Steve Sirkissoon has always been fascinated by the offshore world. Now, as a trainee derrickman aboard the Stena DrillMAX, he’s living that dream.
“It’s a relatively new industry in our country, but I have always been interested in offshore working life,” Sirkissoon said in a video released by Stena Drilling. “As soon as I heard rigs coming down to the country… I always wanted to get my kick in.”
Derrickmen are key members of the drill crew. They work high up in the derrick, an open steel structure above the rig, handling drilling mud, guiding pipe sections, and ensuring the smooth operation of equipment during tripping operations. It’s a demanding and physically intense role requiring precision, strength, and focus.
“You wouldn’t find these kinds of jobs on land,” Sirkissoon explained. “I like the challenge of it.”
He credits his progress to a strong support system on the rig.
“Well, the team is very good. Everybody is supportive. If there’s an issue, we have trouble, we all get together. It’s a team effort all the way.” And his goal is clear: continued advancement.
“For me, the future in this company, I’d like to progress and I’m already progressing. But also, I won’t want it to stop here.”
Stena Drilling began operating in Guyana in 2016 and has since become a major contributor to local employment. The company has spent over US$85 million with local vendors and now employs 157 Guyanese workers, according to Richard Wells, International Logistics Manager.
He said Guyanese professionals are taking on a wide range of roles within the company, including rig managers, safety officers, logistics controllers, and trainee dynamic positioning officers. Among the workforce are also derrickmen, storemen, and assistant drillers.
Stena Drilling has made it a priority to foster long-term local partnerships and invest in community development. For Sirkissoon, that commitment has opened the door to a career he once only imagined.
