FREQUENT trips to Penang Port where his father used to work sparked an early interest in the world of transportation for Tan Wei Chun.

“Whenever I got the chance I would follow my father, Yeoh Seng Bee who was a senior clerk at the port, to observe all the goings-on there. “It was at the port that I developed a fascination for ships, which lasted until today,’’ said Tan, who is Westport vessel planning manager.

“It was simply fascinating as the cranes and ships coming into port looked huge to me then,” added the 30-year-old Penangite, who now lives in Westport to be closer to home. He said watching activities at the port also aroused his curiosity on how goods are transported from one part of the world to another.

And that was how he ended up following in his father’s footsteps.

Tan’s fascination for sea vessels almost made him a sailor – if he had chosen another path that life presented to him.

After completing his SPM examination, Tan applied for a sailing course at the Singapore Polytechnic. “If I had accepted the sailing course, I would have sailed with a shipping company in Singapore, which was partly what I wanted to do. “However, the opportunity to start my career with Kontena Nasional also came up at the same time.”

Tan opted to his begin his career by learning about the haulage industry instead. “I chose to go with Kontena Nasional as I felt it was what I had always been fascinated with: the transportation of cargo from one point to another,” he explained.

After five years with Kontena Nasional, Tan felt a change was in order and left his hometown and moved to Westport to begin his new job as planning executive in the terminal. Tan remembers his first five years in Westport as a “major learning experience” as he was transferred from one department to another.

“I was initially part of the planning team, drawing up plans on how best to utilise the facilities to ensure vessels had the minimum turnaround time while it was loading and discharging boxes. “Then I was moved to yard operations, where I looked after containers that had been unloaded from vessels.

“From there I was transferred to ship operations before coming back full circle to vessel planning. “In retrospect, I think it was a very good thing that I was moved around the various departments. It allowed me to have a feel of how a port operates and the different types of responsibilities handled by the other departments.

“If I had remained in the planning department from day one, I think I would have had a more limited view of how things are done,” he said. In his five-year career in Westport, Tan’s proudest moment was planning the loading and discharge of the CMA vessel, mv Peninsula Bay, in May last year.

“The vessel carried 2,000 TEUs upon arrival. My team and I were responsible for the ship and as always wanted to utilise the facilities to reduce the turnaround time as much as possible. “We set to work as normal, but somehow managed to move 360 boxes per hour, which is a world record. “We loaded and discharged the vessel in just over three hours,” he said beaming with pride, adding that the mv Peninsular Bay still holds the record as being the fastest move in Westport.

Asked whether he had any regrets about not pursuing a sailing career, Tan shook his head. “I am now working closely with ships and on occasion, I attend to vessels so I am fulfilling that part of myself that enjoys being on board a ship. “Even though I am not a full-fledged sailor, being in a job that involves ships is enough for me.

“I don’t see the need in having to live on board a ship for seven to 10 months a year when I can come on board two or three times a week,” he said. “Besides, I am too old to pursue a sailing career now. Most companies only train sailors below the age of 24.”

Tan is married to fellow Penangite Khaw Ping Ping, 29, a corporate communications manager in ING Insurance. His hobbies include outdoor activities such as jogging and swimming, and reading management books.

“I believe in putting into practice what I’ve learned in theory. As every day brings a new challenge, we must also challenge ourselves in order to move ahead,” he said.