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Long before he became a Chief Officer, thirty-year-old Amirul Aniq was just a teenager looking for direction after completing his O-Levels. Then, one pitch at Singapore Polytechnic’s open house painted an irresistible dream of life at sea: Work half the year, rest the other half, and travel the world.
“The progression path for upgrading was straightforward. As a kid back then, it was really appealing,” he remembers.
While the lecturers sold the lifestyle, it was someone closer to home who truly convinced him. Aniq’s stepfather had spent a short time as an engine rating, and one memory has stayed with him for years. Aniq recalls the two of them watching the World Cup one evening. “Brazil was playing,” he remembers. “My dad, whom I am very close to, told me Rio de Janeiro was his favourite port call because the crew always looked forward to going ashore there to play football. Back then, travelling like that just made sense.”
What Aniq did not realise then was that his own journey would look very different from the straightforward path he had imagined. After passing his Class 3 exams, he entered one of the most challenging periods of his career. Shipboard placements were difficult to secure, and opportunities seemed few and far between. It was frustrating, but rather than waiting for the perfect opening, he focused on staying in the industry any way he could.
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” he admits. “I told myself I had to do some work in the maritime sector, regardless of the role, just to get my foot in the door.” That meant stevedoring, cleaning boats, and even living at an oil terminal while operating small crafts to name a few. They were not the roles he had envisioned for himself, but looking back, they exposed him to different sides of the industry and introduced him to senior seafarers who “taught him the ropes.”
Eventually, Aniq secured a placement on a RoRo vessel. While it should feel like a major breakthrough, it brought another realisation instead. “I had no idea where else I could go or whether I could move to a different type of vessel,” he recalls. At the time, cable ships, and construction vessels were not even on his radar, but he eventually sailed them. In fact, he did not even know there were Singaporeans sailing on such vessels. “My game plan then was to get Class 1 as fast as possible, find a shore job with decent pay and work-life balance, and spend my leave exploring Singapore’s gyms with ClassPass.”
Just as he was figuring out his next move, the world came to a standstill. COVID-19 struck.
“It was a game-changer,” he says. The pandemic created new opportunities for seafarers, and Aniq had the certifications to seize them. What began as a “gig” in the specialised world of submarine cables, with ASEAN Cableship Pte Ltd (ACPL), gradually evolved into a passion. “I found it exciting and satisfying to be involved in the whole aspect of cable operations. Also, a Singaporean involved in maintaining digital trade & economic growth through subsea cable is something to be proud. I have stayed ever since,” he says.
Today, Aniq orchestrates complex marine operations, including five-point mooring systems, the use of sophisticated dynamic position (DP) systems from Alstom and Kongsberg. During cable operations, he also takes on responsibilities as DOIM as well as the surveyor role, overseeing, setting up, managing, troubleshooting, and operating the Eiva Navipac Survey System.
The work demands technical expertise, adaptability, and sound decision-making—qualities that were forged through years of navigating unfamiliar situations. Yet despite everything he has achieved, Aniq is quick to credit those around him. “My role is easy, in a sense,” he reflects. “I execute and support the Captain’s orders. He is the Commander /OIM and one accountable for everything. The burden is heavy for him.”
That humility extends to how he handles pressure. Experience has taught him that challenges are inevitable; what matters is how you respond when they arrive. When things go sideways, his approach is simple: Stop. Assess. See what is at stake. Decompress.
“It’s not rocket science,” he says of his troubleshooting process. “As long as human life is not lost or injured, we have the equipment and support. Eventually, we will find a solution.”
He credits a network of mentors and senior colleagues who were “kind and willing to share” for shaping both his career and his confidence. “It is truly motivating to sail onboard with regular colleagues who are highly experienced and passionate about the field. I am blessed to have many mentors who have shaped me into who I am today. I am driven to be the best version of myself.”
Having benefited from that generosity himself, Aniq hopes to pay that kindness forward. To juniors facing the same uncertainty he once experienced, Aniq offers some hard-earned advice. “Do your due diligence. Do not let a missing certificate be the thing that prevents you from a job opportunity,” he says.
“Master the theory. Have the humility to admit when you are out of your depth. Watch the seniors and find a mentor. Put in the hours to review, reflect, and practice. And when things go wrong, don’t be ashamed of panicking. That just makes you human. What matters is how quickly you regain your composure and bounce back.”
Looking back, Aniq realises that very little of his original plan unfolded the way he expected. “From discomfort comes growth,” he says, reflecting on a career built on stepping beyond his comfort zone. It is a mindset that has guided him throughout his journey and one that continues to serve him well at sea. |
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