Chair, Vopak Pride ERG
As chair of Vopak Pride, I work to create an inclusive work environment for everyone across Vopak, its terminals, Business Unit NL and globally.
Sebastiaan Hilte
Chemical Process Automation Engineer
Maintenance Engineer Automation at Vopak Europoort
Since I was a young boy I have been intrigued by the beautiful lights and sheer size of the process industry here in the Netherlands. After high school, with a focus on Science & Technologies, I started my training to become an engineer.
In 2013, I started as a freshman at the Chemical Engineering department of Hogeschool Rotterdam. It was not always easy. There were failures and successes, and I made good friends along the way. I graduated as a Chemical Engineer after successfully finishing my graduation internship at ADM Europoort.
In the past years I have carried out assignments for companies such as Evides Industriewater, STC Brielle & STC Rotterdam. After several years at ADM Europoort, I now work as a Maintenance Engineer Automation at Vopak Europoort, where I am also the terminal's OT Cyber Security Focal Point.
8+
years of experience
in the process & terminal industry, Vopak & ADM
24/7
reliability
DCS, PLC, SCADA: PMSX, DeltaV, NovaTech D3
IEC 62443 & NIS
OT Cyber Security
Focal Point & CMDB / lifecycle owner
-90%
alarms
At ADM, plant-wide reduction across 6 plants
- OT Security · Focal Point, Vopak Europoort
- Chair · Vopak Pride ERG
- Member · Works Council (OR)
Current role in focus
This is about my current job at Vopak Europoort and what it involves day to day.
Maintenance Engineer Automation
Current Vopak Europoort Nov 2022 to presentAt the Vopak Europoort terminal I keep the automation safe, available and reliable. As the terminal's Focal Point for OT (Cyber) Security I own the security of the systems that run the physical process. These are the key terms of that work:
Key expertise
Hover, focus or tap a term for a short explanation. Press Esc or the × to close it.
A distributed control system used to centrally monitor and control the processes on a terminal.
Setting up alarms so operators only receive relevant, action-oriented alarms, without alarm overload, for safety and a fast response.
A PLC executes local control logic; SCADA visualises and monitors the installation remotely and makes operation from the control room possible.
IT manages data and business systems, OT controls the physical processes; bringing the two together must be done securely, without putting safety and availability at risk.
Camera surveillance for site security. On a terminal, it is also an OT system when an IT component drives it.
The point of contact and owner on the terminal for OT security, including asset management, lifecycle, patches, access management, backups, incident exercises and KPI reporting.
IACS are industrial automation and control systems; IEC 62443 is the international standard for securing them, with zones and conduits, security levels and requirements for authentication, integrity and availability.
The Wbni was the Dutch implementation of the first EU NIS directive; the Cyberbeveiligingswet (Cbw) is the Dutch implementation of NIS2, with a broader scope and obligations for risk management and incident reporting, and it replaces the Wbni.
Member, Works Council (OR)
As a member of the Works Council (Ondernemingsraad), I represent colleagues in consultations with the employer.
Experience
Maintenance Engineer Automation
Current Vopak Europoort Nov 2022 to presentAt the Vopak Europoort terminal I implement and follow up on IT and OT policy, including security, and develop maintenance concepts and annual plans that optimise the safety, availability and reliability of the terminal's automation. I also act as the terminal's Focal Point for OT Security.
- OT Cyber Security Focal Point for the terminal.
- Implementing and monitoring cyber security measures for operational technology.
- Maintenance concepts & multi-year plans for automation, IT and OT.
- Failure and change analyses (FMECA, MOC and RCA).
- Participating in HAZOP studies and internal & external audits.
Also at Vopak
- Chair of the Vopak Pride ERG.
- Member of the Works Council (Ondernemingsraad).
Process Automation Engineer
ADM Europoort B.V. Nov 2021 to Oct 2022As a Process Automation Engineer, my main responsibility was to maintain and optimise the DCS/PLC systems that need 24/7 reliability, and to implement proposed improvement projects. Highlights include plant-wide alarm management, reducing the average alarm rate from 150+ per hour to under 15 per hour across 6 plants. Another highlight was a PowerApps digital shift reporting tool for the SPC facility, which I built myself.
