Graduation Thesis - Subsea Engineering - Cables & Pipelines

From our office in Gorinchem, you get the chance to turn your graduation research into something with real impact. You will work on a topic that connects engineering with the future of offshore wind. You can choose between two graduation assignments within Subsea Engineering, Cables & Pipelines. One focuses on automation and operational excellence in cable burial. The other explores smarter ways to stabilize cable protection systems. You will work with experts and turn your findings into recommendations that can help shape future projects.

The position

As a graduation student within Tender & Engineering, you will work on one of two research topics within Subsea Engineering, Cables & Pipelines. Both assignments address challenges that matter to the safe and reliable installation of offshore cables. Depending on your interests, you can focus on improving cable burial operations through sensor data, visualization and automation concepts. Alternatively, you can investigate how cable protection systems can be stabilized more effectively from both a technical and commercial perspective. In both cases, you will combine research with practical input from people working on offshore wind projects. You will have room to explore your own ideas and translate your findings into useful recommendations. Your work will contribute to improving how we prepare for and execute future projects.

Your impact

Your graduation research will help us look at an existing offshore challenge from a new perspective. You will analyse the current situation, identify opportunities for improvement and develop recommendations that can support future projects. The exact focus depends on the assignment you choose, but both topics require you to connect technical knowledge with practical project needs. You will work with relevant stakeholders and test your ideas against realistic operational or project scenarios. Your research will result in a final thesis with clear findings and recommendations.

Depending on your chosen topic, your work may include:

• Analyse the current situation and identify opportunities for improvement
• Develop recommendations that can support future projects
• Connect technical knowledge with practical project needs
• Work with relevant stakeholders and test your ideas against realistic operational or project scenarios
• Produce a final thesis with clear findings and recommendations
• Analysing operational or technical challenges in offshore cable installation
• Investigating data, technology or alternative engineering concepts
• Assessing risks, limitations and opportunities for improvement
• Working with stakeholders to test and validate your findings
• Developing practical recommendations for future offshore wind projects

You will join Tender & Engineering in Gorinchem. Here, engineers and other specialists work together on complex offshore wind projects. You will be surrounded by people who combine technical knowledge with practical experience. You can ask questions, share ideas and learn from colleagues who work on projects that take place around the world.

About you

You are curious about how engineering solutions can improve offshore operations and project execution. You like to understand a problem before looking for a solution. You can work independently while actively involving others in your research. You are comfortable analysing information and turning your findings into clear recommendations.

For this graduation assignment, we are looking for someone with:

• A Master student in the field of Mechanical Engineering, Offshore Engineering or something similar
• An interest in subsea engineering, offshore wind or cable installation
• An analytical approach to technical or project related challenges
• The ability to structure research and communicate clear conclusions

We offer

We offer you the opportunity to contribute to real engineering challenges that impact our global project. In addition, we offer:

• A graduation internship allowance
• Intensive supervision from experienced engineers
• Communities to join, such as Young Van Oord, Van Oord Women, and the Van Oord staff association
• Various events and sports activities, such as skiing, sailing weekends, cycling, and motorcycling

“You come up with something at your desk and then see it actually working on a ship. That’s incredibly rewarding.”

Thomasz, Engineer Production Automation