Five Quick Questions With Marek Kaklin

At Fram Marine, our expertise is built by people with hands-on industry experience and a strong understanding of what it takes to deliver complex projects.

This time, we asked Marek Kaklin, Senior Project Manager and Master Mariner at Fram Marine, five quick questions about his work, his experience and what he believes is key to successful project execution.

1. Marek, what is your role at Fram Marine?

As Senior Project Manager, my role is to support clients through different stages of marine and energy projects, from planning and technical coordination to documentation, execution and follow-up.

A big part of my work is making sure that projects are delivered safely, efficiently and with the right quality.

2. Can you tell us about the types of projects you have worked on, and share one that has been especially memorable?

I have worked with a wide range of marine projects, including vessel retrofits, conversions, dry dockings, newbuildings and offshore installations.

Probably the most interesting project for me was to transport the seismic research vessel into the Caspian Sea through a Volga-Don network of rivers and canals with insufficient water depth for the vessel’s draft and with bridges too low for the ship’s air draft. To make it work we had to weld on sponsons and remove the vessel’s accommodation module to be transported separately on a barge. Putting it back together on at the other end of transit was rather “challenging”.

3.What do you think is most important in a successful marine project?

Clear communication, good planning and early risk awareness. Marine projects often involve many stakeholders, tight schedules and technical complexity, so it is important to keep everyone aligned and make decisions based on both experience and the specific circumstances of the project.

Many things need to align for a project to succeed but if I have to choose one as the most important, I would say it is the amount of time spent for preparation. It may not be anything new, but preparation and planning are always the most critical factors. From my experience, you should spend about five times more time on these phases than on the actual project execution. The goal is to make the execution phase as short and smooth as possible.

4. What kind of experience do you believe is most valuable when working with clients?

I think our clients value practical experience. It is one thing to understand a project on paper, but another to understand how decisions affect the vessel, the crew, the schedule and the final execution.

Having worked both at sea as a ship officer and captain, and ashore with operations, retrofits and dry dockings, I have developed a broad operational understanding. This practical experience helps me see the bigger picture, identify risks early and support clients with advice that works in real operational settings

5. What motivates you in your work?

I enjoy being part of a Team that shares a common goal. Working together from the beginning to the successful completion of a project, while maintaining the same Team spirit and commitment throughout, is incredibly rewarding for me. I am always hungry for that kind of  feeling.

Project work grounded in experience

Marek’s answers reflect several of the factors that are important in successful project work at Fram Marine, including thorough preparation, practical experience and close collaboration.

With his hands-on background and structured approach, Marek brings valuable insight to the team. His experience helps support well-planned projects, early risk awareness and focused execution from start to finish.

If you would like to learn more about how Fram Marine can support your next project, please get in touch with our team.