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COMPANY PROFILE
With experience that dates back to more than a century ago, Keppel Shipyard has become a leading ship repair yard in the world, having proven its reliability and commitment to excellence in ship repair, conversion and construction services time and again.
We are the world leader in FPSO and FSO conversions, having completed the most number of such projects since 1981.
Today we are also recognized as the leading LNG repair yard in Asia outside of Japan with our fast-growing track record in LNG carriers.
Our yard has the capabilities and expertise to undertake the whole spectrum of drydocking, repair, upgrading, conversion and specialized construction for a diverse range of offshore and marine vessels including chemical/ oil tankers, container/ cargo vessels, passenger ships, gas carriers, navy ships and dredgers.
Our competitive edge lies in delivering our brand promise of quality services and timely deliveries at competitive prices. With eight docks in Singapore dedicated for ship repairs and a strategic network of 17 yards globally under the Keppel Offshore and Marine group, we are able to offer flexibility and fully optimize our resources to provide quick turnaround, on time and on budget. This, in turn, translates into cost and timesavings for our satisfied customers.
Our Quality Management System and Environmental Management Systems are certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 respectively. We are also the proud recipients of Singapore Quality Class for business excellence, and People Developer Standard for people development.
Mr Chua Chor Teck (1939 - 1986)
When he signed on as an apprentice at the age of 16, very few people could
have imagined that Mr Chua Chor Teck would win academic honours and rise
through the ranks to become Keppel Group Managing Director, a billion-dollar
shipping and marine industrial conglomerate with diversified interests.
For his services to the marine industry and the labour movement in Singapore,
he was awarded the Bintang Bukti Masharakat (Public Service Star) in 1976 and
Friend of Labour Award in 1980. Most notably, he was the Chairman of the
Singapore Polytechnic Board of Governors since 1980.
Born in Lim Chu Kang, Mr Chua was the son of a farmer. With his three brothers
and two sisters, he helped his father with the usual dawn-to-dusk work of growing
vegetables and raising poultry. In 1956, he entered night school and at the same
time progressed in his career.
In 1965, he was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Naval Architecture course at
the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. At that time, he was also married to his
childhood sweetheart, Alice. He graduated in 1968 with 1st Class Honours,
winning also the Burrill Gold Medal.
On his return to Singapore, and into the formative years of the Shipbuilding and
Repair Industry, Mr Chua worked with Keppel Shipyard. His talents, dedication,
robust courage and quiet strength were recognised early and he progressed
rapidly from Ship-Repair Manager in 1969 to Managing Director in 1973. The
next 10 years were boom years and Mr Chua was instrumental in building up
Keppel into a billion dollar group with very wide interests.
Those who were fortunate to work with Mr Chua were quick to find him
unassuming, approachable, honest and sincere. On close association, they
would come to realise how steady, caring and committed to high quality work and
good leadership he was. Invariably, all would come to respect and trust him.
He died of a tumour in the liver at the age of 47. His untimely death was a loss to
his family, his country and all who knew him.
Chua Chor Teck
As re-counted by his colleagues, peers,
friends and family members.
Tribute by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
I remember Chor Teck as a master ship-repairer. I was then working in Neptune
Orient Lines. We sent some of our ships to his Keppel Shipyard for repairs. Chor
Teck always ensured that the workmanship was excellent and reliable.
I remember him as a true friend. I liked his simple unassuming ways, his warmth
and ready smile, and his sincerity and humility. Everybody who knew him liked
and respected him.
I remember him as the proverbial Singapore boy, who came from a poor family,
apprenticed himself, studied and worked hard, rose to become the head of a
large company, and gave his time and knowledge selflessly to society to benefit
others. He was an admirable role model for young Singaporeans.
Goh Chok Tong
Senior Minister, Singapore (12 Aug 2004 - date)
Tribute by former Chairman of the Keppel Group, Mr. Sim Kee Boon
It started with a complaint.
Years ago the then Ministry of Communications was located in Cable Car Tower
along side Keppel Shipyard in Telok Blangah Road.
One day the shipyard was sandblasting a ship under repair in one of the
drydocks. The noise was so great it was difficult to get any work done in my
office. I was then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry. I telephoned Chua Chor
Teck and asked him if he could lower the noise level.
The next time I got to know Chor Teck was when I became Chairman of the
Keppel Group in 1985. Little did I realise that he was a workaholic and a much-
loved leader among his men. He often spent Sunday mornings or afternoons
walking around the yard just to get a real feel of how things were getting on.
