Looking To The High Seas Again
By Ignatius Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - One of Brunei's often-quoted legends describes the country's most illustrious ruler of a bygone era, Sultan Bolkiah (1485 to 1524AD), known in the history books as Nakhoda Ragam (the Singing Captain).

Sailing the seas taking a -gallon measure of black pepper and scattering a grain at every place in his far-flung domain, this historical figure of Brunei's golden age was in the habit of sailing the high seas taking his royal musicians and his court with him as he visited his territories.

That was the indication that Brunei had once been a powerful seafaring nation of note, with Sultan Bolkiah holding sway over almost all the coastal kingdoms of Borneo and a good part of the Philippines.

However, Brunei's naval might shrank with the passing centuries, and so did its territorial size. Brunei does not sail the high seas to that measure any longer.

But wait a minute. The nation's interest in all things marine is gaining second wind. It comes in the shape of a thriving local boat-building effort, and in the forefront of this growing industry is a company headed by an enterprising Brunei resident, Mr Tan Soo Yong, who is sailing high in the business.

So much has been achieved by Mr Tan that Brunei boats are now being exported worldwide for the first time. This week a Brunei-made pleasure craft was shipped off to Australia.

"Besides the local market. our boats are being sent to international markets like Malaysia, Australia and Europe. in a couple of years we will export our pleasure craft to New Zealand and perhaps even to the United States... who knows?" said Mr Tan, who is in his mid 40s.

Ken & Tan Sdn Bhd was established in August 1996 as a boat manufacturing company. Mr Tan Soo Yong, the Managing Director has 26 years experience in the boat building industry and has been leading the company for 1 l years.

From its humble beginnings in 1996 with only two workers, Ken & Tan Sdn Bhd now has 35 experienced company members comprising highly skilled and semiskilled workers such as boat-building specialists, mechanics, technicians, welder boat builders and fabricators.

The local firm first built small craft for local fishermen and for the many here who go pleasure boating in the weekends. Business grew rapidly since then. After 11 years in operation, Ken & Tan became the local market leader for the government and private sectors.

In 2006, Ken & Tan expanded the business with the purchase of a B$500,000 new factory at Lot 37, Salar Industrial Estate, Jln Muara, and a new showroom at No.10, Lot 3, Muara Town, selling outboard engines, spare parts, upholstery, fishing equipment and other gear. At the same time the company is maintaining its original factory at Kapok and as well as the original showroom.

"The company has moved from being the local market leader to one that has penetrated the international market," said Mr Tan.

A typical K&T Boat - an 18-foot fishing/leisure craft the kind Mr Tan recently exported to Parker Ribs, Channel Islands in the UK - costs about B$30,000 in Brunei. "More orders are coming in," he added.

"My secrets of success include a superior product and reliable delivery schedule," said Mr Tan, who starts work at 7am everyday.

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