Four women prove their mettle as ship welders

LANGKAWI: Working in tight spaces and high temperatures are among the challenges faced by four female welders involved in a shipbuilding project at a shipyard here.

However, Nurul Izzah Ahmad Daud, 23, Nur Adifa Farain Razali, 22, Nur Ikhmal Diniah Norsuaidi, 19, and Nurmira Allya Hamiza, 21, have proven that women can perform tasks typically dominated by men.

They are employees of KN Aluminium & Engineering Sdn Bhd in Bukit Malut and are involved in constructing two patrol vessels for the Nigerian navy. These vessels measure 38m in length and 7m in width and are expected to be completed within 24 months.

Nurul Izzah said that among the other challenges she faces while working in the shipbuilding project are the difficulty in lifting heavy loads and the mistakes made during welding.

“If I need to lift heavy objects, I ask for help from male workers, and if there are difficult tasks or if the welding is not perfect, I also ask other workers for assistance. Here, we work as a team.

“Welding needs to be done carefully according to the markings made. I once made a welding mistake and felt like giving up, but I strengthened my resolve to do it again until the welding was perfect,” said Nurul Izzah, who hails from Batu Kawan, Penang.

Nurul Izzah, who has a Level 3 Malaysian Skills Certificate in Metal Arc Welding from Geomatika Skill Institute Perak, Tanjung Malim, said that she often performs pipe welding work in the engine room as part of the ship’s construction.

Meanwhile, Langkawi local Nor Adifa Farain expressed that she doesn’t mind working in cramped spaces and hot conditions.

A graduate with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Arau, Perlis, she said her deep interest in welding motivates her to overcome the challenges.

“As a local, I feel proud that there is an engineering company with the expertise to build boats and ships in Langkawi, which can also build military patrol vessels for foreign countries,” she said.

Nor Adifa Farain added that she intends to continue her studies to fulfil her dream of becoming an underwater welder one day.

According to the company’s welding supervisor, Sazali Rais Moh, 50, there are no issues for women to enter this field as women are capable of doing the same work as men.

“The only difference is that these young women do not have experience yet, and we teach them from scratch until they acquire the skills for welding. The work of these women is very satisfying and now on par with male welders,” he said.

Langkawi District Officer Mohamad Subhi Abdullah congratulated KN Aluminium & Engineering Sdn Bhd and Northern Shipyard Sdn Bhd for successfully completing the Nigerian navy patrol vessel construction within 24 months.

“The construction of this vessel employed the expertise of 85 locals, including four courageous young women,” he said during the handover ceremony of the Nigerian navy’s 38M Sea Eagle patrol vessel on Tuesday (Aug 13), which was also attended by Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.