From Port Cabin to International Projects: Jan Coetsee’s Osprey Journey

As Learning at Work Week highlights the many ways people develop at work, Jan Coetsee’s career shows how progression is built through experience, curiosity and taking opportunities when they come.

Originally from South Africa, Jan studied Commerce with Logistics Management at the University of Stellenbosch. From early on, he was interested in logistics and the challenge of solving complex problems. During his studies, he became particularly interested in the marine side of the sector.

“I liked the idea that logistics could be anything,” he says. “Road, sea – whatever it needed to be.”

A move to the UK to play rugby was never meant to be permanent. But after settling in Wales and meeting his future wife, Jan began looking for a way into the marine industry. That opportunity came with Osprey.

He joined as a Port Agent with no prior experience, starting in one of the port cabins and quickly learning the realities of the role. Representing vessel owners, coordinating with the port and managing tight turnaround times, the job required detailed planning and the ability to work under constant pressure.

“You’re effectively acting on behalf of the vessel owner,” he explains. “You’re coordinating everything on the ground and making sure it all happens when it needs to.”

Over five years, Jan built a strong operational foundation, working across contracts including automotive vessels and Airbus cargo. The role provided exposure to different sectors and introduced him to the complexity behind large scale logistics operations.

At the same time, Osprey’s work was beginning to evolve. Project cargo started to feature more regularly, and Jan began to get involved.

“It started small,” he says. “A bit of project cargo on vessels, then working in different ports, and then gradually more involvement on the project side.”

A key moment came with early involvement in Hinkley Point C, supporting logistics for materials used to construct the jetty. What began as port agency support quickly developed into wider responsibility, covering coordination, planning and site activity.

“At that stage, we were doing everything,” he says. “There wasn’t a fixed structure – you just took ownership of what needed to be done.”

That experience marked the transition into project work. From there, Jan’s role expanded beyond the UK. He became involved in international logistics operations, including coordinating the movement of transformers shipped from South Korea via Rotterdam to remote sites in Finland, as well as projects in Spain and Portugal.

These projects brought a different level of complexity, requiring coordination across multiple countries, contractors, and timelines – often in challenging conditions.

“You can plan as much as you want,” he says. “But things change all the time. Weather, equipment, people. Half the job is adapting when the plan doesn’t hold.”

Now a Project Manager, Jan focuses on delivering complex work through strong planning, clear communication, and a practical understanding of how projects operate on the ground. He is clear that relationships, particularly within the team, are central to success.

“If you’ve got good people around you, you’re in a much better position to deliver.”

Looking ahead, Jan is keen to spend more time on marine-led and international work, returning to the type of projects that first drew him to the industry.

His journey reflects a progression shaped by experience rather than a fixed plan. From port operations to project delivery, and from UK-based work to international logistics, each step has built capability, confidence, and responsibility.