As a Field Supervisor at Liquin, 43-year-old Marlon Beijaard is constantly busy with projects at the Botlek Terminal. He oversees things, monitors progress and ensures quality standards are met. “I spend about 80% of my time outside at the terminal. That’s the best part of the job: doing the rounds, talking to people, seeing what’s happening.”
Marlon works as part of the Projects team together with two coordinators, two supervisors and three engineers. “We’re like a well-oiled machine. The engineers order a job, it goes to the coordinator and then I take it over in the field.”
Staying critical, thinking ahead
A job can be anything: replacing pipelines, steel constructions, concrete work, you name it.
“We only work at our own terminal, with contractors carrying out the actual work. As supervisor, I make sure everything runs smoothly, according to planning and agreements. Theory and practice are not always the same, so you have to stay critical and think ahead.”
Every morning, Marlon starts around 6:30 am by reviewing the work permits for the day.
“Some are new, others need extending. I usually wrap up the day with a tour outside. That way I can see for myself how things are going and give my final comments.”
Organising, communicating and building trust
What do you need for this job? “You’ve got to enjoy organising, be a strong communicator and have a good sense of people. And above all: be eager to learn. You keep developing yourself, and that’s what makes it fun. Recently I completed my training as a visual welding inspector. Tough, but fantastic that I got that opportunity.”
Safety and quality always come first. “You have a certain responsibility. If something goes wrong, you feel it immediately. That’s why I consult with colleagues a lot. If I’m ever in doubt, I speak up straight away. You work independently, but never alone.”
From chef to supervisor
Marlon has been working at Liquin for over five years now. He originally started out as a chef. Later he worked as a welder and gradually found his way into the chemical industry through an agency. “I’ve done it all: from maintenance to construction, from heat treatment to torque and tension. A mate of mine who was a supervisor at Shell got me into the former Vopak, and I stayed on when it became Liquin.”
His working day usually ends around 3:00 pm. “Perfect, because I’m a father of three and live in Spijkenisse. I used to do heavy work in shifts, and that was exhausting. Now I have a great balance. This job suits me perfectly.”
Proud of his role
What does Marlon enjoy most about his work? “The variety, the interaction with people and the feeling that you’re really making a difference. Every day we’re working to improve here. And when you complete a project successfully as a team, it’s truly rewarding.”
