Meeting great expectations – The Manila Times

Being a young achiever in the maritime industry is no longer an extraordinary occurrence. For years now, millennials have already occupied the higher echelons of leadership onboard vessels and shore-based executive positions. And while the title "young achiever" gives a significant tinge of grandeur after the name of its owner, it brings along greater expectations.

Such is the case for Jean-Vincent Abobo. He was the youngest chief engineer and the only Filipino onboard an offshore construction vessel back in 2017, a time when European chief engineers are better preferred by ship owners and the Filipinos were relegated to lower positions.

"The stakes were high for young leaders like us. It entailed great expectations from clients and shipmates, and our decisions were critical to a multimillion-dollar ship," Abobo said.

"I was the first Filipino chief engineer on our fleet and my first command was on one of the largest and most advanced flex-lay subsea installation and construction vessels," he recalled.

The experience never dwarfed the man, however. Abobo saw the moment as the culmination of his childhood passion for building and repairing boats.

"I grew up with my grandparents. My lolo was a motor banca builder and at a young age, I have witnessed him and my uncles overhaul engines. As a child, my toys were old pistons, exhaust valves, and other engine parts. I was comfortable tinkering and playing with them," Abobo recalled.

This childhood experience led him to a career he is passionate about - marine engineering.

"There was no seafarer in our family. What drew me to marine engineering is simply a personal and instinctive interest in ship engines. And so, I entered Mariners Polytechnic Colleges in Legazpi, Albay and finally, in 2005, I have completed the Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE) at the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) in Quezon City."

From playing with engine parts as a little boy on the shores of Catarman, Northern Samar, Abobo took his engineering passion across the world onboard deep sea and offshore vessels.

"My best memories on the high seas were delivering and commissioning new ships from the shipyard of our clients, taking dynamic positioning (DP) trials, and successful subsea projects. I've experienced sailing on both deep sea and offshore vessels, and I would say that in my career, my technical know-how has expanded while working aboard subsea construction vessels with sophisticated equipment and machinery. It was like a premium upgrade with lots of new toys," Abobo quipped.

His engineering mettle was tested when his ship once stalled in the middle of pirate-infested waters and was in danger of being attacked.

"There was a major mechanical failure that caused our ship to stall. The crew was left with no other option but to hope that my team would be able to reinstate the system swiftly. Fortunately, we were successful in fixing the system and steered safely away from danger," he shared.

Today, the 37-year-old chief engineer shares his experience and expertise with the younger generation of mariners. As the PHMA president and general manager of Solstad Offshore ASA in Manila, he is contributing to the company's core values by producing reliable, competent, and responsible Filipino seafarers.

"My career both offshore and onshore is closely analogous to the game of golf; success is achieved not by perfecting your game (not even the greatest golfers have done this) but by constantly striving to improve your game while learning to accept and react to challenges that are happening on that day during that round," the golf enthusiast said.

Outside of work, Abobo sees himself as a cool husband and father. He is Jean to colleagues and Vincent to family and close friends.

"Apart from being an engineer, I'm a car enthusiast. Before the pandemic, me & my son, who is also fond of supercars, would always visit car shows and regularly join the fun runs and car club meets. Eight months ago, I started playing golf, and one of the many reasons I love this game is because it challenges both my mind and body and allows me to look inward and works towards improvement," he concluded.

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Meeting great expectations - The Manila Times