MALAYSIA needs to strengthen its domestic skilled workforce in the shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry.
This, says Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL-Mimet) head of campus Dr Zaimi Zainal Mukhtar (pic), can be done by producing workers with practical shipyard competencies, digital skills, international certifications and continuous upskilling.
He was commenting on the Malaysian SBSR Industry Report 2025/2026, which states that reliance on foreign workers is among the sector’s challenges, with local shipyards depending on foreign labour to fill skills gaps and meet production and repair demands (see infographic).
The report, published in May 2025, also highlights a mismatch between skills taught by local institutions and industry requirements, including naval architecture graduates lacking some competencies needed in ship design houses.
Highlighting the scale and competitiveness of Malaysia’s SBSR sector, Zaimi said the country currently has around 99 registered shipyards, with capabilities extending to vessels of up to 30,000 deadweight tonnage.
He said the sector’s competitiveness depends on skilled labour, automation and digitalisation, with training programmes aligned to industry needs.
“The first priority should be to make technical and vocational education and training programmes more closely aligned with actual shipyard requirements.
“Universities, polytechnics and maritime training centres should work directly with industry players to identify skills shortages and update their curricula accordingly.
“Key areas could include all sectors under SBSR, shipping, logistics, marine support services, in line with Malaysia’s broader push for stronger industry collaboration, flexible programmes and future-ready skills,” he said.
He also proposed a recognised SBSR skills certification framework covering welding, marine electrical work, piping, non-destructive testing, ship inspection, ship design, marine automation and ship repair.
Such certification, he said, would provide clearer competency levels and career progression.
“The workforce has to keep pace with technological changes in the industry, with workers increasingly required to develop skills in 3D modelling, digital ship design, robotics, automated welding, digital twin technology, and smart maintenance systems.
“The objective should therefore be not to replace skilled workers with automation, but to upgrade workers so they can operate and manage advanced technologies,” he said.
He also stressed that Malaysia’s maritime talent pipeline should extend beyond seafarers and ratings.
A vessel, he said, requires professionals including naval architects, marine engineers, designers, welders, fabricators, electricians, automation technicians, project managers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) specialists.
“Malaysia should stop viewing maritime talent as synonymous with seafarers alone.
“A competitive maritime nation requires a complete talent ecosystem covering seafarers and ratings, as well as the professionals involved in designing, building, operating, repairing, upgrading and innovating vessels,” he said.
Changing the narrative
Zaimi said a shortage of local talent is not simply a matter of young people being uninterested in the sector.
He cited perceptions of shipyard work as dirty, dangerous, physically demanding and low-paid, as well as competition from industries including oil and gas, automotive, aerospace, electronics, semiconductors and information and communications technology.
“Some of these perceptions may come from traditional shipyard working environments, but they do not fully represent the modern SBSR industry.
“So, we need to change the narrative from ‘working in a shipyard means doing manual work’ to ‘working in SBSR means being part of a high-technology engineering and manufacturing industry’,” he said.
However, improving perceptions alone would not be enough.
The industry also needs to improve safety, working conditions, welfare, training, remuneration, career progression and professional recognition.
“If young people enter the industry and experience poor working conditions or limited career development, it becomes difficult to retain them,” he said.
Zaimi said industry, training institutions and the government each have a role in developing the talent pipeline.
“Most importantly, we need to start much earlier by introducing SBSR careers to school students,” he said.
“We need to show them that maritime careers are not limited to seafarers.
“They can become naval architects, marine engineers, designers, welders, fabricators, automation specialists, MRO experts or maritime technology entrepreneurs,” he added.
Ultimately, he said the goal is to reduce dependence on imported skilled labour while increasing productivity, technology adoption and Malaysia’s ability to undertake higher-value shipbuilding, repair, MRO and conversion activities.
