Steering his way to a maritime career

Seah Cheong Hock was in his forties when he started out as a Trainee Steersman with Tian San Shipping (Private) Limited in 2009. The chance to work in a new industry was a life-changing experience for him, as he was an ex-offender and had been plying his trade in the construction industry before joining Tian San through the Place and Train (PnT) Programme for Harbour Craft Steersman.

“I started as a Trainee Steersman and my job was to learn how to handle or steer vessels or crafts. Everything was new to me, as I had no relevant background and experiences at all. Learning from scratch was not easy but it was fulfilling, and I felt a sense of achievement along the way as well,” says Cheong Hock.

To qualify as a Steersman, Cheong Hock recalled how during the initial period of four months of “on-the-job training”, he and other trainees were coached by the Senior Manager for Operations and were also sponsored for the Port Limits Steersman Course in preparation for the Steersman Examination.

Upgrading to Become Helmsman

After becoming a qualified Steersman, Cheong Hock was recognised for his good performance with a sponsorship by Tian San to upgrade via a Helmsman Course in April 2011. He then went through the Port Limits Helmsman course as well as other relevant short courses. Cheong Hock subsequently passed the Helmsman Examination and was given the opportunity to handle different types of craft, before being promoted to his current role as Helmsman in November 2011.

He recalls that the Helmsman course and “on the job training” was challenging in its own way; apart from boat handling and navigating safely at sea, he had to learn new skills like chart-plotting.

Cheong Hock added: “A certified Helmsman is one level higher than a Steersman, which allows me to handle bigger vessels such as a passenger ferry or a work boat. Looking back now, I’m truly happy with my switch of career to the marine industry. And for me, the different types of training I received certainly helped me in my work.”

Better At His Job, Better Prospects

Up next, Cheong Hock reveals that the company is also looking at exposing him to handling vessels in international waters. He has no doubt that the courses and training that he undertook has helped opened up more and more doors in his newfound career, and is keen that others follow in his footsteps as well.

When asked what advice he has for others who are thinking of going for re-training, Cheong Hock says: “They should go in with an open mind as re-training is useful and there are good career prospects and better pay as we upgrade.”

Local workers can chart new waters in their careers via the Maritime Manpower Advancement Programme (Maritime MAP) by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

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