Singapore is home to the world’s busiest transshipment hub, with about 1,000 ships in its waters at any one time and more than 130,000 ships calling at its port each year. Workers of Singapore’s Maritime and Port industry work around the clock to ensure the country’s economy keeps going, even on public holidays such as the Lunar New Year.
Here are a few of the unsung heroes who were at Acting Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean’s Lunar New Year visit to PSA Marine and MPA Singapore:
Azahar Bin Samat, 30, Assistant Vessel Traffic Officer & Samat Bin Dapir, 67, Vessel Traffic Officer at MPA Singapore
Meet Mr Samat – he entered the industry as a Signalman in 1967 and is now a Vessel Traffic Officer.
Mr Samat said: “Things decades ago were very different; from the technology to the work environment. Back then we used lights and Morse code to communicate with the ships in the waters. Now everything is computerised.
“I had to adapt with the help of training over the years due to the changes in technology. But I have definitely enjoyed the 40 over years I’ve been working in the industry.”
As for his son Mr Azahar, following in his dad’s footsteps was not something he had planned. Formerly a Customer Service Officer, he joined the industry after the encouraging words his father had about the job.
“At home, he will always be my dad. But at work, I would have to be professional and look at him as a senior colleague,” said Mr Azahar.
In order to help safeguard Singapore's port waters, both of them agreed that it is important for workers like themselves to be on duty regardless of the time of year.
As advice for his son, Mr Samat said: “I will retire soon. My son has to work hard, keep on his toes in order to be more successful at the job than I could have ever been.”
Jimmy Koh, 42, Assistant Vice-President (Pilotage) at PSA Marine
Mr Koh’s keen interest in ships started from a very young age and he became a Class 3 Deck Officer when he first embarked on a seafaring career.
In 2002, Mr Koh joined PSA Marine as a Trainee Harbour Pilot. The switch in career was necessary when he started a family as it allowed him to hone his ship-handling skills while being close to his family.
In 2013, Mr Koh was recognised for his contributions and was appointed Vice-President of Pilotage Operations, and now leads a team of managers and operations involving more than 250 Harbour Pilots and 170,000 pilotage movements a year in Singapore.
Regarding his workers working around the clock, Mr Koh said: “I’m proud of my team being the unsung heroes, working behind the scenes and contributing to safe waterways in Singapore.”
Victoria Joyce Pereira, 64, Vessel Traffic Officer at MPA Singapore
Transferred to the Vessel Traffic Management Department (VTMD) of MPA as an Operations Assistant from the Singapore Maritime Centre, Ms Pereira proved that she could excel in her job despite being in a male dominated industry. She was subsequently promoted to a Vessel Traffic Officer.
The transition from a clerical job to one that is highly demanding in terms of concentration and alertness posed no obstacle for Ms Pereira.
She said: “When I joined VTMD, I was already 50 years old. I don’t have a polytechnic diploma, and I came from a humble background. I came into this job with nothing to lose. So I stood my ground and told myself to prove to everyone that age is just a number.”
Currently at 64 years old, Ms Pereira hopes to continue working past her retirement age. She said: “I enjoy my job. As long as they need me, I will continue working.”
With regard to working on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ms Pereira said: “I’m happy to help out my Chinese colleagues, covering their duties during the Lunar New Year. Living in a multi-racial society, it’s important for us to give and take. I’m sure they would do the same for me.”
Source: NTUC This Week