Working late until evening and then having a shower and change in the office
before attending the obligatory Captain's reception in one of the newly-repaired
Russian ships in the yard happened often to him. With liquor and spirits flowing
freely, it took an iron constitution to survive these events.
Early in my tenure as Chairman, I was startled one morning to be confronted with
a large pile of telexes (there were no e-mails or faxes then) and was told that
these were copies of daily correspondences between the yard and its many
clients and that the MD (Chor Teck) would flip through them to keep himself
informed. I thought this was carrying it to the extreme but this is simply an
illustration of how far Chor Teck stretches the concept of devotion and dedication
to job.
When I hinted that he ought to spend some time with his family, he said the only
quality time he spent with his son was when he sent him to school every
morning. Even the golf, which I persuaded him to take up, had to go when
Singapore followed Malaysia and added one more hour of daylight saving time
and everyone had to start work an hour earlier.
Throughout the early difficult years when the Keppel Group was in the doldrums,
he showed great fortitude and cheerfulness, always puffing away at his pipe. He
tried exceedingly hard to inculcate in the organisation the "Keppel culture" of
loyalty, thrift and hard work. To this day, Keppel is not known among large
companies to be a generous employer. When he was ill in hospital, he insisted
on having papers on Keppel matters be sent to him until I put a stop to it.
Chor Teck is among that rare breed of CEOs who founded and nurtured a great
organisation without much thought of self-interest or gain.
Sim Kee Boon
Chairman, Keppel Group (May 1984 to 31 Dec 1999)
Humble Beginnings
Like many Singaporean parents, my Dad came from China before World War 2
to seek his fortune. He found work with Poh Heng Goldsmith, learnt to make
jewelry and rose to master craftsman level. When the War broke out, he was
already married with one child (Chor Teck was born in 1939). He hid our family in
the Hougang area where we survived on whatever fish he could catch from the
swamps. After the War, he moved to Lim Chu Kang and become a farmer on
rented land. He was daring because he knew nothing about farming. Through
trial and error and a large dose of common sense, he raised pigs and chicken
and grew vegetables on rented land. Though he was not a carpenter, he also
built the pigpens, chicken coops and our house!
A farmer's life was not idyllic. It was back breaking but honest work and through
his sweat raised us 5 children (3 boys and 2 girls). We of course helped with
whatever chores assigned to us. And we at our peak raised about 50 pigs and
2,000 chickens. However, our Dad's bitter experience with farming put us off this
profession when we grew up. To raise pigs and chicken, he needed capital,
which he had to borrow with the promise to pay when the livestock is sold. This
arrangement was fine provided there was no misfortune during the intervening
months and the price of livestock was good. We still shudder at the memory of
waking up one morning to find our pigs and chicken dead or dying from disease.
We still feel the injustice of the poor prices we fetched for our livestock when all
farmers did well and end up with a glut situation! Our Dad due to circumstances
beyond his control got into this debt trap with the inability to pay off his loan. To
make ends meet, he sold household items - soap, brushes and utensils on the
back of his bicycle to folks living in our kampong and those living as far as Chua
Chu Kang. This he did after tending the farm in the morning. And he did well for
the income from this "sideline" was larger than what we could earn from the farm.
Despite the two incomes, there just wasn't enough for all of us to go to school, so
Chor Teck, our eldest brother decided to stop going to school at 15 so that we
could go to school. I (Chor Meng) was about 10 then and even at that age, we
understood the sacrificed he made for us. Luckily, his teacher was kind and
helpful. He got Chor Teck with 6 years of education in Chinese and 3 years in
English, to be accepted in 1959 (at the age of 16 years as a student at the
Dockyard Technical College, Singapore while serving his 5-year Apprenticeship
at the H. M. Dockyard.
Chor Teck was extremely thrifty and gave our Dad what he had saved from his
apprenticeship pay and what he got from teaching Maths part-time at the
Vocation Institute. He studied extremely hard and did quite well. He completed
his 5 years of apprenticeship, finished top of his batch and went to work for
United Engineers for a year (July 1961 to July 1962) as a Junior Ship
Draughtsman. He then joined Vosper Thornycroft for a short spell before joining
the Singapore Harbour Board (later renamed Keppel Shipyard).
During his apprenticeship (1956 to 1960) years, he must have studied at night
like a man possessed. There were times when he would drink water to stem his
hunger so that the money saved could be used for his books and pay for his
examination fees. As a private candidate, he got 6 "O" (3 of the subjects were
done twice!) and 2 "A" levels plus an awesome total of 5 City & Guilds certificates
(see full list in appendix).
