21/05/2026
"Careers don't always start with a plan, sometimes they start with curiousity.
As a student, I often found myself looking out at massive vessels and quay cranes from my university campus and wondering how everything behind the scenes actually worked. That curiosity eventually led me to the PSA-MaritimeONE Scholarship. From my first internship, to rotations and mentorship, it's been a journey of learning beyond the classroom.
In my days as a Wharf Executive in the Control Centre at Tuas Port, I oversaw and coordinated a team of over 50 wharf leads, operators, and ground crew to keep vessel operations running smoothly. As the first responder for operational exceptions, I made real-time decisions. This included optimising the deployment of Prime Movers and Automated Guided Vehicles to ensure efficient container flow, even working around equipment downtime to minimise operational disruptions.
Over time, I realised how much I enjoy the challenge of troubleshooting and problem-solving. In many ways, it feels like a real-time strategy game, one where you continuously adapt, balance competing priorities, and navigate constraints in a dynamic environment. What makes it meaningful is knowing that each decision I make keeps the world's largest automated container terminal moving and global trade flowing.
As the maritime industry continues to evolve, so do we! After mastering the duties of a Wharf Executive, I'm now building a new set of capabilities in my current role supporting joint ventures. If you ever feel like you're falling behind, know this: progress does not come from having all the answers upfront, but staying open to learning and changing."
Quek Yong Jun, Senior Operations Executive with T2SE, at PSA Singapore on what sparked his interest in port operations, and his journey as a PSA-MaritimeONE Scholar.
Find out more about the PSA-MaritimeONE Scholarship here: https://bit.ly/43h1qMz