3D” features revolutionary astronomy visualizations and animations.

Students of Trinidad and Tobago may now be “transported” to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, via “Hubble 3D” the newest offering in the Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip experience at the Digicel IMAX Cinema.

The renowned documentary which features real-life footage filmed in space, was unveiled recently at the launch of the 2012 season of the cinema’s education programme sponsored by LNG producer Atlantic.

Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, Atlantic’s Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications explained that the Ultimate Field Trip aimed to use edge 3D cinema technology as a tool to develop Trinidad and Tobago’s future capacity for innovation.

“This technology creates a more immersive experience for the viewer, helping to stimulate our children’s imagination and increase their knowledge,” Ms. Sirju-Ramnarine said. “The Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip therefore becomes an alternative learning tool that helps teachers and parents give our children greater exposure to new worlds and new spheres of knowledge.”

Fifty (50) schools and 5,000 students have embarked on the educational programme since its launch in 2011. Atlantic has also established a special fund to which schools may apply for assistance to facilitate their students’ access to the programme’s documentaries shown throughout the year.

In addition to the footage filmed in outer space, “Hubble 3D” features revolutionary astronomy visualizations and animations. This gives students first-hand experience of the work of astronauts and the glittering starscapes of the universe. “Hubble 3D” is the first new documentary to be released for the 2012 season of Atlantic’s educational programme. Other 3D documentaries that will be shown include Born to Be Wild, Space Station and Under the Sea, which will be launched in April.

The Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip is one of the LNG company’s several initiatives focused on building Sustainability in Trinidad and Tobago. Atlantic’s partnerships with NGOs facilitate energy skills training and certification, values-based vocational training, agri-entrepreneurship, community and youth development through sports and education, youth leadership development and tagging and monitoring of sea turtles.

The Corporate Champion award recognises the corporate entity which has made a significant investment in sport, at the community and national levels.

Atlantic’s investment in sport programmes for young people across Trinidad and Tobago bowled over the judging panel, and was unique in that it not only focused on the development of the physical potential of young people, but also used sport as a medium to cultivate invaluable life skills and values which would prepare today’s generation to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

The Atlantic Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School which was launched in November is one such programme, which not only provides an avenue for children from at-risk communities in and around Port of Spain to access developmental football training, but also creates a forum for them to develop values such as integrity, discipline, collaboration and leadership, both on and off the field of play.

Atlantic also supports community-based programmes in Point Fortin such as cricket camps with the WIPA in the Community programme, swimming programmes with the YMCA and additional programmes in tennis, badminton, gymnastics, volleyball and track and field with Shape the Community programme, in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC).

On the national level, Atlantic has left an indelible mark with its support of primary school athletes in the National Primary Schools’ Football League, Cricket League and Track and Field Championships.

In accepting the award on behalf of Atlantic, Caroline Toni Sirju-Ramnarine, Head, Sustainability and Corporate Communications, thanked all the collaborative partners who share in Atlantic’s aspiration to create opportunities which would benefit future generations.

“We envision a tomorrow that is based on the positive spirit of sport, and by nurturing today’s young people – our Energy generation – we hope to create winners and leaders, not just in sport, but in life”, she said.

“We welcome initiatives such as these are as they catalysts for greater engagement and participation from the wider community, which can only spur national development and sustainability”, she added.

The Spirit of Sport Awards were conceptualised as a forum to recognise all levels of sport and its many contributors. It aims to honour key individuals and organisations involved in the growth and development of sport from the grassroots level, right up to the elite performance level. It celebrates not just the performance of the nation’s athletes but also the individuals, communities and corporate entities which support and nurture them.

The young men and women graduated recently from the Atlantic Operator Trainee Programme, an eighteen (18) month work-study initiative developed by LNG producer Atlantic in partnership with the National Training Agency (NTA) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). The programme has graduated 193 trainees since its inception in 2004, and is currently the only training initiative developed by an energy sector company that is approved by the NTA to grant the TTNVQ in Process Plant Operations.

At the graduation ceremony held last December at Paria Suites, Dave Mitchell, Plant Manager, Atlantic explained to the graduates that the Operator Trainee Programme was designed specifically to address some of the future youth development and economic needs of Point Fortin and Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Atlantic Operator Trainee Programme makes a significant contribution to the local energy sector and the global energy industry. The programme builds the pool of skilled talent available for process plant operations locally, regionally and globally,” Mr. Mitchell said.

“You have been given skills for the global marketplace,” Mr. Mitchell continued. “With the current state of the recovery of the global economy, where recession has restricted employment in some of the developed countries, many young people in countries such as Italy and Greece are having problems finding jobs. But graduates, you have been given a very significant advantage.”

