Detail

To this father and son pair - both SP Alumni - the sea is what binds them.

Mr David Tay graduated from Singapore Polytechnic (SP) with a Diploma in Marine Engineering (DMR) in 1979 and went on to pursue a seafaring career that took him around the world. Today, more than 40 years later, his son Raphael — who also graduated from DMR in 2020 — is embarking on a maritime adventure of his own.

Coming full circle, David joined the Singapore Maritime Academy in 2009 as a Senior Lecturer and continues to pass on his knowledge as a Specialist (Teaching & Learning). Meanwhile, Raphael sails the Pacific Ocean as a 3rd Assistant Engineer with NYK Ship Management.

The Call of the Sea

Hearing about his father’s seafaring experiences from a young age, Raphael developed a natural interest in the maritime industry. Over the years, his aspirations shifted. He considered teaching Physics, but subjects such as electrical and aeronautical engineering did not resonate with him.

“I went to the SP Open House, and that was when my interest was reignited. I was fascinated by how the machineries on-board are interlinked, and communicate with each other to ensure the safe operation of a vessel.”

While David was supportive of any path that Raphael wanted to pursue, he was heartened at the prospect of his son contributing to an industry he considers the lifeblood of society.

“There’s this saying ‘without seafarers, half the world would starve and the other half would freeze’, because a lot of things are moved by ships. I feel that Raphael made a good choice and answered the call of the sea.”

In the Same Boat

Despite all the excitement that comes with learning the ins and outs of the maritime industry, Raphael’s most memorable experience in SP was simply hanging out with his friends in the library before classes.

“It’s important to me because we were all going to be working in the same industry. The bonds that we formed during those lepak sessions keep us together, no matter where we are.”

To illustrate his point, Raphael recalls a recent incident when a fire broke out on his vessel. When his friends heard about it, they immediately reached out to check on him.

“As seafarers, we need a lot of emotional support from our family and friends. It may have been a small gesture, but to me it was really meaningful.”

The Anchor of the Global Economy

Having begun his seafaring career at the height of COVID-19, Raphael thinks that the pandemic has emphasised the maritime industry’s importance to the global economy.

“Airports were shut down because of COVID, but we couldn’t shut down our ports. Pandemic or no pandemic, the maritime industry will continue to run, no matter what state the world is in.”

David adds that moving forward, maritime companies will be placing a larger focus on developing new processes, to ensure that the industry is prepared should a similar event occur in the future.

“Every time we have situations like this, we will look at the communication systems between all the parties involved. Because of SARS we had systems in place, and I think we drew on that and handled the COVID situation well.”

Not Always Smooth Sailing

When it comes to advice for aspiring seafarers, Raphael thinks that the most important thing is to be mentally prepared for a life at sea.

“You’ll get to see the world, meet different people and experience different cultures. But you’ll also spend months away from home, and it’s very easy to slump into depression from the discouragement you’ll sometimes face onboard.”

“It takes a lot of strength to be able to handle it, but it’s also very rewarding.” David adds. “If you come into this industry, it’s to ensure that society functions, so to speak.”

Being in the same industry inherently creates a strong support system and also serves as an opportunity for David and Raphael to bond as father and son. David says that Raphael shares new developments in the industry with him, while he provides advice based on his past experiences at sea.

“It gives us something in common, and I believe that our relationship has gotten much closer.”

Mr David Tay
Diploma in Marine Engineering (DMR), 1979

Mr Raphael Tay
Diploma in Marine Engineering (DMR), 2020