From Navy Officer in the Netherlands to Gas Manager in Mo i Rana

Marc Los moved to Mo i Rana with his wife a year ago. Even before he found the job at 7-Steel, they knew this was exactly where they wanted to live.
– We wanted to move to Norway to live close to nature and the mountains. Here in Mo we have both work opportunities and fantastic nature right outside our door. Life is calmer and better than in the Netherlands, says Los.

He is 38 years old and comes from the city of Alkmaar, north of Amsterdam. There he worked as a Navy officer and later in the Armed Forces’ research and development department.
– I had colleagues in the Netherlands in an office with 200 employees, and in the Navy I worked alongside 8,000. Here it’s on a completely different scale, but that’s also an advantage. There’s less bureaucracy, and you quickly get to know everyone you work with, he says.

As gas manager at 7-Steel, Marc Los is responsible for the gas facilities at Mo Industrial Park. – My experience from the Navy gives me a solid foundation for the job, he says.

From Freyr to 7-Steel
When the couple moved to Mo i Rana in August last year, Marc had already signed a contract with Freyr. Three days after arriving, he was told that the job no longer existed.
– That was a tough message to receive, but we immediately decided that we wanted to stay in Mo i Rana. Fortunately, it also gave me the opportunity to learn Norwegian, he says.

For Marc and his wife, learning the language was important. The first Monday after the notice, they started a Norwegian course.
– I think it’s important to dare to speak Norwegian, even if you don’t know everything. The language cafés at the library and conversations with neighbors have helped a lot. It has also been crucial for becoming part of the local community, he says.

In February, he started as a project engineer and gas manager at 7-Steel.

Building New Routines
His work tasks largely involve safety, procedures, and control related to the gas facilities at 7-Steel.
– My role as gas manager didn’t exist in the company before. I am helping to establish a new control regime for the use of LNG and other gases. The regulations are strict, and here I can use a lot of my experience from the Navy, says Los.

He works closely with various projects and therefore gains insight into large parts of the production.
– It’s exciting to learn how the entire process from scrap to finished steel product works. I learn something new every day, and at the same time I get to use my background from ships and safety systems, he says.

Marc Los has already become well acquainted with the nature around Mo i Rana. – We wanted a calmer life close to mountains and forests, and here we have everything we dreamed of, he says.

Outdoor Life and Everyday Living
The couple lives in Alteren, where they enjoy having both mountains, ski trails, and hiking opportunities right outside their home.
– We love hiking and have already done an eleven-day trek around Svartisen with a tent. We have also learned to ski and can start trips right from the house. That’s quite special for us, says Los.

His wife works at the rehabilitation department at the hospital in Mo i Rana, where she works with both children and adults with autism.

Looking Brightly Toward the Future
Marc Los and his wife have no plans to move back to the Netherlands. They are now looking for a house of their own in the area.
– Maybe we only miss Dutch cheese. Otherwise, we’re very happy here. People are friendly and welcoming, and we really feel at home, he says.

Categorised in: Frontpage, Industripark News