1.1 We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of our website visitors; this policy sets out how we will treat your personal information.
1.2 By using our website and agreeing to this policy, you consent to our use of cookies in accordance with the terms of this policy.
Collecting personal information
2.1 We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal information:
(a) information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website (including your IP address, geographical location, browser type and version, operating system, referral source, length of visit, page views and website navigation paths);
(b) information that you provide to us when registering with our website (including your email address)
(c) information that you provide when completing your profile on our website (including your name, user name, country/region, employment details, password);
(d) information that you provide to us for the purpose of subscribing to our email notifications and/or newsletters (including your name and email address);
(e) information that you provide to us when using the services on our website, or that is generated in the course of the use of those services (including the timing, frequency and pattern of service use;
(f) information relating to any purchases you make of our goods / services / goods and/or services or any other transactions that you enter into through our website (including your name, address, telephone number, email address and card details;
(g) information that you post to our website for publication on the internet (including your user name, your profile pictures and the content of your posts);
(h) information contained in or relating to any communications that you send to us or send through our website (including the communication content and meta data associated with the communication);
(i) any other personal information that you choose to send to us; and
2.2 Before you disclose to us the personal information of another person, you must obtain that person's consent to both the disclosure and the processing of that personal information in accordance with the terms of this policy.
Using your personal information
3.1 Personal information submitted to us through our website will be used for the purposes specified in this policy or on the relevant pages of the website.
3.2 We may use your personal information to:
(a) administer our website and business;
(b) personalise our website for you;
(c) enable your use of the services available on our website;
(d) send you goods purchased through our website;
(e) supply to you services purchased through our website;
(f) send statements, invoices and payment reminders to you, and collect payments from you;
(g) send you non-marketing commercial communications;
(h) send you email notifications that you have specifically requested;
(i) send you our email newsletter, if you have requested it (you can inform us at any time if you no longer require the newsletter);
(j) send you marketing communications relating to our business or the businesses of carefully-selected third parties which we think may be of interest to you, by post or, where you have specifically agreed to this, by email or similar technology (you can inform us at any time if you no longer require marketing communications);
(k) provide third parties with statistical information about our users (but those third parties will not be able to identify any individual user from that information);
(l) deal with enquiries and complaints made by or about you relating to our website;
(m) keep our website secure and prevent fraud;
(n) verify compliance with the terms and conditions governing the use of our website (including monitoring private messages sent through our website private messaging service);
3.3 If you submit personal information for publication on our website, we will publish and otherwise use that information in accordance with the licence you grant to us.
3.4 Your privacy settings can be used to limit the publication of your information on our website, and can be adjusted using privacy controls on the website.
3.5 We will not, without your express consent, supply your personal information to any third party for the purpose of their or any other third party's direct marketing.
3.6 All our website financial transactions are handled through our payment services provider, Paypal. You can review the provider's privacy policy at https://www.paypal.com/gr/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full. We will share information with our payment services provider only to the extent necessary for the purposes of processing payments you make via our website, refunding such payments and dealing with complaints and queries relating to such payments and refunds.
Disclosing personal information
4.1 We may disclose your personal information to any of our employees, officers, insurers, professional advisers, agents, suppliers or subcontractors insofar as reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in this policy.
4.2 We may disclose your personal information to any member of our group of companies (this means our subsidiaries, our ultimate holding company and all its subsidiaries) insofar as reasonably necessary for the purposes set out in this policy.
4.3 We may disclose your personal information:
(a) to the extent that we are required to do so by law;
(b) in connection with any ongoing or prospective legal proceedings;
(c) in order to establish, exercise or defend our legal rights (including providing information to others for the purposes of fraud prevention and reducing credit risk);
(d) to the purchaser (or prospective purchaser) of any business or asset that we are (or are contemplating) selling; and
(e) to any person who we reasonably believe may apply to a court or other competent authority for disclosure of that personal information where, in our reasonable opinion, such court or authority would be reasonably likely to order disclosure of that personal information.