Neil Mohammed, Atlantic’s Training Coordinator for the Programme reiterated that the programme laid the foundation for ‘Being the Best’ Operator, in line with Atlantic’s vision of being the global benchmark in LNG Operations.

Earlene Benjamin, Senior Coordinator Curriculum at the NTA, said that the agency’s partnership with Atlantic was aimed at developing national and regional competence in process plant operations. “This is a critical skill required not only by the oil and gas sector, but also by manufacturing and other industries locally. The NTA is pleased to be helping to facilitate access to employment for young Trinidadians and Tobagonians.”

Valedictorians Khemraj Lakhan and Safiya Sookoo described the Trainees’ journey and praised the support the cohort received from Atlantic personnel and UTT lecturers. “The experience I got at Atlantic was one I’ll remember all my life. I learnt so many things: about people, dealing with them, coping with situations,” Ms. Sookoo said. “From this Programme I can definitely deal with challenges. I was provided with technical skills which will remain with me all my life and will help in the world of work in the future.”

In the Atlantic Operator Trainee Programme participants from Point Fortin and surrounding communities work alongside Atlantic personnel in Operations, Maintenance and Engineering, and learn the company’s business. Trainees attend classes in process plant operations at the Point Lisas Campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in Couva, for an initial three month period. At the end of this period, successful trainees are brought to Atlantic’s facility for a further fifteen (15) months of classroom and on the job training in which they are assessed against National Occupational Standards in Process Plant Operations. Upon graduation, trainees receive the Trinidad and Tobago National Vocational Qualification (TTNVQ) in Process Plant Operations.

Manchester United Coach Kevin Ward leads a football skills sessions with participants at the Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development Camp held in December at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Top 25 girls selected for Under-15 and Under-17 training

Manchester United Coach Eamon Mulvey has praised the natural talent of the young Trinidadian footballers who participated in the Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development Camp.

“There was lots of natural talent with exciting players who showed that they have lots of potential,” Mr. Mulvey said.  “For Atlantic to bring the best players together on this camp is great.”

The three-day camp was held from December 2 – 4, 2011 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and featured special training for the top twenty-five (25) boys and twenty-five (25) girls who played in this year’s Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League Competition.

The Manchester United coach and his colleague Kevin Ward worked directly with the children in sessions in football skills.  The young footballers were also exposed to workshops in life skills and life management, led by officials from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC).

Commenting on the football component of the camp, Coach Mulvey explained that the first day featured presentations to local coaches and teachers about the coaching methods and philosophy used by Manchester United.  “These sessions went very well, with the teachers and coaches very enthusiastic to practice what they learned,” Mr. Mulvey said.

On the second day, the children were spilt into two groups (boys and girls) and then batched to allow the coaches to conduct age-appropriate sessions.  “Coach Ward worked one group on various techniques, while I had the second group playing small-side football with an emphasis on creating a positive learning environment,” Mr. Mulvey said.

On the third day, two ‘World Cup’ festivals were arranged for the children.  This entailed full length games, and emphasized transferring some of the techniques from the sessions into skills used within the game.  “All the children participated and extra children from the Atlantic Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School, Dion La Foucade Soccer Schools and the girl national players joined in,” Mr. Mulvey said.  “It was a successful day with lots of goals, high quality play, fun and enjoyment by all.”

At the closing ceremony for the camp, where certificates of participation and special prizes were presented to the children, National Coach Marlon Charles said he was very satisfied with the children’s performance on the camp.  Coach Charles announced that all 25 girl players on the camp had been selected to join training with the national under-15 and under-17 teams.

Established in 2010, the Atlantic Football and Life Skills Development Camp is a post-competition initiative in the Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League. Through partnership with Manchester United and the TTOC, Atlantic stages the camp to help develop local football by building football and life skills in children.

At the on-board welcome reception were: (from left) Captain Jose Ramon Urresti Zaballa; Roger Ferguson, Vice-President, Commercial, Atlantic; Keron Ali, Commercial Manager, GDF SUEZ; Chief Officer Tomislav Jelic; Gary Williams, Director, Port Operations, GDF SUEZ; Sean Logie, representative of Melville Shipping; and Kerwyn Fraser, Marine Manager, Atlantic.

Point Fortin – known in energy circles as the hometown of LNG production company Atlantic – has a new claim to fame. Global energy conglomerate GDF SUEZ has named an LNG carrier vessel in honour of the Trinidadian town.
On a recent first visit to its name sake, the GDF SUEZ Point Fortin dropped anchor at Atlantic and was loaded with Atlantic’s 2289th cargo since the company began commercial operations in 1999.

