How to effectively use 60% of the energy not used?
Your role in the story
Are you a final-year HBO or WO student with an interest in maritime engineering, mechanical engineering, offshore technology and decarbonization? Do you want to work with real offshore vessels and contribute to reducing fuel consumption and emissions? Then this graduation assignment is for you. Heerema operates several large offshore heavy lift vessels: Aegir, Thialf, Sleipnir and Balder. These vessels are powered by large diesel engines that produce significant amounts of waste heat. At present, a large share of this is lost to the environment. In this graduation assignment, you will investigate how waste heat recovery (WHR) can be applied or improved on these vessels. The focus is on practical, realistic solutions that fit within the operational and technical boundaries of offshore heavy lift vessels. Your work will directly support Heerema’s decarbonization goals.
What’s the challenge
You will identify and assess practical waste heat recovery opportunities onboard large semi-submersible crane vessels and to evaluate the potential impact on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. The assignment is applied and practice-oriented, suitable for both HBO and WO level, with emphasis on understanding existing systems, evaluating options, and drawing clear engineering conclusions.
Your mission & goals
- Understand the energy profile of a semi-submersible crane vessel
- Understand the technology available / required for waste heat recovery
- Select best technology suitable for the vessel & power profile
- A techno-economic evaluation
What you’ll gain
- Practical experience with large offshore heavy lift vessels
- Insight into energy systems and waste heat recovery in real operations
- Experience working with operational data and engineering constraints
- Knowledge of how decarbonization measures are applied in the offshore industry
- Guidance from experienced engineers and sustainability professionals
- Perhaps most important: Insight into Heerema Marine Contractors
Is this you?
- You are enrolled in an HBO or WO program such as Maritime Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Offshore Engineering or similar
- You have knowledge of thermodynamics and energy systems
- You are interested in sustainability and ship efficiency
- You can work independently on an applied engineering problem
- You can communicate clearly in English (Dutch is an advantage)
Practical Information
Start date: 1 September 2026
Duration: 6-9 months
Location: Leiden office
What we offer
- A challenging and meaningful assignment aligned with your study goals;
- Guidance from senior engineers and project leads;
- An innovative work environment with access to cutting-edge tools and infrastructure;
- A monthly internship allowance;
- Opportunities for future career steps within our company (internship as a stepping stone).
Ready to work with impact? Apply now and take the first step toward your offshore engineering career!
We are looking forward to hearing from you. We are interested in your CV, but we mainly want to find out more about your ambitions, your personality, and what is your motivation to succeed. So be sure to include a brief cover letter explaining why you are the perfect fit for this internship!
Hit the button, apply, and make the impossible possible with Heerema. We’d love to meet you!