Meet the Team: Matthew Coletta Supporting North Star’s Success, One Tender at a Time

As part of our Meet the Team series, we’re continuing our journey behind the scenes to spotlight the people who power North Star. These interviews are more than just introductions, they’re a chance to discover what drives our colleagues, how they contribute to our success, and what makes them tick outside of work.

This week, we’re delighted to introduce Matthew Coletta, Charterer, who has been with North Star for two years and plays a pivotal role in our commercial team. Matthew sits at the heart of our oil and gas tendering activity, helping secure opportunities for the business while ensuring we remain closely connected to clients, brokers and our internal teams. He also contributes alongside the wider commercial team during renewables tendering activity.

From Aberdeen Harbour to Chartering

Matthew’s connection to the maritime world began long before his career. Growing up in Aberdeenshire, he spent much of his childhood watching vessels arrive and depart from the port of Aberdeen. That early fascination with ships and the industry around them would eventually shape his professional path.

After completing a degree in Business, Matthew began his career as a Ships Agent, gaining hands-on experience with vessel operations and port activity. He then moved into roles as a Ship Broker and Market Analyst, building a deeper understanding of the commercial side of shipping. These experiences ultimately led him to North Star, where he now works as a Charterer supporting the company’s commercial strategy.

A Role Where No Two Days Are the Same

In Matthew’s current role, variety is guaranteed. On any given day he may be tracking multiple tenders, each at different stages and progressing simultaneously.

His work involves constant communication with brokers and clients, while also working closely with colleagues across the business to ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information. Staying informed allows Matthew to respond quickly to developments, solve commercial issues when they arise, and often anticipate challenges before they occur.

Collaboration plays a critical role in making this possible. Matthew works closely with operations, technical teams and vessel crews to ensure that everyone remains aligned and informed.

As he explains, “They keep me informed and I keep them up to date with the commercial direction of the wider business. It’s a fluid and natural relationship.”

While the commercial team may lead the tendering process, Matthew is quick to emphasise that success is always a collective effort. Submitting competitive tenders relies heavily on input from multiple departments across the organisation, and he is hugely appreciative of the support they provide, especially when requests for information come at short notice.

Ultimately, he believes the strength of North Star’s service lies in the combined performance of teams both onshore and offshore. The expertise of the crews and the quality of service delivered to clients play a huge role in helping the company stand out in a competitive market. It’s also why, once North Star secures a contract, the company has a strong track record of maintaining those relationships over time.

A Standout Moment: Multiyear, multi vessel ERRV contract

Of the many projects Matthew has worked on during his time, the one stands out above the rest is a long term agreement that was secured for a number of ERRVs with one of the biggest operators in the North Sea basin. It remains particularly memorable as the deal involved a multi-year, multi-vessel contract, something that is extremely rare within the ERRV market. Because opportunities of this scale are so uncommon, securing the agreement felt like a significant milestone and a hugely satisfying result.

Advice to His Younger Self

Reflecting on his career journey so far, Matthew shares some advice he would give his younger self. Guidance that many people early in their careers could benefit from:

“You can never know everything, so don’t be too proud to ask questions. That is the best way to learn.”

He also stresses the importance of confidence and perspective when things don’t go perfectly.

“Believe in yourself. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s ok so long as you learn from them.”

Life Outside of Work

Outside the office, Matthew’s life is largely shaped by family life. He’s the proud parent of a three-year-old, and as he puts it, he “keeps me on my toes!”

When he does find time to unwind, Matthew enjoys running, watching American Football (go Bears!) and recently took on the new challenge of learning to play golf. One experience on the to-do list is to attend the American Superbowl, an opportunity to experience the iconic event live – for the sport, the atmosphere and of course the half-time entertainment.

Looking Ahead

Matthew says he is “genuinely inspired by working in a forward-thinking company that is evolving alongside a rapidly changing industry.”Being part of a team that embraces innovation, technology and progress is something he particularly values.

“It’s exciting to be part of the growth trajectory we’re on,” he adds. “The ambitions of the company and the rate at which we’re developing make it a great place to be.”

Thank you, Matthew, for sharing your story and insights with us. Your passion for the industry, dedication to teamwork and commitment to excellence perfectly reflect the values we’re proud of at North Star.

Stay tuned for more Meet the Team features as we continue to highlight the incredible people helping us navigate the future of offshore operations.