My name is Sylvia de Rooij. I joined Heerema Marine Contractors Nederland SE in 2007 and, since 1 July 2021, I lead the Legal, Insurance and Compliance team as General Counsel/VP Legal. What I value most in my role is working closely with colleagues across Heerema and translating complex legal issues into clear, practical advice that supports sound business decisions.
Making the impossible possible offshore
Heerema Marine Contractors is a marine contractor operating some of the world’s most capable heavy-lift vessels, including Sleipnir, the largest semi-submersible crane vessel in the world, capable of lifting the equivalent of two Eiffel Towers at once (20,000 mt to be exact). Together with our support fleet of tugs and barges, we transport, install and remove offshore infrastructure around the world.
Across these activities, our ambition is to create sustainable value for clients and stakeholders by solving complex offshore challenges. This requires powerful vessels, specialist engineering, and careful preparation, but above all teamwork of the people who plan, support and execute each project.
What attracted me to Heerema is that no project is ever standard. Every installation, every client and every country brings its own challenges. The work is technically demanding, international and often carried out in circumstances that require us to adapt quickly to changing conditions. For me, that means constantly learning and solving new puzzles together with the business.
The Legal team
Our international Legal team consists of 11 Legal Counsels, a Compliance Officer, an Insurance Manager and a Department Secretary, all based in Leiden. Our different nationalities, backgrounds and perspectives help us approach issues from different angles. Much of our work follows Heerema’s projects, from tenders and contract negotiations through execution to claims and disputes. We also support the wider organisation on matters such as corporate governance and housekeeping, employment law, privacy, regulatory compliance, and insurance.
People sometimes assume Legal’s role is simply to say yes or no. In reality, most of our work is about finding a way forward. That means understanding the operational reality, weighing risks, and helping colleagues achieve their objectives in a responsible way.
Of course, there are occasions when we need to challenge a proposal or advise against a particular course of action. Those conversations are not always what people want to hear, but they are an important part of our role. Our responsibility is to protect Heerema and its owner while supporting the business in pursuing opportunities in line with the company’s values, risk appetite, and long-term interests.
The combination of varied work, complex questions and close involvement in the business makes our work demanding at times, but also dynamic and rewarding.
Legal challenges in a changing world
Heerema’s vessels operate around the clock, projects are carried out worldwide, and every client brings different contracts, procedures, and expectations. No two working days are the same. One day we may be supporting a major contract negotiation for an offshore wind project, while the next we are helping resolve a regulatory issue affecting a vessel on the other side of the world.
Our role is closely connected to the business because effective legal advice rarely comes from Legal alone. We need the insights of our project teams, vessels, engineers and other departments to understand the full picture and give advice that works in practice.
At the same time, decisions often have to be made while information is still developing. We therefore focus on what is known, identify the key uncertainties and prepare for different scenarios, enabling the business to move forward with confidence.
The international environment adds another layer of complexity. Geopolitical developments, sanctions, trade rules, visa and immigration requirements, local employment rules and other regulatory changes can affect our crew, vessels, projects, costs, supply chains and contractual obligations. Our team monitors these developments, assesses their impact on our operations and translates them into clear guidance at the pace required by our operations.
By anticipating legal and regulatory developments and giving the business clear, practical guidance, we play our part in making the impossible possible offshore.
When the hard hat comes off
Outside work, I recharge through playing field hockey, going skiing with my family and spending the summer in Friesland, where we explore the Friese Meren with family and friends. I am 46 and live in Heemstede with my husband and our two daughters. Life is active, sociable, and rarely predictable, much like working at Heerema.
