Project Engineer in offshore heavy lifting: Youssef’s journey via MULTI.engineering

The first step into offshore engineering

Youssef studied Industrial Engineering in Electromechanics and specialised in offshore engineering during his master’s. “From my third bachelor’s onwards, I knew I wanted a role that would alternate between office-based work and practical, on-site challenges.” After graduating, Youssef began as a Project Engineer at MULTI.engineering and soon joined his first offshore heavy-lifting project at Scaldis.

Those first months were steep but exciting. “Initially, I supported my Project Manager by assisting with smaller tasks, reviewing procedures and technical statements, and exercising rigging calculations. As I gained experience, I took on more responsibility, including designing lifting slings and preparing lift plans. Eventually, I had the opportunity to join an offshore project in Germany.”

Youssef’s first offshore project

His first offshore assignment involved lifting a 3,000-tonne tripod foundation that had previously supported a MET mast used to collect offshore wind, wave, and environmental data for site development. The MET mast itself had already been dismantled. “The operation required detailed calculations to ensure the structure could be vertically hoisted by a heavy lift vessel equipped with cranes capable of lifting up to 4,000 tonnes. It wasn’t a typical lift. You prepare everything – drawings, calculations, procedures – and then you go offshore and see it executed. Watching something you worked on at your desk come to life at sea is special.”

Although still early in his career, Youssef was given significant offshore responsibility. On his first project, he prepared lift plans, drafted daily progress reports, ensured all drawings and procedures were distributed on board, managed rigging certificates, and supported the demobilisation process. Today, he supports smaller projects at Scaldis SMC and writes his own lifting procedures.

A different rhythm

Youssef enjoys being hands-on and actively involved on-site. “Life offshore has its own dynamics. You work closely with an international crew, you are surrounded by open water, and you focus entirely on the project. I really enjoy waking up and seeing the sea from my window, rather than the usual traffic jams in Antwerp. It puts you in a completely different mindset.” His projects at Scaldis SMC have already taken him to Germany, and he will soon be in Denmark.

Professional support throughout Youssef’s journey

From the start, Youssef experienced MULTI.engineering as a professional and well-organised company. From the first interviews to the follow-up at the start of his project at Scaldis, everything ran smoothly. “Communication was clear and fast. Whenever I had a question, I received a quick response. That made my start at Scaldis SMC much easier.”

Deepening expertise with every offshore project

“At university, you learn broadly. In offshore project engineering, you go into detail. You really have to dive into the calculations and understand every small detail, especially in heavy lifting, where there’s no room for approximation. I’ve always been strong in analytical thinking and calculations, and that helps me to stay focused and efficient.”

Looking ahead, Youssef’s ambition is clear: “As long as I keep learning and discovering new things, I’m happy. Continuous growth is what motivates me the most. For now, my projects at Scaldis SMC via MULTI.engineering offer exactly what I was looking for: responsibility, technical depth and the unique experience of seeing complex engineering projects come to life at sea.”

💡Reading tip

Scaldis SMC has been a valued client of MULTI.engineering for many years.
In this article, you’ll discover how and why they deliberately give high-potential young engineers real responsibility from day one.