People in Eidesvik: With a Passion for the Ocean
Johan Aarreberg has had a varied and exciting journey in Eidesvik since he joined the company in 2007.This July he was appointed Master on the largest vessel in the Eidesvik Offshore fleet; Viking Neptun.
Born and based in Oslo 39 year-old Aarreberg has chosen a career that is unlike any of his friends and family.
– I have always been fascinated by the ocean and by ships. I knew I wanted to work at sea, he says.
With a bachelor’s degree in Nautical Science from the University of South-Eastern Norway and cadet experience from a tanker and a cruise ship, he joined Eidesvik in 2007 as Dynamical Positioning Operator on board offshore construction vessel “Viking Poseidon”. This was the start of an exciting journey in the company.
His next stop was a two-year position as 1 st Mate on offshore construction vessel Viking Forcados operating outside of West Africa before he acquired the position as Chief Officer on Kingfisher in 2009.
His next assignment in Eidesvik turned out to be one of the highlights of his career. In 2012, Aarreberg went onshore to participate in the final construction phase for the IMR vessel Seven Viking. When the vessel was delivered in 2013, he took the position as Chief Officer on board.
– Taking part in the construction of such a great vessel taught me a lot. Seven Viking was named “Ship of the Year” in 2013 and I got the honor of receiving the award from the Crown Prince of Norway on behalf of the company, tells Aarreberg.
A great responsibility
The participation in the construction of Seven Viking gave Aarreberg both the experience and desire to take on more project tasks in Eidesvik. In late 2013 he returned to shore and joined the company’s development department in Langevaag to participate in the construction of the SURF vessel Viking Neptun – the largest vessel ever in the Eidesvik fleet.
– I joined the construction from the very start and have been with the vessel since. It is safe to say that I know her very well, he says.
In July 2021, Eidesvik appointed him Master and leader of Viking Neptun. As Master Aarreberg is now responsible for operating the vessel, managing the crew, and to keep the vessel, crew and operations safe.
– Being the leader of a vessel is a great responsibility. It is also a way for me to develop and grow, and I am proud of where my efforts have taken me. We have a great team on Viking Neptun and I cannot wait to get started in my new role.
The Master of a ship also has a very important role as first point of contact with the customer.
– An essential part of my role is to ensure good cooperation with the customer. My goal is to build a work climate where the crew and the customer continuously work together to find the best solutions to the tasks at hand, says Aarreberg.
Opportunities for growth
Eidesvik is a company with high focus on retaining and developing employees. The new Viking Neptun Master is a very good example of the opportunities for growth offered within the company.
– For me Eidesvik is a great place to work. The culture is including and we take care of each other. I also like the company’s focus on innovation and new technologies that reduce emissions, says Aarreberg.
Viking Neptun is currently on contract with Havfram. The vessel is equipped with hybrid technology to ensure reduced fuel consumption and emissions. It will now be safely run by a Master that has followed the vessel since the very first steel plate.