To cap it all, he topped the Commonwealth for the City & Guilds of London
Institute Full Technological Certificate (1st Class) in Shipbuilding examinations.
We believe that because his award was made through the Ministry of Education,
Chor Teck was "spotted" by the then Education Minister, Mr. Yong Nguk Lin who
probably had a significant influence over the award of the Harbour Board
scholarship to Chor Teck. By this time we were totally dependent on Chor Teck
for our livelihood, as our father had stopped working - he was ill and was about
50 when he died of kidney failure. And we knew that Chor Teck was unwilling to
accept the scholarship unless the scholarship terms included a stipend for us to
live on during his absence. The Harbour Board agreed to this condition and gave
our family $300 and we attribute this to Mr. Yong's influence.
Thus in 1965, Chor Teck was able to go to Sunderland Polytechnic in the UK to
do a Higher National Certificate in Naval Architecture. His tutors found him "over
qualified" with his array of City & Guilds certificates and recommended him to
Newcastle University to pursue his degree. Chor Teck graduated top of his class
in 1968 and worked for Keppel Shipyard until his untimely death in 1986.
As told to Cheng Huang Leng by his brothers, Choo Meng and Chor Tien (1986)
Apprenticeship Days
In 1956, to get into the apprenticeship scheme, we got to have a minimum
Primary 6 education level to pass a qualifying examination. Chor Teck and I were
among hundreds assembled in Beatty School hall one morning. We were among
the better (and at that time the "luckier") ones - the top 40 plus to be selected.
Thus at age 16, we became apprentices at the Naval Base Dockyard. Chor Teck
was trained to be a Shipwright and myself an Engine Fitter/Turner. We were also
allowed to enroll in the Dockyard Technical College. Thus our week comprised 2
days in class and 3.5 days in the workshop. We were paid $15 a week during our
1st year with increments every year to about $21 per week in our 5th year.
From Year 1, it was clear to all of us that Chor Teck and three others including
Foo Hee Liat and Kwan Choon Seng were the brighter ones, taking the top
positions for our batch. For Year 2, I did well in the examinations - scoring an
average of 75%+ for my papers. I thought I would be among the top 3 based on
past results. But alas I was proven wrong because Chor Teck and the brighter
ones returned with averages of 90%+ scores! He was so good that when we
were stuck for answers to a problem, we would ask Chor Teck class and he
never refused us. This was very much to the annoyance of one instructor who
threw chalk at us during one such consultation. As you all know by now, Chor
Teck went on to top our batch.
It was a long way from Chua Chu Kang to Sembawang, so Chor Teck rented a
room just outside the Dockyard. There were times when he would let me bunk
with him instead of the long journey to my home in Newton. After a long day, I
would be sound asleep by 10 p.m. while Chor Teck would still be poring over his
books. There were also times when I woke up late at night to find him still with his
books. It was a few years later that we knew that he was studying for his GCEs,
O-levels and City & Guilds courses at the same time! In sports, he was quite
good at table tennis and I am proud to record that we won the "Apprenticeship
Sports Club Table Tennis Doubles" in 1957.
We became good friends and he would invite some of us to his family farm. The
faded photographs I still keep brought back fond memories of the good times we
had. His parents were kind to us all and she always saw to it that we leave with
some eggs for our families.
Long Sey Hai
Fellow Apprentice at Naval Dockyard (1956)
A considerate and helpful host
After a family gathering in Chor Teck's home, I discovered that my son had left
my car key in the car. Chor Teck took the trouble to drive my family home which
was on the other end of Singapore. He even stayed on for a drink. When he
drove me back to get my car, Chor Teck did not show any sign of displeasure.
His only concern was that I might punish my son.
Tong Chong Heong
Shiprepair Manager, Keppel Shipyard (1985)
He would invite all of us to his house for Chinese New Year. I went on Day 1 but
felt uncomfortable because I was a small fry among many big people. The
following year I did not show up. On the morning of the next day (Day 2) Mr.
Chua came to my workshop and demanded, "Give me one good reason why you
did not turn up yesterday." I told him of my discomfort and he said, "Come in the
evening, after 5.00 pm." From then on, all of us junior officers would turn up in
the evening and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. What touched me most was
that there were at least 100 of us and he had noticed my absence.