- Alarm Management.
- Monitor and improve automation.
- Local and remote PC management for 100+ users, 25+ VMs, 6 networks.
- Day-to-day troubleshooting & user support.
- Network engineering.
- Training of 3 engineers.
Process Engineer
ADM Europoort B.V. Jan 2020 to Nov 2021As a Process Engineer I worked on the safety and the cost efficiency of the plant. One example is a hammer mill screening change that saved $35k a year with no investment. Another example is the full automation of pellet and soy-hull truck & ship loading.
- Process automation & engineering.
- Monitor and improve processes.
- HAZOP / LOPA / BRZO projects.
- Day-to-day troubleshooting.
- MOCs, AFEs & WAVE initiatives.
- GS&HW commission member.
Operations Trainee
ADM Europoort B.V. Jul 2018 to Jan 2020The European Operations Management Development Program was my first real experience within the engineering field. It consisted of 6 months of shift work and 12 months of Process Engineering, and I learned a lot in that time.
Process Engineering, Graduation Internship
ADM Europoort B.V. Feb 2018 to Jun 2018The aim of this graduation internship was to characterise the three presses of the soy protein concentrate plant and to investigate their influence on the structure & composition of the so-called White Flakes. That knowledge helps ADM Europoort produce more easily within specifications and generate less rejected product.
Education
Chemical Engineering
Hogeschool Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Bachelor of Science. “Chemical Engineering teaches you to solve chemical and technological problems in order to design and improve processes on an industrial scale.”
2013 to 2018Trade Management focused on Asia
Hogeschool Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
“Trade Management for Asia aims to produce future managers who are well versed in all aspects of international business, with a special focus on Asia.”
2012 to 2013Higher General Secondary Education (HAVO)
PENTA college CSG Blaise Pascal, Spijkenisse, Netherlands
Profile: Science & Technologies studies, including Economics.
2006 to 2012Certificates & Training
Total Process Safety
2019ADM Europe, Amsterdam, Netherlands
A 4-day training focused on the 14 fundamentals of process safety within the chemical industry, including operating procedures, PSSR, mechanical integrity, (hot) work permits, incident investigation and emergency planning & response.
- IEC 62443: Cyber Security for IACS
- DeltaV Implementation I, Emerson, Rijswijk
- D3 for Automation Engineers, NovaTech Automation
- Safeti-NL 8 · QRA Computer Modelling, DNV-GL
- Safety for Operational Supervisors (VCA-VOL) at NIBHV, renewed 2026
Volunteering
Outside work I volunteer in two places where a bit of digital help goes a long way.
Bibliotheek de Korenbeurs
Volunteer, Digi- & Taalhuis
On Tuesday evenings I help out at the free walk-in consultation hour of the Digi- & Taalhuis. People can drop in with questions about things like DigiD, their laptop or tablet, and I help them find their way.
Toerzeilers
Website, front-end & back-end
I am responsible for both the front-end and the back-end of the Toerzeilers website. I also help the various committees and events set up and adapt their pages.
More about me
Things I enjoy doing outside work.
Skills
The competency areas my work is built on. No percentages, just what I actually do day to day.
Alarm Management
Rationalising and prioritising alarms so operators get only relevant, action-oriented alarms. It is the work behind a plant-wide alarm reduction of 90% at ADM.
DCS / PLC / SCADA
Keeping distributed control and PLC/SCADA systems safe, available and reliable around the clock, on terminal and plant installations.
OT Cyber Security
Focal Point for OT (cyber) security: asset and lifecycle ownership in the CMDB, access, patches, backups and incident readiness for industrial control systems.
Maintenance Concepts
Maintenance concepts and multi-year plans that optimise the safety, availability and reliability of automation, IT and OT, backed by FMECA and RCA.
Project Management
Improvement and investment projects from proposal to commissioning, including AFEs, budgeting and contractor coordination on live installations.
Management of Change
Controlled change on live process installations: MOCs, risk assessments with HAZOP/LOPA, and data-driven follow-up using process data and data-mining.
Contact
Want to talk process automation, OT security, or anything in between? The fastest way to reach me is by email.