I am pleased to announce that on May 16th, 2019, Mr Lim Sing Tian joined the Council of the Society. Sing Tian holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the Nanyang Technological University and  Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Singapore. He is the Managing Director of GL Engineering and Construction Pte Ltd (GL E&C).

GL E&C has the distinction of having delivered a floating dry dock with a concrete pontoon and steel wing walls designed by Dr Alfred Yee, a highly decorated US engineer who made in his mark in the 1970’s with his innovative floating concrete islands for oil exploration.  The concrete floating dock was built in Batam, Indonesia and dry towed to its owner’s Shipyard in Honolulu.

The successful delivery of the dock is a testimony to Sing Tian’s “can do” spirit. Not many would consider building a concrete pontoon for a dry dock, much less building it in a barren piece of sea front land without even a ready built launch way.  The 138 m x 46 m pontoon weigh about 15,000 tons was fabricated with Grade 85 concrete.  It was the first civil/marine engineering structure built of concrete to cross the Pacific Ocean.  Although Singapore has delivered offshore oil rigs and floating hotels to many parts of the world, this structure deserves a special mention. I shall be writing a more in-depth message on this structure.

Sing Tian’s extensive experience in building more traditional structures including, outfalls, ports, berths and piers as well as the civil engineering elements of power and petrochemical plants complements his understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of land-based and water based structures.  His company GL E&C has generously supported the conferences and seminars organised by this Society since its inception.

I encourage young engineers to touch base with him. I am confident he has much to share with them.

President

Lim Soon Heng

5 June 2019