Tan Kwai Phian
Electrical Section Manager at Keppel Shipyard (1986)
A friend, mentor, uncle and role model - all rolled into one
I remember a stretch of 8 months when I worked night shifts and somehow on
ships that Mr. Chua was in charge as SRM. Even at 4.00 am he would turn up to
Anchorage to check the progress of work and find out if we need help.
On one occasion, I told him that I needed more "laskas" and a few minutes later,
he showed up to help out himself and together we removed a sand pump from a
dredger.
On another occasion, he found me fitting a bearing. He told me that he was not
an engineer and asked me to teach him to do it on the spot.
Fok Swee Yin
Trainee Technician (better known as "Ah Meng") (1968)
We were 18 when we went to Newcastle for our studies. Though his scholarship
did not pay him very well and though Alice (his wife) was not working, he went
out of his way to make us feel at home. I remembered the many occasions that
he had invited us to his house for dinner. And I remember the house well. It was
not pretentious and I could still see the dining table, which was a piece of
plywood over a bathtub that he has installed in his kitchen. Simple meals, simple
house, but the fellowship and the brotherly care for us were from his heart.
I remember also that he could only afford self-rolled cigarettes. I could of course
afford Dunhills (at the beginning of the month before my money ran out) and was
so happy to be able to offer him some. He was a man of simple means, but a
great heart and we owed much to him in helping us 18 year-olds through what
were tumultuous years.
Alan Bragasam
Fellow student, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
His favourite song was Bobby Goldsboro "Honey" --- whenever I hear the song, it
is a reminder of his warm friendship.
When he was appointed Managing Director of the Keppel Group, I had asked
him about his expanded responsibilities. His reply, "David, the world is moving
very fast. So all of us must also adapt just as fast." is a most invaluable piece of
advice for everyone and for all times.
David See Leong Kit
Fellow student, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
Chor Teck's favourite song in Newcastle begins with the words "See the tree,
how big it's grown....". And then he would stop. He said he could never
remember the rest of the lyrics. But whenever I hear that song, it reminds me of
how much we have lost.
I shall always remember Chor Teck and Alice for their sincerity and warmth in
opening their house to us in Newcastle (and subsequently in Singapore too).
Although things were pretty basic back then, there was no mistaking their
hospitality, friendship, generosity and compassion. Their home was our home-
away-from-home.
Notwithstanding his brilliant achievements in Newcastle University and Keppel
Corp, Chor Teck was an inspiration in humility. No airs and with an ever-ready
smile, he was always willing to lend a sympathetic ear and share his wise
counsel.
Tay Kiong Pang
Fellow student, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
Indeed he and Alice were more than our elder brother and sister. They adopted
us as their "children"!
I remembered that he ate fish and chips every day at the University, because it
was the cheapest meal one could have at the time.
When we returned from Newcastle, I remember Chor Teck and Alice invited us
over from time to time. In one of the first get-togethers, he gave us advice. One
that is firmly etched in my memory is his advice not to rush into getting "4
wheels" i.e. a car. He said to give priority to putting money into a house. A house
appreciates in value over time, but a car depreciates and the expenditure is used
up. Very wise advice, even now!
Lim Boon Heng
Fellow student, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1968) - Minister, Prime
Minister's Office (2001 - date)
Never heard of Lee Kuan Yew but have heard of Chua Chor Teck
I remember the story of an English student in South Shields when asked if he
heard of Lee Kuan Yew said no but he knew of a Chua Chor Teck.
Chor Teck won a Port of Singapore Authority's (PSA) scholarship to study Naval
Architecture at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. He graduated with
1st Class Honours in 1968, topped his class and also won the university Gold
Medal for Merit performance.
Tan Cheng Hui
Fellow student, University of Newcastle- upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
"Not only did he achieve a First Class Honours in '68 but if was one of the best
performances ever in this Department by an undergraduate."
Dr. R L Townsin
Faculty Professor, Department of Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding, University of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
I first met Chor Teck at Newcastle University, about 40 years ago, and although
at that time we were not close friends (he was my senior by 1 year) I, as all
others in the Naval Arch. Dept. had the highest respect for him. He was very
intelligent, hard working and the best student in the department.
I really got to know Chor Teck well from the early 1970's (Dec.1973) when we did
our first repairs/dry-docking at Keppel. He immediately requested to see me.
When we met he was extremely warm and friendly. We talked about Newcastle,
our student days and the friends we made there, at the end of our meeting, even
though he was already General Manager of Keppel, he told me his door was
always open in case I needed assistance either in the yard or otherwise. He took
me to lunch the next day and to dinner with Alice a few days afterwards, just to
show me that he really meant what he said about being there for me.
