Donald A Low

Manager, key technical advisor and contact for a cranes contract to an International Oil & Gas organization.

Work with business stake holders for collating budgets, financial planning and technical resources.

I continue to maintain my prior responsibilities as a Crane Reliability Engineer as outlined in my previous position. In my charge are contract support engineers, mechanical supervisors, Diesel engine engineer, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical crane technicians. 

As a Crane Reliability Engineer, I identify maintenance requirements to increase & maximise reliability performance in a sustainable way and capture all opportunities to improve while reducing total cost for offshore pedestal cranes. This is achieved through evaluation of work results, maintenance procedures, inspections, reviews, updates and follow up with appropriate actions. Conduct investigations into failures to eliminate their root causes and capture opportunities to improve offshore crane integrity, efficiency and reliability. Determine the probability of failure, impact severity and acceptable risk to define the correct maintenance requirements. Formulate, review, amend maintenance strategies and implement changes and improvements. 
I provide technical advice and expert solutions for diesel engines, mechanical and hydraulic issues, structural integrity, hydraulic modifications and upgrades. 

Project Engineer, short term contract.

Management & Planning of a refurbishment project for two marine cranes for BW Offshore, Singapore. Removal of a two marine cranes from the vessel for major refurbishment works, to include crane boom refurbishment, NDT & UT inspection and identification of major structural defects. Reporting and providing recommendations required for repair processes of the crane boom structure to DNV classification. Removal of crane slew bearing, strip down, inspection and recommendations for replacement. Advise on hydraulic, mechanical and electrical refurbishments. Inspection and reporting  of a 100Te knuckle boom crane mechanical and hydraulic components. Provide recommendations for repair of major component defects.

Organisation and development of work plans, materials & resources. Planning, scheduling and implementation of work activities in compliance with company procedures, objectives and HSE requirements. Develop work packs, work procedures, risk assessments and contingency plans for client approval. Communicate and regularly meet with the client to update on the project and discuss work plan tracker. Provide presentations of project progress to client. 

Produce material & labour budget proposals for client approval. Identification, quantifying of materials and provide approval for purchase. 

Installation and commisioning of a new Electric/Hydraulic Pedestal crane. Mechanical & Hydraulic Installation Engineer. Level 3 rigger. Site HSE representative. Total Petroleum, Halul Island, Qatar.

API RD2D Crane Inspections. Occidental Petroleum Qatar.

I moved to the position of Crane Maintenance Supervisor for Dubai Petroleum offshore installation complex Dubai UAE in August 2001.

In my position of Crane Maintenance Supervisor I was initially responsible for the maintenance of 76 offshore pedestal cranes and general lifting equipment across 4 production fields and the supervision of maintenance personnel. The 4 production fields are serviced by Unit Mariner, Weatherford, Energy Cranes and Hercules cranes, various gantry hoists and a personnel elevator.

Furthermore:-  

• Managed  crane maintenance and projects to API, LOLER, OEM and client company standards.
• Managed and ensured Health and Safety legislation and guidelines are adopted and adhered to.
• Planned and scheduled the work scopes of specified periodic mechanical maintenance, corrective maintenance, load testing of cranes and hoists.
• Updated plant maintenance records originally in SAP, Maximo and present Oracle data system.
• Co-ordinated requests for spares materials and execute daily general administration.
• Participated daily in“ hands on” maintenance with work crew to Co-ordinate and support, guided in health and safety issues to ensure tasks are completed safely and to a high standard of workmanship.
• Provided comprehensive inspection reports on crane mechanical and structural conditions.
• Investigation of crane incidents and identification of root causes.
• Supervised and mentored multinational personnel in mechanical maintenance.
• Extensive experience and knowledge of hydraulic and friction clutch mechanical cranes.
• Extensive experience of Stother & Pitt OS200 & OS150, American hoist, Unit Mariner, Weatherford, Hercules and Energy cranes. Experienced in the knowledge of Liebherr, Link Belt, Favco, Priestman, National, Bucyrus Erie, Amclyde and Hydralift.
• Practical experience of fluid, and electronic crane load indicating systems.
• Experienced in reading of hydraulic and pneumatic drawings, basic practical electrical knowledge.
• Extensive working knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems, Braden winches, Staffa and Denison hydraulic pumps and motors.
• Managed and executed pedestal crane removal/installation, removal /installation of crane boom structures, crane refurbishments and upgrades.
• Extensive experience and knowledge of Detroit and Caterpillar industrial diesel engines.
• Installation of mechanical and hydraulic upgrades. 
• Supervised crane heavy lift operations.
• Ability to produce lift plans and method statements.

Additionally I supervised heavy lift crane operations. Ensure that correct rigging and slinging practices are adopted. Advised on diesel engine faults and assisted with the engine repairs for the Mechanical Maintenance department.

I was initially employed with Sparrows Offshore in Nov 1988 as an ad-hoc crane mechanic. In March 1990 I moved to a resident mechanics position on a North Sea offshore installation maintaining Stother & Pitt OS200 pedestal cranes, gantry hoists and survival crafts for 11 years. 

Service and repair of hydraulic and diesel power packs.

Service and repair of commercial vehicles, plant and equipment.

Service and repair of light vehicles. Ministry of Transport Inspector

Cragie Loanings. Aberdeen. Apprentice motor mechanic. Attended a technician's course at Aberdeen Technical College & completed a 4 year mechanical apprenticeship.

Mechanical Maintenance SVQ level 3.

Motor Vehicle Mechanic Craft Studies. Motor Vehicle Technicians.

English. Arithmetic. Engineering Drawing. Physics.