By PETRONAS
In one photograph, Irfan Naushir from Kuching, Sarawak looks almost like Tom Cruise.
Medium-length wavy hair, tanned skin, lean build, and that effortless, camera-ready smile. For a second, the resemblance feels convincing.
It is an observation that the author holds onto more than anyone else. His colleagues, however, see it differently.
“They begged me not to keep my hair long like that,” said Irfan with a quiet laugh. Now sporting a crew cut, he added, “They said it doesn’t suit me.”
Out at sea, appearance carries little weight. There are no audiences, no expectations beyond the work itself. Hair grows longer, beards come and go, and the mirror matters less than machinery, the weather, and the decisions that must be made.
Irfan’s journey, not by design
Long before the photograph, before the long hair and life at sea, Irfan never imagined becoming a seafarer.
Born and raised in Petra Jaya, Kuching, he moved to Kuala Lumpur at 11 with his parents and four siblings. He completed his early education at SK Gita and later at Victoria Institution before he had to decide what would come next.
“I wanted to be a chef,” he recalled.
That ambition, like many at that age, evolved. Cooking gave way to architecture, then to a broader search for something practical and sustainable because his parents made it clear that each of their five children needed to find their own way.
When university offers arrived, opportunity guided his choice. A place at Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM), the country’s only dedicated maritime academy, offered a fully sponsored education and a direct pathway into a specialised industry.
Unaware of what lay ahead, Irfan accepted the offer.
At ALAM’s main campus in Melaka, he began the first unscripted chapter of his life, as a cadet. Discipline was strict, routines structured, and expectations clear. Interest did not come immediately, but he stayed.
“If I started something, I had to finish it. I had to go on, and there was no turning back.”
That determination carried him through the uncertainties, long hours of study, and into his first experience at sea. Irfan was 18 when he made his maiden voyage from Bintulu to Japan.
The vessel was massive, nearly 300 metres long, but calm seas made the departure almost imperceptible. Stepping onto the bridge, watching navigation unfold, the scale and complexity of operations became clear.
At the time, he did not think he would ever fully understand it. Though years later, he would be the one in command.
By 2014, he had begun sailing professionally as a third officer with MISC Berhad, the very company that trained him through its maritime academy, ALAM. In 2016, he joined Wilhelmsen Ship Management, a Norwegian company renowned for its global expertise in ship operations, crew management, and maritime safety.
Across oceans and unconventional rise to captain
The years that followed were shaped by movement across oceans, each assignment adding to Irfan’s experience.
On large LNG carriers, voyages spanned oceans. He would spend months at sea, transporting multi-million-dollar cargo from the multiple countries to Far East, Europe, and the Mediterranean.
On smaller vessels in the North Sea, operations ran almost daily, with tight schedules, frequent cargo loading and transfers at ports in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
The work did not pause, even when the weather turned. During winter, waves struck with force. The ship rolled and pitched, equipment had to be secured, and even the simplest tasks like writing in a logbook became difficult.
“There was no time to even feel seasick. Everything was moving and flying around,” said Irfan as he recalled one of his most challenging voyages in his sailing career.
Progress in the maritime ranks is gradual and exacting. Advancement requires hours at sea, certifications, and hands-on experience.
For many, the path to captain spans more than a decade. Irfan completed it in just eight years, taking on extra assignments during his shore leave to log the required sea time. Weeks that could have been spent with family or resting were spent on deck and amid the hum of a working ship.
In 2019, at just 26, he earned his master’s license and became a captain in 2022 at the age of 29.
By 2025, he had also sailed with Fratelli Cosulich, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), and worked with Seatrium (formerly known as Semborp Marine), spending roughly seven and a half years seatime out at sea.
Today, Irfan has traded the rolling decks of the open sea for the strategic command of Wilhelmsen Ship Management as their Marine & HSEQ Manager.
Unlike the singular focus of life at sea, his responsibilities now span three critical portfolios simultaneously — marine operations, safety, and quality assurance — over a fleet of 34 gas vessels.
Each day is a balancing act. Based in Kuala Lumpur, he advises ships on navigation, reviews cargo plans, ensures critical equipment is operational, and oversees safety campaigns.
When incidents occur, whether a technical failure or an operational hazard, he is the first point of guidance, coordinating solutions across time zones that stretch from the east to the west.
Though the environment has shifted from deck to desk, the stakes remain immense. Where once he relied on his crew and his instincts to navigate storms, he now relies on expertise, coordination, and judgment to safeguard vessels, cargo, and lives from land.
For Irfan, the ocean may no longer be beneath his feet, but it is still very much at the center of everything he does.
ALAM – where it all started
Irfan often looks back at his days at ALAM, then at MISC Berhad, as the true beginning of his colorful journey. Those early experiences exposed cadets to real-world challenges, shaping judgment, problem-solving, and leadership.
“They gave me the initial experience every seafarer needs. Without it, no company would hire you,” he said.
He also sees the opportunities this reflects for Sarawakians in maritime careers.
PETRONAS has been prioritising local talent, ensuring most positions on platforms, rigs, and offshore vessels in Sarawak go to Sarawakians.
Beyond employment, initiatives like the PETRONAS Powering Knowledge Education Sponsorship Programme allow young Sarawakians to study maritime fields and prepare for careers at sea. These are chances that can transform lives.
“With that, I can say that Sarawakians have a lot of opportunities to work in the maritime industry. It’ll only go to waste if you don’t secure that opportunity yourself,” said Irfan.
ALAM is Asia’s leading provider of maritime education and training, with a fully equipped 68-acre campus located in the pristine surroundings of Kuala Sungai Baru in Melaka.
Established in 1977 as the Malaysian Maritime Training Centre, ALAM is fully owned by MISC Berhad, a PETRONAS subsidiary and one of the world’s largest shipping conglomerates.
The academy offers a complete spectrum of maritime courses, supported by modern teaching facilities along with the extensive experience and expertise of its full-time local and expatriate instructors.
ALAM is the maritime academy of choice for young school leavers in Malaysia and abroad who dream of a rewarding future as professionals in the maritime industry.
