Today, we caught up with James Tan, Technician Manager for Hong Seh Marine, and spoke with him about his experience as a technical manager in the yachting industry.

How did you become a Marine Technician at Hong Seh Marine?
I started in Keppel shipyard as an engineer on board for 25 years, overseeing all the repair and maintenance job in electrical and mechanical aspect. After that, I joined Hong Seh Marine for 13 years till now. A change of scope from a big commercial vessel to a pleasure craft.

What do your daily responsibilities involve?
They’re amazingly varied. I do a lot of the routine maintenance and servicing on engines, gearboxes and drivelines, and hydraulic systems and steering systems. But in addition to commissioning the engines for new boats, I also bridge over into technical handovers for customers and retrofit work. Once in a while, I might be flying overseas to Italy for the pre-delivery inspection of the new Ferretti yacht, attending Ferretti training activities to provide top-notch service and fully convey the top quality of Ferretti yachts to our clients.

What are the chief challenges of your work?
It would be trying to familiarize myself with each part of the boat. From the bow to the stern in a 70-foot yacht is all under my responsibility. 

Not to mention, we have plenty of different boats to take care of and troubleshoot simultaneously, and their machinery and equipment can be various. But having a good team around you who share the same passion means there’s nothing we can’t fix. 

What’s the most satisfying element of your job?
At Hong Seh Marine, we represent Ferretti Yachts, one of the most prestigious yacht brands globally, and the product I’m dealing with is a multi-million-dollar yacht. 

When we hand over a new boat in perfect condition, I feel a genuine connection with the clients seeing just how happy and excited they are. That’s amazing.