Irfan Naushir’s record-breaking ascent proves how the rigour of ALAM turns grit into a world-class maritime career.
THE waves did not wait for him to be ready. During one winter voyage in the North Sea, the ship rolled heavily under relentless swells, forcing equipment to be secured as loose items slid across the deck.
Even writing in a logbook became a struggle.
“There was no time to even feel seasick. Everything was moving and flying around,” said Irfan Naushir, 33.
For months at a time, this was his reality. Long stretches away from home defined by unpredictable weather and a routine dictated by operations instead of comfort.
Sleep came only in intervals and every task, no matter how small, demanded total focus.
It was a life few fully understood, and one that Irfan had never truly planned for.
Born and raised in Petra Jaya, Kuching, he moved to Kuala Lumpur at age eleven alongside 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,” Irfan recalled.
That ambition, like many at that age, evolved. Cooking gave way to architecture, which eventually led to a search for something more practical and sustainable. His parents had made it clear that each of their five children needed to carve out their own path.
When university offers arrived, the 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. His first unscripted chapter in life began at the ALAM campus in Melaka.
As a cadet, he stepped into a world of strict discipline and rigid routines where expectations were always clear. Though his interest in the field did not come naturally, he chose to stay.
“If I started something, I had to finish it. I had to go on and there was no turning back.”
That mindset carried him to his first voyage at eighteen, sailing from Bintulu to Japan.
Standing on the bridge of a vessel nearly 300 metres long, he watched the navigation unfold, quietly unsure if he would ever fully master it. He did not know then that, years later, he would be the one in command.
By 2014, he began sailing professionally as a third officer with MISC Bhd, 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.
A fast track through rough seas
Irfan’s career quickly became defined by movement across oceans and demanding assignments.
On large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, voyages spanned oceans. He would spend months at sea, transporting multi-million-dollar cargo from multiple countries to the Far East, Europe and the Mediterranean.
On smaller vessels in the North Sea, operations ran almost daily.
Between tight schedules and frequent cargo transfers across ports in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway, there was rarely any margin for error.
While becoming a captain typically requires more than a decade of sea time, constant certifications and experience, Irfan reached the rank in just eight years.
He spent his shore leaves taking on additional assignments, choosing to sacrifice rest and family time to accumulate the required sea time.
It was a demanding trade-off, but it was exactly what accelerated his journey.
Irfan earned his master’s license in 2019 at age 26. By 2022, he had already stepped into his first command as captain – reaching the pinnacle of his profession at just 29.
Somewhere along the way, there were lighter moments, too. In one particular photograph from his time at sea, Irfan bears a striking resemblance to a young Tom Cruise.
Between the wavy hair, tanned skin and an effortless, camera-ready smile, the likeness is hard to miss.
While Irfan found the comparison more amusing than accurate, his colleagues were far less convinced.
“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.”
Appearance carries little weight out at sea. With no audience and no expectations beyond the job, hair grows long and beards come and go.
The mirror simply matters less than the machinery, the shifting weather and the weight of the decisions that must be made.
By 2025, Irfan had sailed with Fratelli Cosulich, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and worked with Seatrium (formerly known as Sembcorp Marine), spending roughly seven and a half years of active sea time.
Today, he operates from shore as a marine and health, safety, environment and quality manager with Wilhelmsen Ship Management, overseeing marine operations, safety and quality assurance across a fleet of 34 gas vessels.
Though he is no longer navigating storms firsthand, the responsibility remains immense.
From his base in Kuala Lumpur, Irfan now coordinates across time zones, advising on complex cargo operations and responding to critical incidents that can affect vessels, cargo and crew.
Where he once relied on his instincts to navigate a storm, he now uses that same expertise and judgment to safeguard lives from land.
The ocean may no longer be beneath his feet, but it remains at the center of everything he does.
ALAM – where it all started
Looking back, Irfan credits ALAM and his early training for shaping his journey.
It was those early, formative years that provided the technical grounding and the resilience required to thrive in a world where quick, decisive judgment is everything.
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 Bhd, 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.
Irfan emphasises the growing opportunities for young Sarawakians in the maritime sector, as PETRONAS continues to prioritise local talent for offshore and maritime roles.
As a result, entry into the industry is now more accessible than before.
“These opportunities can change lives. But it will go to waste if you do not secure it yourself.”
From a young man unsure of his direction to a captain navigating some of the world’s most challenging waters, Irfan’s journey was never straightforward.
His path was shaped by long nights, rough seas and difficult choices.
Ultimately, it was those very challenges that charted his course.
