I didn't want to look back when I was older and think: "What if I had started on my own?", says the ever smiling Singaporean.
Ronnie Tay's story is one of both coincidence, opportunity and persistence. His journey as a service man started when he studied shipbuilding in technical school. But the mid-80s job market was tough. No shipyards were hiring, so he adapted by working in factories and later shifted to hydraulics.
– That's when I first heard of Brunvoll,through a colleague on a ship with their components.
In 1991, he finally got his first job as a service engineer at Far East Offshore.
– That's where it all truly began. With companies flocking to Asia, I finally worked directly with Brunvoll, first through Far East, then with Scana Singapore, the official agent until 2003, Tay shares.
In 2003, Scana Singapore closed its doors, and Ronnie Tay faced a crucial choice: Move on or launch his own venture.
– I had other opportunities, you know. But I wanted to try building my own company. If it didn't work, I could always rely on my skillset, he recalls.
That year, he founded Scanvik Marine Services. Despite limited newbuilding activity, Singapore's bustling service market became Scanvik's foundation. Many ships dock here for service.
Fitting, for a service man like Ronnie.
– In the early years, I handled much of the servicing myself. This hands-on experience made selling Brunvoll easier, as I truly understood the products. And with my contact network across Southeast Asia, Brunvoll and Scanvik became a perfect match!
The partnership between Brunvoll and Scanvik has been rewarding both ways, and is a testament to the power of collaboration.
– Brunvoll is a major player in Norway, which means we get a lot of referrals from people wanting to work with such a big name. Combined with our extensive network, it's a perfect match. It's a classic case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. One plus one equals three.
Kjetil Hovde, head of after-sales services at Brunvoll, praises Scanvik and Ronnie for their role in the region:
– They've been crucial in building and maintaining long-term relationships with shipowners, yards, and partners across Southeast Asia. Partnership at its best is about more than deliveries. It is about protecting the customer experience, especially when time is critical. Scanvik has done that, year after year, he remarks.
– Singapore is a very critical service market because of its geographical location. It is also known for both efficient and high quality service, says Ronnie Tay.
In Scanvik, Ronnie Tay has built a company with a strong culture and togetherness.
– My core principle is that I want to contribute to flattening the differences between the workers and the owners in society. So I pay people fair wages, and I share the company profits, he explains.
A living proof is his service manager.
– I hired him in 2004, and he's still with me today. Actually, most of my guys have been with me for more than 15 years.
These days, Ronnie isn't quite stepping down, but is definitely slowing down. He's still servicing and getting his hands dirty, but also enjoying life – cooking, playing golf and traveling. He's passionate about long hikes, like "El Camino" in Spain, aiming to complete all 700 kilometers.
– Nobody looks back on their life and wished they had worked more, and no one regrets spending time doing what they like, with the people they love.
Beyond this, Ronnie is dedicated to giving back. For over ten years, he's supported charitable work in Cambodia, providing food, medical care and support to villages, often cooking for the community himself.
– I started from zero myself, so I want to give back to the less fortunate. To give them the same opportunities that I got, he says.
To ensure continuity, Ronnie planned his succession early. Three and a half years ago, he brought in Michael Cheng, a long‑time acquaintance from the shipyard industry.
– Michael has brought something new to Scanvik, expanding our focus further into the newbuilding market while maintaining our strong service foundation. He's doing a terrific job.
Ronnie plans to step back completely by the end of 2027, he explains calmly:
– It's Michael's time now.
Service man and founder of Scanvik Marine Services in Singapore.
Ronnie Tay has been a Brunvoll agent for 35 years, since 2003 under his own company, Scanvik Marine Service. SMS is based in Singapore, but covers the whole of Southeast Asia.
