Mo Arber

Experience

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  British Army

  Oct 1976 - May 1980

  Soldier/Vehicle Mechanic

  Employed as a wheeled vehicle mechanic after training, with various postings in the UK. The main duty was for the maintenance and repair, of vehicles in a Tank Transporter Squadron. The initial main vehicles were the Thornycroft Antar Mk2 & Mk3 tractor vehicles, which were becoming replaced by Scammel Commander tractors. A lot of work was required on the trailers which were both 5th wheel and hitched units, having been subjected to Centurion or Chieftain main battle tanks loads, of between 50 and 55 tons for long distances. Being employed by the British Army was an interesting experience, but not quite my 'cup of tea', having spent far to much time on the 'ranges' with the squadron shooting team. Show less

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  UK Ministry of Defence

  Feb 1981 - Jun 1985

  Tracked Vehicle Mechanic

  I was employed for maintenance and testing of military tracked vehicles, along with a major overhaul project involving Chieftain Armoured Recovery vehicles, which was prior to international military sale of the same vehicles.The ARV project lasted nearly 3 years overhauling 50+ Chieftains, where all had their Leyland L60 power-packs replaced, some required 'winch' removal and overhaul, along with removal of some main drive gearboxes, auxiliary generators, suspensions and external running gear. Further trials on the ARV's was conducted, with load stress testing the main and auxy recovery cables, repair and renewals were conducted as necessary. These ARV's were restored to factory new standards, being thoroughly tested prior to sales. During lulls in the period of the ARV project, we continued with the maintenance and overhauls of the 430's and CVRT series combat vehicles. Show less

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  British Antarctic Survey

  Sept 1991 - May 1999

  Mechanic/Engineer

  Initially employed on the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica, at the British Research Station Halley 5, in the capacity of tracked vehicle mechanic. This was during the transition period when Halley 4 was being shut down, while Halley 5 was completed and became operational. After two years of visits to Halley 5, I was eventually employed as an engineer, working on both research vessels, R.R.S. Bransfield and James Clark Ross, using leave periods to study at Warsash Maritime College in Southampton.An alternative career path, with 8 years of working in a beautiful often hostile environment. I am at present, pleased to be a member of the B.A.S. Club. Show less

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  Seamariner Limited

  May 2000 - Aug 2005

  4th/3rd/2nd Engineer

  Various positions while contracted out by the agency, which was initially known as Sea Life.I worked on a multitude of vessels, in the order of Dredgers, Cable Layers, Core Sampler, Seismic Survey, Supply, Standby and Coastal rescue. These vessels were located around the world, with the Dredgers and Coastal Rescue in UK waters. During the leave periods I spent considerable time at the Maritime Colleges.

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  Helix Energy Solutions Group

  Oct 2005 - Aug 2013

  1st/2nd Engineer

  Employed as 1st/2nd Engineer on the deepwater pipelay vessel the 'Express'. This vessel was modified from a semi-submersible drydock with DP1 positioning, to a DP2 MSV pipe layer from 2004 to 2005, with further modifications and improvements taking place continuously. Basically, the 'Express' has a PMS system, supplied by five main generators creating some max of 13660kW of power. DP positioning is from five Azimuth thrusters, two of which are retractable along with a fixed transverse thruster forward, giving a total propulsion power of 9720kW.The 'Express' has conducted subsea operations in the Bay of Bengal, North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, but the majority of the vessels operations were conducted in the Gulf of Mexico. A recent past event for the 'Express' was the assistance that we provided, with the plugging of the subsea oil/gas leak after the 'Deepwater Horizon' disaster, this was a four month operation. Show less

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  Self Employed

  Jun 2014 - now

  Alternative Power Source

  Installation and test operation of diesel standby generators, inverters and battery packs. Position and storage of fuel (regulations), battery packs, pipework, cables, alarms, CCTV's and safety equipment are installed as customer specifications. As I remain flexible with my working hours, it is possible for good co-operation with other alternative energy source tradesmen, who on occasion are employed by a bigger organisation, working on small sites. A change of career direction was necessary, now that the oil/gas industry is in a lull. Offers of employment abroad in Nigeria, Angola, Afghanistan and the North Sea I have not even considered, based on my own experience for personal safety, local health hazards and now that there is an abundance of Marine Engineers, for who the day pay rate has dropped substantially. Show less