4.4 Except as provided in this policy, we will not provide your personal information to third parties.
International data transfers
5.1 Information that we collect may be stored and processed in and transferred between any of the countries in which we operate in order to enable us to use the information in accordance with this policy.
5.2 Information that we collect may be transferred to the following countries which do not have data protection laws equivalent to those in force in the European Economic Area: the United States of America, Russia, Japan, China and India.
5.3 Personal information that you publish on our website or submit for publication on our website may be available, via the internet, around the world. We cannot prevent the use or misuse of such information by others.
5.4 You expressly agree to the transfers of personal information described in this Section 5.
Retaining personal information
6.1 This Section 6 sets out our data retention policies and procedure, which are designed to help ensure that we comply with our legal obligations in relation to the retention and deletion of personal information.
6.2 Personal information that we process for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes.
6.3 Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 6, we will retain documents (including electronic documents) containing personal data:
(a) to the extent that we are required to do so by law;
(b) if we believe that the documents may be relevant to any ongoing or prospective legal proceedings; and
(c) in order to establish, exercise or defend our legal rights (including providing information to others for the purposes of fraud prevention and reducing credit risk).
Security of your personal information
7.1 We will take reasonable technical and organisational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of your personal information.
7.2 We will store all the personal information you provide on our secure (password- and firewall-protected) servers.
7.3 All electronic financial transactions entered into through our website will be protected by encryption technology.
7.4 You acknowledge that the transmission of information over the internet is inherently insecure, and we cannot guarantee the security of data sent over the internet.
7.5 You are responsible for keeping the password you use for accessing our website confidential; we will not ask you for your password (except when you log in to our website).
Amendments
8.1 We may update this policy from time to time by publishing a new version on our website.
8.2 You should check this page occasionally to ensure you are happy with any changes to this policy.
8.3 We may notify you of changes to this policy [by email or through the private messaging system on our website.
Your rights
9.1 You may instruct us to provide you with any personal information we hold about you; provision of such information will be subject to:
(a) the payment of a fee (currently fixed at GBP 10); and
(b) the supply of appropriate evidence of your identity (for this purpose, we will usually accept a photocopy of your passport certified by a solicitor or bank plus an original copy of a utility bill showing your current address).
9.2 We may withhold personal information that you request to the extent permitted by law.
9.3 You may instruct us at any time not to process your personal information for marketing purposes.
9.4 In practice, you will usually either expressly agree in advance to our use of your personal information for marketing purposes, or we will provide you with an opportunity to opt out of the use of your personal information for marketing purposes.
Third party websites
10.1 Our website includes hyperlinks to, and details of, third party websites.
10.2 We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the privacy policies and practices of third parties.
Updating information
11.1 Please let us know if the personal information that we hold about you needs to be corrected or updated.
Part 2: Cookies
About cookies
1.1 A cookie is a file containing an identifier (a string of letters and numbers) that is sent by a web server to a web browser and is stored by the browser. The identifier is then sent back to the server each time the browser requests a page from the server.
1.2 Cookies may be either "persistent" cookies or "session" cookies: a persistent cookie will be stored by a web browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date, unless deleted by the user before the expiry date; a session cookie, on the other hand, will expire at the end of the user session, when the web browser is closed.
1.3 Cookies do not typically contain any information that personally identifies a user, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.
1.4 Cookies can be used by web servers to identity and track users as they navigate different pages on a website and identify users returning to a website.
Our cookies
2.1 We use only both session and persistent cookies on our website.
2.2 The names of the cookies that we use on our website, and the purposes for which they are used, are set out below:
(a) we use session cookie on our website to recognise a computer when a user visits the website and track users as they navigate the website;
(b) we use secure cookie on our website to prevent fraud and improve the security of the website;
(c) Persistent cookies will be stored by a web browser and will remain valid until its set expiry date, unless deleted by the user before the expiry date;
Analytics cookies
3.1 We use Google Analytics to analyse the use of our website.
3.2 Our analytics service provider generates statistical and other information about website use by means of cookies.
3.3 The analytics cookies used by our website have the following names: _utma, _utmt, _utmb, _utmc, _utmv and _utmz
3.4 The information generated relating to our website is used to create reports about the use of our website.
3.5 Our analytics service provider's privacy policy is available at: http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.
