I found my mentor in Mr AWJ (Tony) Fernandez, who is also the mentor for Quest Marine LLC.


Contributions of Capt Satish Anand and Capt Zia Alam were priceless too in my professional growth.


A good team is essential to act as the “oil that lubricates the wheels of any machine”. I must confess that I have been blessed in finding the ideal subordinates, without whom Quest Marine would not have reached the echelons of success and recognition we have achieved.


Joel Pinheiro has played a pivotal role in spearheading the success of Quest Marine LLC and was its first pillar. He has been the architect of the Company’s infrastructure and still holds the baton.


Subsequently, the growing team has added value, such that more stalwarts of the industry have joined, mushroomed and thrived.


The Quest Marine LLC team 2014 Joel Pinheiro with Uday in London Uday with Tony Fernandez


Quest Marine LLC 2019 (below) versus Quest Marine LLC 2014 (above).


The Quest Marine LLC team 2019


It must be noted that the core team and core values never changed. Newer flavours were added to enhance the professional value of the Company.


Uday with Capt Satish Anand (centre) and Capt Zia Alam (right)


Thirdly, the appropriate professional qualifications, coupled with effective training and association with reputed organizations, such as IIMS, are essential.


Beyond all above pre-requisites, a stable family life helps in overcoming most challenges of a surveyor’s life. A supportive spouse can do wonders to assist a surveyor’s growth. I have been truly lucky as the below family picture testifies.


Q4. Dubai is one of the busier ports of the world, but does it present any special or unique challenges, particularly thinking about security, the hot weather and so on, for a surveyor working there?


Indeed Dubai (or let us say UAE) is the regional hub for maritime activity. It has always been the “eye of the needle” due to its geo-political location, coupled with its infra-structural ability to attract maritime trade.


The weather is indeed harsh and can be energy sapping. There have been numerous times when I have come out of a “double bottom” and almost passed out on the deck (which was above 48+ degree ambient temperature) and I asked myself why am I doing this job?


However, in due time, you re-orient yourself and carry on, since the scope of a marine surveyor’s professional life is exciting and poses a new challenge in every different assignment.


Regional security is very much under control and this country provides a safe terrain for maritime activity. However, a challenge lies in the fact that all ports within the UAE follow different codes of security compliance. Therefore, meeting these different regulations (repeatedly) poses a hurdle in overall effectiveness of our performance.


Uday with his family


However, the business-friendly infrastructure that UAE provides is phenomenal, regardless of the access controls, which needs to be accepted gracefully and adapted in the correct perspective.


The Report • December 2020 • Issue 94 | 111


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