During 1970's I came to Singapore every year and naturally always at Keppel
Shipyard because of Chor Teck. By the end of the decade we had become very
close personal as well as family friends. In 1979 I spent 2 months in Singapore
overseeing major repair works at Keppel. Because of the length of my stay and
since it was during July and August I had brought over my family. My wife
already knew Chor Teck and Alice from the previous years "Posidonia Exhibition"
in Piraeus, but I was pleasantly surprised as to how quickly and easily my two
elder sons hit it off with Sui Tong and Hui Khoon. Their family was so warm
towards me and my family that I will always cherish the time we spent together.
One must not forget that by then Chor Teck was the No.1 man at Keppel yet he
was as approachable and friendly as always.
One of the worst moments of my life was at the end of 1985 when Alice advised
me that Chor Teck was very seriously ill and did not have long to live. My
immediate reaction was that this could not be true. God could not be so unfair.
People like Chor Teck made the world a better place, from every aspect. He was
highly intelligent, hard working, a dedicated family man and a really decent
human being. Since then I have always felt that if in the world we had a few more
Chor Tecks it would be a much much better place.
Theodore J Triphyllis
Fellow student, University of Newcastl- upon-Tyne, UK (1968)
Tribute from his Professor
The staff of the Department of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding at the
University of Newcastle upon Tyne were greatly saddened to learn of the death
of Chua Chor Teck. He was the first of a line of very able students to come to
Newcastle from Singapore to study naval architecture. After three years he
graduated in July 1968, and it was no surprise to those who knew his work that
he achieved a First Class Honours degree.
He was determined to obtain the fullest value from this opportunity to study in
England and to learn as much as possible about both the science and practices
of shipbuilding. It was not easy to arrange sponsored practical experience, but in
his determination to learn shipbuilding 'from the inside' he enlisted during one
vacation as a labourer in a Tyneside shipyard rather than waste time in activities
unrelated to his ambitions. These were difficult times for Chor Teck, and the
support of his wife Alice, through those early days and cold northern winters, was
something that he often spoke of later with great warmth.
To the many students from Singapore who succeeded him at Newcastle, he
became both a 'father figure' and an example to strive to follow. In setting his
high standards of commitment and achievement he thus clearly contributed not
only to the success of many later students (amongst whom the class of degree
obtained as enviably high), but also through them and his own outstanding work,
to the remarkable growth of marine industry in Singapore through the nineteen-
seventies.
During those years, to those of us from Newcastle who were able to visit
Singapore, it was always a great pleasure to meet him again, as he progressed
in responsibility and eminence. He enjoyed the gatherings at which he and his
wife were such excellent hosts to the Newcastle graduates.
The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is proud to have been associated with a
naval architect of such character and distinction. His life and work have been an
example to us all.
Professor J B Caldwell
Head of Department of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding, University of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK (1986)
His word is good enough
I first met Mr. Chua Chor Teck when the first ship built under my supervision was
dry-docked at Keppel Tanjong Pagar Yard in 1972. It was my first job as a
Technical Assistant with Vosper Thornycroft Pte. Ltd. The vessel, a supply
vessel, was docked for bottom cleaning and painting prior to the sea trials. I was
the shipbuilder's representative at the dry-docking. It was supposed to be a
simple straightforward job of not more than two days. It was the first time I ever
sent a ship for dry-docking.
However, during the inspection of the ship's bottom the owner's representatives
made many demands that threatened to extend the dry-docking period,
postponing the sea trials and the delivery date of the vessel with financial
consequences. The demands from the owner's representatives included re-
checking of all the draft marks, rechecking the straightness of the keel of the
vessel, renewal of many pieces of underwater shell plating, which had pitted as a
result of stray welding current while the vessel was afloat after launching. I
suspected that the owner's representatives were using delaying tactics, as the
vessel had not found a charter as yet. For some peculiar reasons our
management gave in to the owner's demands but without giving me additional
days to complete the job.
As a conscientious young man I was really worried and worked tirelessly to get
my vessel undocked. The vessel had already exceeded the scheduled two days
in dry-dock and my management was pressing me daily for the ship to be
undocked. Life was really miserable when the control of the vessel was under the
charge of another shipyard.
One late evening when I was all alone, feeling miserable and down-hearted at
the progress of the vessel, Mr. Chua Chor Teck came and introduced himself to
me at the bottom of the dry-dock. I was taken aback that I was talking to the man
himself. I took the opportunity to pour out the problems I had with my ship. Mr.