Third party cookies
4.1 Our website also uses third party cookies.
Blocking cookies
5.1 Most browsers allow you to refuse to accept cookies; for example:
(a) in Internet Explorer (version 10) you can block cookies using the cookie handling override settings available by clicking "Tools", "Internet Options", "Privacy" and then "Advanced";
(b) in Firefox (version 24) you can block all cookies by clicking "Tools", "Options", "Privacy", selecting "Use custom settings for history" from the drop-down menu, and unticking "Accept cookies from sites"; and
(c) in Chrome (version 29), you can block all cookies by accessing the "Customise and control" menu, and clicking "Settings", "Show advanced settings" and "Content settings", and then selecting "Block sites from setting any data" under the "Cookies" heading.
5.2 Blocking all cookies will have a negative impact upon the usability of many websites.
5.3 If you block cookies, you will not be able to use all the features on our website.
Deleting cookies
6.1 You can delete cookies already stored on your computer; for example:
(a) in Internet Explorer (version 10), you must manually delete cookie files (you can find instructions for doing so at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278835);
(b) in Firefox (version 24), you can delete cookies by clicking "Tools", "Options" and "Privacy", then selecting "Use custom settings for history", clicking "Show Cookies", and then clicking "Remove All Cookies"; and
(c) in Chrome (version 29), you can delete all cookies by accessing the "Customise and control" menu, and clicking "Settings", "Show advanced settings" and "Clear browsing data", and then selecting "Delete cookies and other site and plug-in data" before clicking "Clear browsing data".
6.2 Deleting cookies will have a negative impact on the usability of many websites.
Cookie preferences
7.1 You can manage your preferences relating to the use of cookies on our website by visiting: controls below
Part 3: Our details
Data protection registration
1.1 We are registered as a data controller with the UK Information Commissioner's Office.
Our details
2.1 This website is owned and operated by Focus Reports Ltd.
2.2 We are registered in England and Wales under registration number 7676770, and our registered office is at Lynton House, 7-12 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LT, United Kingdom.
2.3 You can contact us by writing to the business address given above, by using our website contact form or by telephone on +441707828754.
with Edward Heerema, Founder and President, Allseas
25.02.2010 / Energyboardroom
You’re the founder of a company which grew from 15 employees 24 years ago to more than 2.000, becoming a word leader in offshore pipelay and subsea construction. What was the strategy behind such a success?
The main strategy behind Allseas’ success – from its origins up to nowadays – has been our persistent emphasis on groundbreaking technology that fits exactly our clients’ needs. The experience of working as an engineer for my father Pieter Schelte Heerema, an extremely creative person, has taught me that the key to success was to always do something technically better than your previous project – and so I applied this philosophy with Allseas.
The results of such a strategy are clear. From 1986 to date, Allseas has executed more than 200 offshore pipelay and trenching contracts for oil and gas companies; the total length of pipelines installed to date is over 14500 km; and the total length of pipelines trenched to date is almost 3300 km.
By always providing the best technological basis to our clients, Allseas has become a worldwide reference in a number of fields such as offshore pipeline installation, design, installation engineering, procurement, fabrication and large subcontracted scopes for diving, dredging, rock dumping, landfalls and so on.
What would you highlight as the main obstacles you had to overcome to move from a small player in a saturated market to a world leader?
25 years is a long time and we have put an insurmountable amount of work in order to be where we are – there is no quick and easy way for success. Allseas started with a small enthusiastic group with whom we built our first ship with lots of imagination and this is how we got our first contract. From there on, one success led to the next.
