“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea,” French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said. While modern ships are mostly built from steel, wood is still used in certain interior fittings. Regardless, the deeper truth behind his words remains timeless— the shared dream of a more interconnected world continues to inspire voyagers even to this day.
Building upon this dream, humans have streamlined numerous complex maritime processes, ranging from transportation, trading, shipping, and ship construction, to even seafaring entertainment. How did all these awe-inspiring advancements begin? It all lies in the brilliance of shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR).
Over 90% of Malaysia’s trade is transported by sea, making maritime activities undeniably a backbone of the country’s economy and daily life. To sustain and build on this progress, seafaring vessels must be built and maintained to the highest standards. Hence, Malaysia is no stranger to the SBSR industry; rather, it stands as a vital hub in the region, equipped with growing expertise, strategic ports, and an expanding industrial base.
En Nazery sharing insights on maritime activities across various ports of Malaysia
To introduce students to Malaysia’s SBSR industry, the UTAR Faculty of Science (FSc), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Malaysia, and the UTAR Logistics & International Shipping Society (LIS) invited En Nazery Khalid, Adjunct Professor at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, to conduct a talk titled “The Shipbuilding and Ship Repair (SBSR) Industry in Malaysia: What to expect?” on 10 March 2025 at UTAR Kampar Campus.
Organised as part of the Logistics Industry Captain Talk Series 2025, the talk session aimed to provide students with an overview of Malaysia’s SBSR industry and its main components to help develop an understanding of its importance to the nation’s economy.
En Nazery shared various insights into Malaysia’s longstanding maritime activities, including its history, key regions, and industry players. He also stated all the sub-sectors in Malaysia’s marine industry, including support services, education and training, classification societies, design services, maintenance repair and overhaul, marine equipment maintenance, and SBSR.
En Nazery introducing the major shipyards operating across Malaysia
Highlighting the process of maritime logistics, En Nazery explained the key roles played by each stakeholder, including shipping companies, ports, shipyards, and marine support services. To further highlight Malaysia’s efforts in leading the maritime sector, he shed light on the financial support provided by the government such as the Maritime and Logistics Scheme by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad.
Next, En Nazery discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) faced by the SBSR industry in Malaysia. As the world enters the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0), he stated that the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) can significantly affect the outlook of the country’s SBSR industry, potentially driving new opportunities and boosting the competitiveness of Malaysia’s SBSR industry over time.
En Nazery is a prominent figure in Malaysia’s maritime sector. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the UMT Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, a Distinguished Fellow at the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), a Fellow at the Universiti Malaya (UM) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and a member of the International Malaysian Society of Maritime Law (IMSML). He has also served as the Head of Corporate Communication at the Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation for the past 10 years. In addition to his academic and corporate roles, En Nazery actively contributes articles on maritime issues to local newspapers, further cementing his influence and experience in the field.
Also present at the talk session were FSc Head of Programme for BSc (Hons) Logistics & International Shipping Ts Dr Mohd Azam bin Din, academics Ts Dr Amayrol bin Zakaria, Pn Nurulfaraiza binti Ariffin, Cik Nur Hanani binti Hasan Adli, Gs Ts Khairul Rizuan bin Suliman, UTAR staff and students.
Learning about the diverse array of ships, ports, and shipyards may not be groundbreaking, but it was an enriching experience for the participating students, especially those aspiring to venture into the logistics sector. Through this insightful sharing by En Nazery, students gained a deep understanding of the SBSR industry that drives Malaysia’s economy and the flow of daily essentials. This exposure has paved a potential path for meaningful careers in the maritime and logistics sectors as well as a world of intricate interconnectivity between lands, bound together by the vast expanse of the sea.
Front row, from left: Cik Nur Hanani, En Khairul Rizuan, Pn Nurulfaraiza, Dr Mohd Azam, Dr Amayrol, and En Nazery with UTAR students after the talk session
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