Chua was a good listener. He empathized fully with my problems. I felt really
good after talking with him. He probably realised that I was young, inexperienced
and required encouragement. He assured me that my ship would be delivered at
the quickest possible time despite the many extra work orders. I was really
touched by his personal interest, assurance and his help. The vessel was
eventually undocked, had a successful sea trial and delivered to the ship owner.
Tan Kim Pong
Technical Assistant, Vosper Thornycroft Pte Ltd (1972)
I've been Keppel's representative in the United States and Canada for more then
25 years. When I think how such a large portion of my life has been spent with a
single employer I realize how this could not have been possible without knowing
Chor Teck and the legacy he left with Keppel.
I first met Chor Teck in 1978. I had just transitioned from the marine dept of a
major oil company to an agency that represented Keppel at that time. Shortly
after joining that agency it became apparent Keppel's interests had to be served
in a more focused fashion. The process of choosing another alternative began in
earnest. All the US agencies were vying to capture Keppel.
Seeing this as a major loss for my employer, I was naturally concerned about my
own security. At this time I was approached by oil major and felt for my family's
sake I should again shift.
Having more or less determined my next direction, I was suddenly and
unexpectedly called by Chor Teck who asked if I'd be interested in opening their
new US office. Frankly I was stunned. Not only because it was about 0600hrs but
also wondering why he hadn't talked to all the other worthy candidates. He called
from London and said he could be in New York later that day and would call.
After running this through a more awakened mind I thought I and/or he was
mistaken about his arriving in New York that same day and that I was a
candidate.
Sure enough Chor Teck did make it to New York that same day via the
Concorde. He left an industry meeting and all the other candidates who flocked
there to register their interest. He asked for a discreet place to meet. The only
secure site I could think of was my home which at the time was overtaken by
three young children. You can imagine trying to convince my wife this whole
chain of events was for real.
As it turned out our meeting and family dinner has become a memorable event in
my family's life. Chor Teck's warmth, honesty and love of family overwhelmed us
all. His talk of his children and ours getting together someday in Singapore as
well as his ability to relate to all of them didn't make my decision an easy task.
Frankly I wondered how he could have boxed me in such a situation and if this
was how he intended to persuade me. It must be appreciated how this contrasted
with the approach of American industry where personal and professional lives
are rarely mixed.
Somehow we did get down to business that day. After the deal was struck, the
rest is history. The years at Keppel bear witness to Chor Teck's legacy. Yes
there's complete dedication expected but the return in caring for each employee
is the spirit he so carefully nurtured and left behind. It has become the Keppel
way. In all the 35 years I've spent in the industry it's the last 25 that make me
grateful I was available to answer the phone that early morning and to put my
faith and trust in Chor Teck as he did with me.
John J Bajor
Keppel's US and Canadian Representative (2003)
Sensitive to the effort put in by the other guy
When I was teaching, I would occasionally visit Keppel to salvage scrap (a
pressure gauge or control valve), which I could dissect and turn into a teaching
aid. On one such visit in the late1970s, I dropped into Chor Teck's office to say
hello.
It was about lunchtime and I found eating his char kway teow at his desk behind
two piles of documents. He was signing a document while eating.
Chua Chor Teck as President of SASAR
(SASAR is today known as ASMI. These notes were extracted from the
association newsletters published between 1973 and 1979)
In April 1968, the Singapore Association of Shipbuilders and Repairers (SASAR)
was formed. It had 10 members representing a third of the shipyards in
operation. The Suez Canal closed a year earlier and ships that used to be
repaired in the Mediterranean saw Singapore a viable option. The number of
ships calling on Singapore yards grew exponentially and by the time the canal
reopened in June 1975, Singapore became a major world shipbuilding/repair
services provider.
Mr. Chua Chor Teck was its 3rd (and till to date, its longest serving) President
from 1973 to 1980. This period coincided with the aggressive expansion of the
marine sector with more shipyards and rig builders set up to meet market
demands. SASAR through Mr. Chua's leadership led marketing trips (first one to
Posidonia 76), sponsored seminars (series began with Shipcare 76 and Marintec
Asia 79). By 1976, revenue for the industry exceeded $1 billion and by 1983,
Singapore became the largest shiprepair centre in the world. SASAR also took
leading roles in driving safety and productivity.
Chor Teck was also tireless in persuading the Singapore Government to provide
ship financing to attract shipowners to build in Singapore yards. The initial offer
(in 1976) was 50% which was not sufficiently attractive. He was successful in
getting it improved to 85% in 1978.