A few years after its foundation Allseas got a very good reputation in the industry, allowing us to then build a much larger ship. Our first big project was Lorelay and its key element was laying pipes on dynamic positioning, which had never been done before. Dynamic positioning was already available but laying pipes on dynamic positioning where the ship moves ahead step-by-step was a valuable novelty.
When Allseas proved that this was a very efficient way of laying pipes, we were instantaneously anxious to be able to lay bigger pipes since we were still in the league of small pipelines with our first ship.
Thus, our dream was to build a bigger pipelay ship, which came to be the Solitaire. At the time it was an almost overly ambitious step, as the building of the ship became a big challenge. We had to transfer its construction from the shipyard in Singapore and finish it in England, which was quite dramatic, but we brought it to a good end. Having overcome these challenges, the Solitaire has become a huge success in the industry.
Being privately owned was a great advantage throughout Allseas’ evolution, since we never had short-term constraints from shareholders – the only opinion that matters is our clients’.
Mr Hans de Boer, secretary general of IRO, highlighted the increased success of Dutch service providers in international markets. According to him, more than 70% of the sector’s revenues come from international markets, and this share is due to continue rising. To which extent does Allseas depend on international markets and, in your opinion, did the Dutch origins of the company influence its success overseas?
In line with the sector, most of Allseas’ demand rests abroad. Actually, in most recent years on average more than 95% of our revenues come from overseas. The Dutch industry is very internationally oriented because we have a relatively small continental shelf; every company in Holland that wants to be significant has to look beyond its borders in order to succeed.
Furthermore, the Dutch are a very ambitious people; they are good entrepreneurs with a lot of common sense and full of energy. We also have the advantage of having a very good knowledge base in Holland with well-educated engineers, and Rotterdam has a great harbour with a large number of competitive service companies. All these elements make the Netherlands an ideal base from which to seize international opportunities.
What are the most promising international markets for Allseas and what is your strategy to further penetrate them?
Allseas is looking for opportunities wherever they are presented. The North Sea has historically been an important area, although it has declined in relative terms. Nowadays the Gulf of Mexico is very important, Australia as well, and I can also mention Trinidad and Tobago, India, Brazil or anywhere else where opportunities appear.
Our strategy is to keep an eye on every project that is coming ahead and we do not promise the world when we are not able to deliver it. We have to make sure that we are technically suited to do the job we look after. We have to speak to the client and make sure that we can make a good and realistic offer that will suit our client’s needs perfectly.
As you said, the success of Allseas lies in the fact that you built-up your own technology and expertise in-house, always trying to be in the lead of cutting-edge technology. Naturally, this was only possible due to the talent you managed to attract to the company. Having grown from 15 to 2000 people, how did you manage to attract and retain the best talent inside Allseas?
Instead of hunting talented and experienced people from outside, Allseas prefers to attract young and bright people and help them develop professionally inside the company. Since the beginning we provide our workers with cutting-edge training. and from a very early stage they are given responsibilities, creating an atmosphere in which young and talented people thrive.
Looking towards the future, what are you main ambitions for Allseas for the next three to five years?
The next great step for Allseas will be to build the Pieter Schelte, which will be the biggest ship in the offshore area ever built – this will take around three years to be finished. In the pipelay business we want to keep Allseas’ prominent position in the world, laying deeper and heavier pipelines. There is not a step-up from where we are in pipelay, because Allseas is already worldwide and is involved in the most difficult and most heavy projects in place. Our aim is to keep Allseas’ leadership in this market.
The fact that Allseas is a privately owned company is of special value to our business, since it allows us to focus our strengths on long-term projects such as the Pieter Schelte that no other public company could. Allseas can neglect short-term unproductive demands and focus on its long-term development and technological expertise. Our success has always relied on our capacity to be in the forefront of technological progress, and we will continue to trail that same track. After all, my passion is to build better boats.
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