Classification work is done to protect work crews, ships and the environment, and is based on rigorous standards.
Classification work is done to protect work crews, ships and the environment, and is based on rigorous standards.
"Regardless of gender, one who possesses the right attitude towards work and the ability to provide practical solutions to problems will make a great maritime engineer."
Establishing and maintaining high technical standards for safe shipping and clean seas are why classification societies play such an important role in the industry.
Charmaine Pang, Principal Engineer, Singapore Engineering Services, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Since joining the company in 2006, Charmaine has risen through the ranks from plan approval engineer to her current position. She now heads a team of five engineers to identify and resolve engineering issues of vessels, and ensure timely delivery to clients.
The job has brought Charmaine lots of satisfaction over the years. “Knowing that my job ensures classed vessels under our care can safely operate and are in compliance with international standards gives me a sense of purpose,” she says. One of the most memorable projects Charmaine handled was the successful launch of the first liquefied natural gas-fuelled vessel in Singapore.
As a female shipping engineer, Charmaine believes hard work is the key to winning over peers and stakeholders. She took a part-time Master of Science in Maritime Studies with a scholarship from ABS and MPA in 2011, and proved her worth when she topped the cohort.