During the high growth years, he urged industry members to focus on attracting
"new blood" into the industry instead of "pinching" from each other which he
explained only raised costs without raising the general level of productivity and
added value to customers. In his speeches throughout his years as SASAR
President, he stressed the need for the industry to work closely with Government
and trade unions.
Chua Chor Teck as President of the Society of Naval Architects, Singapore
(SONAS)
Mr. Chua Chor Teck served as President for SONAS from 1975 to 1980. SONAS
was established in 1973 and in the early years, the focus was in beefing up its
foundations - building up the membership and financial strengths. He also saw
the need for a local technical body to represent the marine engineers too and
successfully transformed in 1981 SONAS to SNAMES - the Society of Naval
Architects and Marine Engineers, Singapore.
HISTORY
Keppel Corporation Limited, an investment holding company, primarily
engages in the offshore oil-rig construction; and shipbuilding and ship repair and
conversion. The company operates in three segments: Offshore and Marine,
Property, and Infrastructure. The Offshore and Marine segment designs,
constructs, and repairs a range of mobile offshore drilling units, floating
production systems, production topsides, and specialized vessels, such as
deepwater semi-submersibles and tension leg platforms, as well as jackup rigs,
drilling tenders, and posted submersible drilling units. This segment also
engages in the conversion of floating production storage and offloading vessels,
and floating storage and offloading vessels; and repair, conversion, and building
of various vessels. It has a network of 17 yards worldwide. The Property segment
focuses on property development for sale and management of property fund in
Singapore, China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Its property portfolio comprises
residential properties and townships, office towers, serviced apartments, hotels
and resorts, retail complexes, and industrial buildings. The Infrastructure
segment comprises network engineering, and utility and engineering operations.
This segment engages in power generation and provision of solutions in
environmental engineering, including the design and construction of plants and
equipment, and the maintenance and operation of the plants. It also offers
network engineering and technology services, including design, roll-out, and
operations management services to wireless and wireline telecommunications
networks in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Keppel Corporation operates
primarily in Singapore, Far East and other ASEAN countries, and Americas. The
company, formerly known as Keppel Shipyard (Pte), Ltd., was incorporated in
1968 and is based in Singapore.
Our History
2009 Keppel Shipyard establishes Safety Training Centre.
2008 Keppel O&M collaborates with the Institute of Technical Education to launch the Higher National ITE Certificate (Higher Nitec) in Marine and Offshore Engineering Course.Keppel Group launches its “Safety Starts with Me” campaign.
2007 Keppel O&M unveils the Keppel O&M technology centre (KOMtech) to boost R&D and position itself for long term growth.
Keppel O&M partners Qatar Gas Transport Company to develop and manage a major new facility in the Port of Ras Laffan, Qatar.
Keppel O&M and the National University of Singapore appoint Prof Andrew Palmer as the Keppel Chair Professor in the University’s Department of Civil Engineering.
Offshore Energy Center’s Hall of Fame elects Keppel O&M as Technology Pioneer for ‘Construction: Rig Building Shipyards’ category.
2006 Keppel FELS acquires new facilities at Shipyard Crescent, Jurong, located in western
Singapore.
Keppel O&M acquires 81% stake in Keppel Philippines Marine.
Keppel FELS establishes PT Bintan Offshore in Indonesia.
Keppel O&M acquires Offshore & Marine ASA and renames it Keppel Norway ASA.
Keppel O&M unveils its Core Values icons
Keppel O&M, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Maritime Foundation and the Association of Singapore Marine Industries commissions MediaCorp to screen a 21-episode drama serial, The Peak.
2005 Keppel O&M acquires full interest in FELS Setal S.A, from PEM Setal Group which is renamed Keppel FELS Brazil SA.
Keppel Singmarine acquires Keppel Nantong.
Keppel FELS and J Ray McDermott forms joint venture FloaTEC, LLC to deliver deepwater floating production solutions.
CIO 100 Index of Innovative Enterprises for 2005 inducts Keppel O&M as a Honourary member for its Global Engineering Management System (GEMS).
Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman and CEO of Keppel O&M is appointed a member of Management Board of the Centre for Maritime Studies (CMS).
Keppel O&M, Keppel T&T and key industry partners teams up with the National University of Singapore to establish the Centre for Maritime Studies.
Keppel O&M sets up Keppel FELS Offshore And Engineering Services Mumbai, India.
The Texas Workforce Commission confers Keppel AmFELS with the Employer Award of Excellence.
