Insights from the field: INES SOUISSI,Mob/Demob Engineer in Amaala
“You have to be willing to go out into the field: that is where you truly understand the project.”
Initially involved in tendering activities, Ines Souissi chose to join the Amaala project to gain first-hand experience of site operations. Now working as a Mobilisation/Demobilisation Engineer, she shares her experience at the heart of the project’s operational activities.
What has your role been on the Amaala project?
My role is to prepare, organise and supervise the mobilisation and demobilisation of equipment transferred between the shore base and the barge.
I am involved in all onshore activities leading up to mobilisation and during the mobilisation operation itself. This includes assembling components onshore, verifying their compliance, coordinating with teams and subcontractors, and managing interfaces with port authorities.
What does a typical day on site look like?
The day begins with extensive preparation and checks: making sure that the equipment is available, that the operational sequences are ready and that conditions allow the work to proceed.
This is followed by monitoring the operations, coordinating with the teams and remaining constantly vigilant to ensure that assembly and mobilisation activities are carried out safely and according to plan.
What are the main constraints on this project?
The main challenge is that everything must be thoroughly prepared in advance.
Mobilisation onto the barge is a critical operation. We need to ensure the availability of the equipment, port access, personnel and lifting resources. Any change to the schedule or anticipated operating conditions can affect the organisation of the operation and impact costs.
What has this site experience taught you?
A great deal. It has given me a much better understanding of the realities of the project: its constraints, the pace of operations and the way the teams organise their day-to-day activities.
I have become more autonomous, taken on greater responsibility and developed a broader understanding of the profession. This experience has also helped me strengthen my technical English, which is essential when working effectively with international teams and partners.
What advice would you give to a young person who is hesitant about working on site?
I would tell them to take the opportunity. Working on site enables you to understand a project much more quickly and in a far more practical way.
You learn through direct contact with the operations and the teams. It is demanding, but that is also what makes the experience so valuable and rewarding.
What message would you like to give to young women wondering whether this type of career is right for them?
I would tell them not to place barriers in their own way. These careers are fully open to women.
What matters most is the desire to learn and develop. You have to be willing to take that first step, particularly since women are welcomed and respected on site, contrary to some misconceptions.
