PEREIRA, Ron
Transportation in Singapore,
Accession Number 003203
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 13
Total Reels
- Patricia Lee
Interviewer
- 12:00:43
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 13
Metadata
- 20 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:54:47
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Born in 1941, Singapore. His grandfather, Peter Richards was the chief engineer of the Governor's yacht. His family background. Description of the property at Richards Avenue. Attended Serangoon English School and St Joseph's institution from 1948 to 1957. His growing years with grandmother at Richards Avenue. Frequented his father's Alexandra incinerator office. How his father was influential in his life. How most meals were taken at home. Description of the government quarters in Alexandra and Kolam Ayer incinerators. Recollections of Tan Eng Yuen at St Joseph's Institution.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 13
Metadata
- 20 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:56:11
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
St Joseph's Institution (SJI) teachers who had an influence on him. His scouting activities. Reasons he took up maritime engineering. Joined Singapore Harbour Board (SHB) as an apprentice engineer in 1958. Recollections of the SHB fitters. Reasons he disrupted his studies in Singapore Polytechnic to study on his own. Existence of gangs in SHB. How he learnt to become street-smart. His allowance was about $13.00 per week during the first year of apprenticeship. A day in the life of an apprentice. How a sense of camaraderie was fostered among the apprentice.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 13
Metadata
- 25 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:15
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His paternal's grandfather history. Grandfather's job as a ship chandler. Description of the Part A and Part B Certificate of Competency . Instruments were used to plot the position of the ship in the earlier days. His preparation for the Part A examination. Sitting for the examination. His decision to join Straits Steamship. Sailed on board the Kinabalu as a 3rd Engineer. His meeting with the Chief Engineer. The routes taken by the Kinabalu vessel. Types of goods it carried.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 13
Metadata
- 25 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:49
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Signed on a 3rd Engineers with the Register of Ships. A day on board the ship. Role of the engine driver. Description of the shift work on board. Had Hainanese boys to wait upon the Officers. Had Borneo indigenous people on board as paasengers. Types of watches while on duty. Types of work on board the ship. How he would buy live prawns when the ship called at Labuan Port. How sailors tended to drink heavily. Reasons he abstained from heavy drinking. Summary of his days at Jardine Shipping. His impression of Straits Steamship as an employer. The vessels he sailed with while with Straits Steamship. Description of the relationship between the deck and engine room officers. Cordial relationship while on board Straits Steamship vessels. Felt racial prejudices while sailing on Blue Star Line. Description of the Part B Certificate of Competency examination. Had twenty eight months of sailing time. Studied at Glasglow for two-and-half months to prepare for the Part B examination. Continued his studies at Popular Technical College for the Chief Engineer Part A Course in 1965. How he met his wife in London. HIs views on long distance relationship. Why it was necessary to sail on the motor and steam ship.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 13
Metadata
- 1 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:22
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How he overcame racial prejudices when he was sailing with the Blue Star Line. Recollections of his voyage with Neples Star. How the vessel ran a ground. Shipping instruments were primitive then. Description of the near-accidents while at sea. His experience sailing during typhoons. Diificult to pre-empt when a typhoon was approaching in the 1960s. Explanation of the Extra Chief Certificate. How he met his wife in London. Background information on his wife. How circumstances made him decide to return to Singapore in 1966. Joined Jardine Hongkong from July 1966 to March 67. How he used to sail to Shanghai during the Red Guards days.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 13
Metadata
- 20 Jul 2007
Recording Date
- 00:49:31
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Enrolled at Singapore Polytechnic in June 67 to prepare for the Chief Engineers Certificate of Competency. Why he decided against doing the Extra Chief Combined Certificate. Reasons for leaving Jardine Hong Kong. Joined Interco Maritime in June 1967 as a surveyor. How the ship he certified as not sea worthy sank at sea. Joined Herring and Co as a Marine Engineer from December 1967 to March 1972. Capt Goh Choo Keng was the Port Master during the Cable Car Incident. His perspective on the accident. Few Chief Engineers in the 1960s. His job description in surveying and law adjustor's work in Herring and Co. Need to have a good command of English and integrity on the job. Bribery was common in surveying work. How he sacked 14 employees for bribing. Importance of networking in the shipping line. How the Institute of Marine Engineers was established in Singapore. Poaching is something common in the shipping industry.
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Reel/Disc 7 of 13
Metadata
- 8 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:57:46
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Recollections of the old shipyards at Tanjong Perugu. Types of surveying jobs he carried out at these shipyards. How the opportunity to join Mushi Ellias Pte Ltd came about in 1972. How he started the surveying arm of Mushi Ellias. Background information on the Singapore Slipway. His first meeting with Chua Chor Teck. His impression of Chua Chor Teck. Description of the Chua Chor Teck Memorial. How Chua Chor Teck was instrumental in bringing the Naval Architects and Marine engineers to form SNAMES. Functions of slipways. Description of the old docks in Singapore. How he benefited from his work in Herring. Became Managing Director of Mushi Ellias in 1976. Reason the name "Mushi Ellias" was changed to Techmar Marine Services in 1978. Setting up of OMIC Company with the Japanese coming in as partners.
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Reel/Disc 8 of 13
Metadata
- 8 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:58:32
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Reasons for Techmar success from 1981 to 1982. Challenge he faced of not having his clients to pay on time. Business came from Hull and Machinery insurances. Circumstances leading to a drop in business in 1992. Explanation for the spilt with his partner in 1986. The restructuring of Techmar. Sale of Tecmar to OMIC Japan. Formed Techmar Consultancy in 1990 before he sold Techmar Marine Services. How Techmar Consultancy was form to carry his own works How RMP Services was form in 1996 as part of Richard Hwaks. How he went about training the younger surveyors.
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Reel/Disc 9 of 13
Metadata
- 15 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:52:26
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How profits shot up from 1996 to 2002 when he set up RMP Consultancy. How RMP Consultancy was absorbed under the Charles Taylor Group. How he expanded his business to Malaysia. Retired in 2005. Set up Maritime Consultants and Engineers Pte Ltd in 2005. His mentors in the marine engineering industry. Training of younger surveyors. Challenges he faced in retaining staff.
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Reel/Disc 10 of 13
Metadata
- 15 Aug 2007
Recording Date
- 00:56:18
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
How he goes about adjusting the salary of his staff. Reason he does not believe in following a salary scale. His method of rewarding and retaining staff. His opinion on the qualities of a good businessman. His staff stood by him during the bad times. How he benefited from engaging the services of associates than full-time staff. Ingredients of a successful businessman. How his investment in property made it possible to send his son overseas. Differences between the British and the local style of working in the maritime industry.
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