JUNE/JULY 2013 | £5.25 - Wind Energy Network

successful Women in Windsuccessful Women in WindSharonMainprizeWhen I left school I went to collegeand worked towards achieving myBTEC National Diploma in Businessand Finance. Once achieved, I thenwent onto working with finances at alocal Building Society and worked myway up the ladder and stayed therefor 10 years.I got together with my husband, Bob Mainprizein 2001 and we got married in 2004.Our company2004 was a busy year for us as we alsobought out the family business, MainprizeTrawling Company Limited (now re-namedas Mainprize Offshore Limited). We ranthe business side by side. I took on thefinances and shore based roles andmy husband continued to go to sea ascaptain.Massive changeIt was a huge change around to mynormal day to day routine and comfortzones. It was a challenge which Ithoroughly enjoyed, and as the businessgrows, the challenges just keep coming.Women andWind EnergyWhen WISTA-UK (Women’sInternational Shipping and TradingAssociation) started investigating thetopic and the relation and involvementthat shipping ladies could have on thewind industry, we realised that windenergy is a subject not widely known,and when trying to relate wind energyand women, the involvement of womenis not impressive and practically nil.Open doorsWomen have been successful in theshipping industry, and demonstrate theircontribution to the sector. Now the doorsare open for women to enter the windenergy world. Within the members ofWISTA-UK, we have lawyers and logisticspecialists, as well as naval architectand engineers, biologists, environmentalexperts to name a few. The wind energysector needs experts and can offer goodopportunities for professional women in thisindustry. Women need to be attracted andcaptivated.Growing into offshorerenewablesWe decided that our offshoreexperience, dedication andattention to detail could beused in the offshore renewableindustry and therefore decidedto commission 3 vessels. A 17mSouth Boats design followedby an order for two 25 metreTeknicraft design vessels, all builtat the Buckie Shipyard. The overallinvestment totalling over £5 million.We also moved into new officesand have taken on staff.Offshore windThe Dalby Derwent, 17 metre South Boatsdesign, went straight on to charter withDalby Offshore Limited on the GreaterGabbard site, and has since workedon the Prinses Amalia Wind Park and iscurrently working at the Kentish Flats.Continued growthWe are soon to take delivery of theMO1 a radical 25m Teknicraft vesselwith some quite unique capabilities.It is a very exciting time for MainprizeOffshore Limited as we are taking on themanagement of vessels, delivery of newvessels and expanding our operations tooffer clients a one stop shop for a growingnumber of operations.MentoringHere is where mentoring will play a pivotalrole in attracting talent and leadershippotential for women as the industrydevelops.In the ranks of WISTA-UK we have,among all our members, two veryimportant members, dealing withenvironment and climate changes, butinternationally the list grows. However, thewind energy sector will also benefit withthe presence of specialised lawyers, navalengineers/architects, and logistic expertsthat will interface in wind energy projects.ProjectsRecently we read of two majorheadlines in shipping, onewas how a mast for a yachtwas built in Spain and sentby plane to Hong Kong, theother was how a shipbuilder inTurkey diversified by buildingand exporting masts for windenergy. Throughout the energysector there will always bea place and a partnershipopportunity between scienceAnd a family…We now have two children, Mollie andJack who are 6 and 4 years old. I loveto spend time with my family whetherit be fine dining, days out, holidays orjust relaxing a little at home. Running abusiness, and a family home, unfortunatelydoes not give you a lot of time forrelaxation!Sharon MainprizeMainprize Offshore Limitedwww.mainprizeoffshore.co.ukClick to view more infoand shipping/logistics and of course,ideally we should have women involved.Women of WindIn the USA there is even an organisationdevoted to women and wind, so yes, thebottom line is, women are involved in thewind energy, directly or indirectly, butthere is a need for more opportunities,mentoring and programs that will helpmore women to develop and contributeto the sustainability, the environment andsocial responsibility that the wind energyindustry offers.Maria Dixon - PresidentWISTA-UK www.wista-uk.netPersonality of the year award 2012 presentedto Katharina Stanzel fifth from leftWomen In WindGetting a little more personalWe hope you have enjoyed the variousarticles so far within this feature.Regular readers will have noticed thatwe are a more personal publication thanmost and feature ‘A day in the life of…’which highlights some of the professionalswho work more at the sharp end of theindustry.Our ’20 Questions’ feature delves moreinto what makes the more prominentfigures tick who in many ways help toshape the industry and are not worriedabout sticking their heads above theparapet!When the editorial team decided tohighlight our Women in Wind we wantedto make it even more personal so you willfind a very mixed variety of articles as wellas a mix of Qs/As throughput the rest ofthis substantial feature.Interview with Tammy Fisher...The first of which is a young lady whomwe met some time ago in East Angliaworking for the very successful companyTidal Transit – we knew then that atsome time in the future there would be avery good reason to bring Tammy to theattention of the rest of the industry as ashining example of what can be achievedthrough hard work and dedicationDescribe what you doI crew on a transfer boat working for TidalTransit. Working on the boat there’s 1Skipper and 2 Crew. Between me and theother crew we share the responsibilities ofpassenger care, transfer from the boat toturbines, boat safety and the day to dayrunning of the boat such as ensuring theboat is ready for sea, sorting the ropesout when mooring up, maintenance andcleaning.A little bit about yourbackgroundI have grown up in North Norfolk in afarming and fishing family. When I leftschool I continued to study a nationaldiploma in game and wildlife. I enjoyed2 years on a charter fishing boat whichintroduced me into wind farming.How do you see your future?I would like to think that one day I will beworking on my own farm with a family ofmy own. In the near future I see myselfcontinuing to work for Tidal Transit gainingas much experience and life skills aspossible.Your opinion on the role ofwomen in the wind industry?I feel that a woman’s role in the windindustry is the same as a male role. Thedifference is in the numbers, as not manywomen are aware that there are jobsoffshore available.With the few women working in windfarming I feel they have to continuouslyprove that they’re capable and as able asa male worker. With wind farming being amale dominated industry it can be hard toget a job out there.There are a growing number of companiesout there who open their doors to maleand female workers in the office andoffshore. I am grateful to Tidal Transit forgiving me the opportunity.Just a few more questions…Describe your typical dayWe start the day by checking the vesselsengines, tidiness and safety equipment.When the passengers arrive I show themour safety brief. I offer them a baconsandwich and drink. When the boat’sleaving port we tidy the ropes away.When in transit we keep an eye on thepassengers ensuring they’re happy and findout what they have planned for the day.Arriving at the wind farm I go to the bowand make sure the passengers havecorrect PPE on and complete a safetransfer up the turbine. When they’reready to come back down I count themdown the ladder when it’s safe to do so.On the way back to port we tidy the vesselready for the next day and make sure weare all fast alongside the pontoon afterrefuelling.What annoys you the most?When the weather is poor and unable towork due to safety restrictions.What was your best holiday?Majorca as it was my first time on aholiday abroad as an adult.Who would you not like to be?Somebody unable to work.What is the best advice you haveever been given?Don’t fall in!What is your favourite smell?Fresh rain in the air.What do you do in your sparetime?I like to volunteer at a horse yard when notworking my spaniels.What 3 words would bestdescribe you?Motivated, reliable and talkative!Where would you like to be 10years from now?I would like to be working on my own farmsomewhere in the UK.Tammy FisherTidal Transitwww.tidal-transit.comClick to view more info= Click to view video16 www.windenergynetwork.co.ukwww.windenergynetwork.co.uk 17