For the occasion, representatives of Atlantic and GDF SUEZ boarded the LNG carrier and presented memorial tokens to the captain and crew.

Kerwyn Fraser, Atlantic’s Marine Manager said that the visit of the GDF SUEZ Point Fortin commemorated twelve (12) years of LNG trading from Point Fortin. “When Atlantic began operations, Point Fortin was re-established on the map in global energy. Though we were new to the LNG business in 1999, Atlantic has grown steadily over the years to become a reliable and safe source of natural gas for our customers,” Mr. Fraser explained.

Keron Ali, Commercial Manager, GDF SUEZ explained that the energy conglomerate acknowledged that the Atlantic community in Point Fortin played a critical role in the continuous and reliable supply of LNG to the New England natural gas industry and GDF SUEZ global energy markets.

“This vessel was named after the borough of Point Fortin because GDF SUEZ recognizes our investment in Atlantic as a global leader in LNG production and the community that supports this facility,” Mr. Ali said. “The Atlantic partners and the people of Trinidad and Tobago brought to the LNG industry a timely and cost effective response to the needs of the global LNG business.”

GDF SUEZ was one of the founding shareholders of Atlantic through its acquisition of Cabot LNG. The GDF SUEZ Point Fortin was constructed by the Imabari Shipbuilding Company in Japan and was commissioned in February 2010. The vessel has a total capacity of 154,200 cubic meters and is one of the largest LNG carriers in the world featuring a design improvement which allows increased cargo-carrying capacity, due to optimization of the tank design.

While football festivals are popular in more developed football countries, this was the first time such an event was held for girls in Trinidad and Tobago. The event aimed to introduce the fundamentals of the game to the young players, while allowing for the establishment of a player pool for the TTFF’s National Programme.

Through the one-day festival, the TTFF had the opportunity to assess the skill of the players which would lend to scouting for high potential players for the respective youth teams. Additionally, the event allowed the girls to interact with some of the country’s senior female players, which will enable them to recognise the future opportunities for girls in the sport.

“Creating more playing opportunities for girls in sport leads to positive development. We are happy that the TTFF has recognised the enormous potential of the players from the Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League. This football festival is a great way to build momentum for the sport, as well as create continuity even after the league season is over”, explained Mrs Caroline Sirju-Ramnarine, Atlantic’s Head, Sustainability and Corporate Communications.

“Our support speaks to our commitment to development and the creation of natural pathways for primary school students involved in sports programmes into senior teams in the future”, she added.
The festival featured teams from the top two schools from the Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League, from each district across Trinidad and Tobago.  Participating teams, by district were:

Caroni: St. David’s R.C. Primary/ Longdenville Government Primary
North Eastern: Manzanilla Government Primary / Cumana Anglican Primary
P.O.S. & Environs: St. Agnes Anglican Primary/ Carenage Girls’ Government Primary
St. George East: Dinsley Trincity Government Primary/ La Horquetta Government Primary
St. Patrick: Vance River R.C. Primary / Penal R.C. Primary
South Eastern: Guayaguayare R.C. Primary/ Sister’s Road Anglican Primary
Tobago: Montgomery Government Primary/ Mason Hall Government Primary
Victoria: Vos Government Primary/ San Fernando Methodist Primary

- Manchester United to coach top primary school footballers at Atlantic Football Development Camp

Port of Spain – November 23, 2011 - Santa Flora Government and St. Agnes Anglican were crowned the Champion Schools in the finals of the Atlantic National Primary Schools Football League at the Hasely Crawford Stadium today (November 23).

In the Girls finals, St. Agnes Anglican overthrew Cumana Anglican 2-nil.  Khadine Jack booted in both goals for St. Agnes and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In the Boys game, Santa Flora Government converted their third consecutive appearance in a League final into a triumph over Tobago’s Bon Accord.  When the final whistle blew, the score line was 2-nil to Santa Flora.  Anthony Singh and Dillon Subnaik scored one each for Santa Flora, while their team-mate goal-keeper Denzil Smith was awarded MVP.

Third place trophies were presented to Montgomery Government and Mason Hall Government in the Girls League, while Whim Anglican and Arima Boys RC shared third place in the Boys League.

At the prize-giving ceremony, Derek Daniel, Atlantic’s Branding and Communications Manager commended the performance of all the schools in the League.  Mr. Daniel said that Atlantic would once again be staging its post-competition initiative, the Atlantic Football Development Camp, which was introduced in 2010 and which will be held this year from December 2 – 4.   The top fifty boy and girl footballers in the League will be selected to participate, and English football club Manchester United will once again be providing coaches for the initiative.

