“The sector is large and diverse, I wanted to discover what kind of role really suited me”
After finishing his degree in Maritime Engineering, Daan Berk knew one thing for sure: he found his place in the maritime industry. What he didn’t know yet was where to begin. The sector offers countless opportunities, but that very variety made choosing a starting point far from easy.
During his search, he came across Venturn. The idea of a traineeship that allows you to work at different companies within the sector immediately appealed to him. “It offered exactly the combination of challenge, personal development and variety that I was looking for.”
A path that truly fits
What mattered most to Daan was that Venturn actively thinks along with trainees about their preferences and ambitions. “That gave me the feeling that I would be following a path that truly fits me.”
During his first conversations with Julie and Wouter, he quickly noticed a strong connection. Their openness, involvement, and enthusiasm confirmed his feeing that Venturn was the right place to start his career.
Starting at Venturn
The first weeks were fully focused on onboarding and getting to know the organisation. Daan had plenty of opportunities to connect with colleagues, often through informal conversations that were both enjoyable and insightful.
He also contributed to Venturn Study X, where he researched the IMO Net-Zero Framework and its potential impact on the maritime sector. “It gave me a strong and interesting start, and immediately showed how broad and relevant the topics are that Venturn and its clients are working on.”
Starting at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II
After a few weeks, Daan began his assignment at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II, part of APM Terminals, a global market leader in container handling. The Maasvlakte terminal is known as one of the most advanced and highly automated container terminals in the world. “It’s exciting to be working on my first assignment at such an advanced location.”
Daan works within the project team responsible for the expansion of the terminal. This is a major project: the terminal will roughly double in size. Nearly a kilometer of new qual wall is being constructed, along with the underlying infrastructure. Like the existing terminal, the expansion will be fully automated.
When the project started, there was nothing but a large stretch of sand. Everything has to be built from scratch: underground cabling, IT systems, cranes, automated vehicles, fencing, and other equipment. At the same time, the expansion must be integrated with the existing terminal, without disrupting ongoing operations. This makes the project both complex and highly challenging.
My role as a project engineer
Within this expansion project, Daan works as a project engineer in the equipment team. This team is responsible for the delivery and integration of cranes, automated vehicles, and supporting equipment, all key components of a fully automated terminal.
His role focuses on improving and supporting processes within both the equipment team and the broader project. This ranges from optimizing steering committee structures with senior management to conributing to planning and clarifying roles and responsibilities across teams.
“What I enjoy about this assignment is that I can combine my technical background with my interest in organisation and project management.”
One day he dives into the technical details of a crane or vehicle; the next he works on structures that improve collaboration and decision-making within the project team. It’s exactly this combination that makes the role so interesting to him.
Originally planned for 8 months, the assignment has now been extended to 10 months. During this time, Daan is working towards a team that is even better prepared for integrating all components of a new terminal. This is essential, as a container terminal consists of many different systems, from software to heavy machinery, that ultimately need to function seamlessly as one.
Looking ahead
In the coming months, Dan aims to continue developing himself, both technically and organizationally. He wants to keep evaluating himself critically and continuously improve the quality of his work. In future assignments through Venturn, he hopes to maintain the combination of technology and business, as this is what energizes him most.
He is also highly interested in sustainability within the maritime sector, something that is clearly reflected in his current assignment. The new terminal will be fully electric, and shore power systems are being developed so that ships ca avoid local emissions while docked.
“It feels good to contribute to the future of a cleaner maritime sector in this way.”
About the Veturn Young Professionals program
The Venturn Young Professionals program offers young professionals the opportunity to gain experience at leading organisations in the maritime and logistics sector over the course of two years. By combining challenging assignments with targeted guidance and development, trainees discover their strength and build a strong foundation for their careers.
Are you like Daan, looking for a start where you can combine technology, organisation, and personal development? Then the VYP program might be your next step!
