Capt R S Meganathan Shanmugam has been involved in the marine industry for the last 39 years during of which have been sailing with MISC, Thome Ship Mgt Pte Ltd, Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd, Luba Marine Surveys Pte Ltd. After more than 15 years of sea service experience, later joined the training sector and marine industry sector till being a Principal Consultant for various organization, currently engaged with MRIJDZ Marine Services (M). In the various capacity he has conducted Marine related consultancy works, operations, organization improvement audits, performance enhancement of vessels.
He was engaged as General Manager for Layup & STS Facility both for Atifa Marine Group Sdn Bhd in Melaka and Benchmark Marine Sdn Bhd in Batu Pahat of which involving as POAC and Mooring Master for the Layup & STS Facility. During the period have carried out Layup Activity in Melaka / Batu Pahat / (Owner’s Rep) in Linggi – Deactivation of vessel at the facility, Decommissioning of Vessel / Cargo Plant / Machinery, Quality Assessment / Quality Control, Reactivation of vessel at the facility, Recommissioning of Vessel / Cargo Plant / Machinery / Insurance / Classification & Statutory, Gasification (LNG) – Drying / Inerting / Purging & Gassing-up.
Additionally, he has been actively involved in the preparation of Tender documents for the scope of Tendering, provided technical input as Consultant for the Project in the Coordination & Execution of the project, has carried out Project Risk Assessment, Marine Risk Assessment and provided input for the Review of Project Progress & Cost, involvement in Coordination with Third party Survey, Certification and Inspection, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning. During this period also he has performed number of Vessel Performance Evaluation, ISM/ISPS, Pre-purchase Inspection, RIGHTSHIP Inspection, Sale & Purchase Representative, Condition Surveys for diverse types of watercrafts including but not limited to, bulk carriers, oil tankers, container vessels, gas tankers. Other scope attended including vessel attendance as Cargo Expeditor / Safety Superintendent / Surveyor onboard LNG, LPG Crude Oil & Product Tanker vessels on behalf of Ship Owners/Managers, Terminals and Cargo Consignees, Draft, Bunker & Vetting Surveys, Cargo Loss Control, Cargo Operations, ROB Inspection, Vetting & HSE. He has also conducted training for LNG Operations and Emergency Response Training for ships (MISC Tenaga vessels) and terminals (MLNG, Sarawak).
He has also have conducted salvage works in the capacity of Salvage Master, engaged as Principal Consultant in the Marine Salvage Company – Grand Benchmark Marine Services Sdn Bhd, accredited & member of International Salvage Union ISU. As Marine Salvage Master he was Supervising Marine Salvage and Wreck recovery works, Marine Services and Supplies involved in Marine Underwater Works – Underwater cutting, welding, and fixtures. The Marine Salvage & Recovery works was around Malaysian waters and overseas (in collaboration with JV partners). Apart from salvage works, he has undertaken Marine Accident Investigation at several locations in the Asia region for major Marine Insurance Company, assigned as Independent Investigator as well as Company Representative.
His capacity as Principal Marine Consultant (Project Management) for the Premier Putrajaya Project – Development of Navigation & Emergency Response Master and Management Plan. Furthermore, he was providing Marine Consultancy for boat and shipbuilding, lake management, marine based activities, etc. for Premier Putrajaya Project and several other organizations.
In the same period to present date, he is/was extensively involving himself in the Pilot / Marine Advisory attendance (MARAD) for deep draught vessels through the Malacca and Singapore Straits, who is approved by Marine Dept Malaysia, CHEVRON, EXXON, AMPOL, PETRONAS, SHELL. He has conducted more than 450 Transits to date in the Malacca & Singapore Straits; with attendance service records onboard various vessel, ULCC, VLCC, Aframax / Suezmax, both Eastbound Transits with draft up to 22.75m draft and Westbound Transits for vessel with draft up to 21.82m.
Other job scope and expertise includes:
- Fleet Manager, in charge of the vessel operations for tanker and bulker fleet.
- Port Captain – Attending to vessels’ storage plan, loading and discharging plan and voyage confirmation. To ensure the vessels’ operation meets chatterer’s contract requirement. Investigate and report on non-conformances.
- ISM Maritime Lead Auditor conducted ISM surveys onboard vessels.
- Conducted marine related training programs for organizations like Petronas, Esso, Shell, Cabot, Idemitsu, Malaysia Shipyard & Engineering, Putrajaya, the various ports, shipping companies and the various government agencies.
- Conducted Towage & Lashing survey for carriage of steel pipes.
- First Malaysian to have authored a dissertation on Vessel Traffic Services – study on the need, research and future developments (University of Nottingham, UK).
- Valuable International exposure includes specialized training and attachment to various maritime organizations in England, Sweden and Denmark.
- Attended practical exercises at the Liquid Cargo Handling Simulator in England and Germany. Three weeks’ attachment at the Port of London Authority.
- Attended various Local and International Seminars relating to Maritime Education and Training, Marine Navigation, GPS, Air Navigation Instruments, Military Applications, Underwater ROV, etc.
- Executed Hydrographic Survey employing the techniques of positioning at sea using Integrated Navigation System – Electronic Position Fixing System, acoustic (SIPS), optical laser & compass. Hydrographic Surveying for the purpose of Research in 3D bathymetric lakebed construction for the Lake Management.
- Have carried out a survey using side-scan sonar to identify nature and type of wreck along the seabed. Also made sonar interpretation and investigations utilizing searchlight, sector scanning sonar and wreck sweeping methods.
- Involved in field survey using Theodolite, Electronic Distance Measurement EDM etc. to build a grid network. Exposed in the use of DLMS, Digital Terrain System, ECS, ECDIS and FECDS.
- Exposure in military aspects, including terrain/seabed referenced systems, electro-optical systems, weapon deliveries and principles of integrated system.