“The Manchester United coaches will be working directly with the boys and girls on the camp to develop and hone their skills,” Mr. Daniel said.  “The international coaches will also be hosting special training sessions with local coaches.  This will help to promote even more of a knowledge transfer between Manchester United and all the schools of Trinidad and Tobago, because the local coaches will take what they learn back to their schools and teach it to the children.  Atlantic looks forward to how local football at all levels – primary, secondary and professional – will benefit from this initiative, over time.”

Also on hand at the Finals were the Minister in the Ministry of Education, the Hon. Clifton De Coteau; and Vincent Graham, Chairman of the National Primary Schools Football League.

Atlantic and The Real Madrid Foundation have joined forces to establish a youth development and football training initiative for underprivileged children between the ages of seven and fourteen selected from schools in Port of Spain and environs.

The Atlantic/Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports School was formally launched on Saturday November 5 at an inauguration event held at Jaffa at the Oval, Queen’s Park Oval.

The school will be based at the St. Dominic’s Children’s Home, and will be managed by the Ron La Forest Soccer Academy.  While the children participating will be exposed to football training, the school’s primary focus will be on building values and good citizenship.

Feature speaker at the launch event was Spanish football legend and former Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueno (aka “The Vulture”), who is currently the Director of Institutional Relations of Real Madrid Club.

Mr. Butragueno explained that Real Madrid’s many titles and successes went hand in hand with the club’s values of team work, respect, companionship, a fighting spirit and a never say die attitude.  “We understand that the values of Real Madrid on the field are an asset in real life, and we want to make them available to as many people as possible,” he said.

Describing the Real Madrid Foundation as the soul of the football club, Mr. Butragueno said that the Foundation was present in 55 countries and had established 167 Social Sports Schools around the world, facilitating over 30,000 beneficiaries. “This school has reached Trinidad and Tobago and our goal is to collaborate with you for many years to come,” he said.  “The new school we are inaugurating today will have 200 beneficiaries, young boys and girls aged seven to 14, the future of Trinidad and Tobago, the future citizens of the world.”

Caroline Sirju-Ramnarine, Atlantic’s Head of Sustainability and Corporate Communications explained that children attending the Social Sports School will not only receive football coaching, but will also be trained in Spanish, life management skills and values.  She said that the School’s emphasis on values was similar to Atlantic’s other programmes targeting the children of Trinidad and Tobago, which help to nurture holistic development in young people.

Mrs. Sirju Ramnariine praised Real Madrid’s success which had been facilitated by the club’s shared values.  “Through these values, which are also at the heart of Atlantic’s strategy, we believe that the Real Madrid Foundation will help in developing the youth of Trinidad and Tobago,” she said.

Other speakers at the launch event included Minister of Sports, the Hon. Anil Roberts; Spanish Ambassador, His Excellency Joaquin de Arístegui Laborde; and Ken Elie, Technical Director of the Ron La Forest Soccer Academy.

Sister Arlene, Coordinator of the St. Dominic’s Children Home said that the Atlantic/Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports Schools had answered her prayers for a programme that facilitated both sports and mentorship for the boys at the home.  The Social Sports Schools will join the other youth development programmes run by the St. Dominic’s Children’s Home.  The Social Sports School will be open to children from selected schools in Port of Spain and environs and also children residing in at-risk communities.

Seven (7) weeks after the launch of Atlantic’s sponsorship of the IMAX cinema’s educational initiative, the Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip welcomed its 1000^th student on Wednesday November 2, during a visit by Dunross Prep.
The school’s students were treated to a biodiversity exhibition by the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation, after viewing 3D documentary “Born to Be Wild”.

In greeting the students and teachers, Anil Seunath, Atlantic’s Brand Officer explained that the Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip was intended to provide another vehicle for teachers to communicate with students, expanding the educational opportunities available to the children of Trinidad and Tobago.

“Many students have made the journey from their schools to this cinema, to learn more about space, elephants and orangutans through state of the art IMAX film technology,” Mr. Seunath said.  “It is another vehicle to help expand the horizons of our children’s minds.  This ultimately will help Trinidad and Tobago become even more competitive in the challenging times ahead in today’s world.”

Mr. Seunath also said that in 2012, students accessing the initiative will get the opportunity to view educational films about deep sea marine life, the Galapagos Islands, and the crisis facing polar bears because of global warming.

Since the launch of the Atlantic-sponsored educational initiative in September this year, schools from Point Fortin, Cunupia, Manzanilla, Cocorite, Carenage, Debe, Belmont, St. Clair and Morvant have embarked on the Atlantic Ultimate Field Trip at the IMAX cinema.  Some schools have also received assistance from the special fund established by Atlantic, an initiative that was introduced to ensure that all schools in Trinidad and Tobago have access to this unique learning experience.