2004 Keppel O&M acquires 82.75% share in FELS Setal.
AMFELS is renamed Keppel AmFELS.
As the first founding member, Keppel O&M pledges to help create a conducive environment for companies to undertake more R&D and engineering at the lauch of the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering (CORE), a joint effort by the Economic Development Board and National University of Singapore Faculty of Engineering.
2003 Keppel O&M establishes Keppel Kazakhstan, an offshore engineering and construction facility in Kazakhstan.Keppel Professorship Chair is established in the new Centre of Offshore and Maritime Engineering at the National University of Singapore.
2002 Keppel FELS and Keppel Hitachi Zosen integrates to form Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), a wholly-owned division of Keppel Corporation.
Keppel O&M acquires Verolme Botlek and renames it Keppel Verolme.
Deepwater Technology Group Pte Ltd is established.
Houston Center and Keppel O&M (USA) is established in Houston, Texas.
2001 Keppel Corporation privatizes Keppel FELS and made the company its wholly-owned subsidiary.
2000 KFEI set up joint venture, FELS Setal, which operates two yards in Brazil
1999 Keppel FELS and Keppel Integrated Engineering are restructured under a newly formed listed company, Keppel FELS Energy and Infrastructure (KFEI).
1997 FELS is renamed Keppel FELS.Caspian Shipyard Company, a joint venture in Baku, Azerbaijan, is set up.
1996 Keppel ceases operations at Keppel Harbour Yard to make way for the development of the biggest waterfront homes, Keppel Bay, and consolidated operations at the Tuas yard.
1994 FELS Baltech in Bulgaria is incorporated.
1993 Offshore Technology Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FELS is set up.
1991 Keppel Shipyard takes a stake in Arab Heavy Industries, a shipyard in United Arab Emirates.
1990 FELS acquires interest in AMFELS, a US shipyard located in Brownsville, Texas, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of FELS in 1992.
1980 Keppel Shipyard takes over the management of FELS.
1975 Keppel Philippines Shipyard becomes fully operational in 1976.
1971 Keppel Shipyard acquires a 40% stake in FELS.
1970 FELS is known as Far East Levingston Shipbuilding Limited (FELS).
1969 FELS is listed on the stock exchanges of Singapore and Malaysia.
1968 Keppel Shipyard is formed to take over the dockyard department of the Port of Singapore. It is managed by the Swan Hunter Group, the largest ship repairer then.
1967 Far East Shipbuilding Industries Limited (FESL) is incorporated.
1913 The Singapore waterfront comes under the control of the Singapore Harbour Board.
1905 The British colonial government expropriates the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company and the Tanjong Pagar Dock Board is formed.
1900 New Harbour is renamed Keppel Harbour after Admiral Sir Henry Keppel who discovered the sheltered, deepwater harbour.
1859 Our first dock, No. 1 Dock is built at New Harbour (the present Keppel Bay).
PRODUCTION LINE
Offshore
Keppel FELS, the wholly-owned offshore arm of Keppel Offshore & Marine, is the world leader in the design and construction of jackup rigs, having built the most number of jackups on order in the last decade.
Keppel FELS suite of proprietary jackup and semisubmersible designs offers total solutions for customers in offshore drilling operations.
It also has a sterling track record of successful conversions and upgrades of floating production units, semisubmersibles and jackup drilling rigs.
The ISO 9001 certified company has successfully completed work, on time and on budget, on a wide range of vessels including:
Jackup rigs Semisubmersibles Floating production units Drilling tenders Posted submersible drilling units
Tension leg platforms
Shiprepair
A ro-ro vehicle carrier from IUM Ship Management, Norway
The dredger Johanna Jacoba is managed by Boskalis International NV of Netherlands
As a specialist shipyard with more than a century of experience, Keppel Shipyard has the expertise and experience to repair a diverse range and capacity of vessels in the marine and offshore sector such as :
Oil tankers Chemical tankers LNG and LPG carriers Container vessels Ro-ro / Car Carriers Dredgers Navy vessels General cargo vessels Bulk carriers and OBOs Livestock carriers Passenger and Cruise Liners Drilling tenders Barges (crane and derrick) Research vessels Tug, supply and offshore support vessels
Keppel Shipyard has over the years built up a strong reputation for versatility, reliability and excellent project, safety and quality management.
Without compromising on quality and safety, Keppel Shipyard ensures that every repair is completed on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of customers.
Vision
To be the Provider of Choice and Partner for Solutions for the global offshore and
marine industry