The Offshore Partners

“𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀.” — 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁.

It’s a conversation we have more often than you might expect.

A strong profile. A good match on paper. Technically exactly what the company is looking for. And then the remote work policy comes up and the candidate steps back.

Not because they are unwilling to work hard. Rather, flexibility has become a serious consideration for many professionals today, one that carries as much weight as salary or career development.

We recognise both perspectives. Companies want new employees to properly integrate, become familiar with the culture and build genuine relationships with their team. Something that is undeniably easier to achieve in person.
Candidates have experienced in recent years that working from home simply works and don’t want to give up that freedom so easily.

The companies that handle this smartly are transparent about the expectation and show that there’s room for a conversation after that initial period.

This is the same honest approach we take at TOP when advising candidates, ensuring there are no surprises later and that the match remains a genuine one.

Does this resonate with your experience, whether as an employer or a candidate? We’d love to hear how you’ve approached this.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆. 🙏

At The Offshore Partners, we believe the people on board matter just as much as the job itself. It means the world to hear that this is truly felt.

Thank you for your kind words! This is why we do what we do. 🌊

12.5 years at TOP: from temporary cover to indispensable

It was supposed to be six months. It turned into twelve and a half years. From reception to crewing, from quality management to Management Assistant, one colleague grew right along with TOP, every step of the way.

Congratulations on this amazing milestone, Esther! We’re grateful to have you as part of the team!

Curious about her journey? Read Esther’s story on our Linkedin!

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸.

Last week our TOPPER, Remmelt Heemskerk, was asked by our appreciated client Heerema Marine Contractors to attend an inspection o/b Sleipnir and join schedule discussion with the vessel crew for the upcoming R&M period.

As Remmelt was involved as Engineering Manager during basic design of the mighty Sleipnir, that request did not fell to deaf ears, always great to see how the philosophies adopted in the design work in practice. Quick trip to Norway involving transfer by fast crew boat in the beautiful fjords of Norway was the result.

Now back in the office processing the observations and discussion.

Thanks to Heerema Marine Contractors for organizing the trip and the warm welcome on board!

𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵: 𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

Mental health on board is often seen as the responsibility of the crew or the captain. During a recent meeting on mental health in the maritime sector, an important question was raised: is that really the case?

A safe and healthy working environment is not created by one person alone. Crew members, onboard leaders, superintendents and shore-based organizations all play an important role. Together we create an environment where people feel heard, supported and safe.

We believe it is important that everyone knows where to turn when they are facing challenges, concerns or signs of stress and overload. Sometimes a conversation is enough. Not because there has to be an immediate solution, but because it helps when someone takes the time to listen.

That is why we want to emphasize that mental health should be something we can openly talk about. Not only when it has become a serious issue, but preferably much earlier. By recognizing signals in time and having open conversations, we can make a real difference for one another.

Mental health is not an individual issue. It is a shared responsibility.

Last week, Josso and his family opened up their home for the ultimate team BBQ. The sun was out, the grill was fired up and the whole office team came together for what can only be described as a very, very warm afternoon.

But there was good food, great company and enough cold drinks to get through the afternoon. Exactly what a summer BBQ should be.

A big thank you to Josso and his family for hosting, your garden, your grill, and your hospitality made it a day to remember.

During our CREST session, we did something meaningful: we looked inward as an organisation. One of the working groups took on the challenge of mapping TOP’s values.
 
The approach was as simple as it was powerful. Everyone was asked the same questions: When did you feel proud? How did TOP respond in a difficult moment? What should TOP never lose? No management document as a starting point. No list handed down from above. Just honest answers from the people who do the work every day.
And what did we find? The answers lined up in a way that was hard to ignore.
 
“We asked everyone separately — and yet we all told the same story.”
 
From those stories, the working group distilled five values that had always been there, but had never been written down this clearly:

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁
We care for our people; their health and safety are our greatest value.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺
No matter where or how we work, we act as one team; across all roles, disciplines, and locations, united in support and shared responsibility.

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁
We do what we promise and build long-term trust by being reliable for each other, every day

𝗢𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
We take ownership, act quickly, and find practical solutions, especially when challenges arise.

𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 & 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲
Great work matters to us, shaped by our experience, guided by professionalism, and strengthened by continuous learning.

What makes this so remarkable? Josso Van Boxtel never presented these values in a meeting or had them printed on a poster. He lived them. Year after year. And it turns out they have become so deeply embedded in our team that we surfaced them ourselves, independently, without prompting.
That is not a coincidence. That is culture.
 
These five values are no longer background noise. They are a compass. They describe who we already are and point us toward who we want to keep being.

Eid Mubarak to all our colleagues, candidates, clients, and partners celebrating Eid today!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful celebration filled with peace, happiness, and togetherness.

𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗱

More than a week has passed, but we’re still reflecting on a great few days in Madrid!

Our colleagues Josso Van Boxtel, Remmelt Heemskerk and Karel van der Linde represented TOP at WindEurope 2026, reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting plenty of new ones. It was great to see that despite some recent headwinds in the industry, offshore wind — and floating wind in particular — remains very much alive and full of ambition.

We look forward to continuing to build on the connections made and to further strengthening our role in the offshore (floating) wind sector — whether in serial foundation manufacturing, fabrication or installation support.

We’re here to help drive the transition to reliable, clean energy.