Abdulelah Abdullah

M5-05-235, Melana Apartments, Skudai, Johor

abdulelah.mec@gmail.com
+601139767559
Respected EMSHIP Selection Committee:
Back in high school, I worked hard aiming to graduate with a good score to study abroad with a scholarship.
I wanted to gain the best education which will enable me to give back to society. Despite the difficult
situation in Yemen and the many obstacles, I managed to get a seat to study in one of Malaysia’s top leading
engineering universities. I have always wanted to become an engineer to help advance the engineering
infrastructure, lifestyle, and wellbeing of people. As a child, I was fond of cars, ships, and engines and that
is the reason I pursed my degree in Mechanical Engineering. As a soon-to-be graduate, I feel proud that I
have succeeded on the first step towards becoming a competent engineer. Being an intern in a shipyard
opened up new possibilities for me. I realized the growing potential of marine sector in the near future,
hence, driving me to pursue a master’s degree in ship design and marine engineering. It is my utmost desire
to be an integral part of the academic and industrial marine sector, where I can conduct research and apply
state-of-the-art technologies for marine applications.
Throughout my four years of study at UTM, I have acquired extensive exposure and rich understanding of
mechanical engineering courses. By learning engineering mechanics (statics and dynamics), I started to
observe every structure around me and evaluate its design aspects from external forces and internal stresses
to material properties. Studying solid mechanics, for instance, has opened my eyes on how materials behave
under different types of loading and how much stress it can withstand before failing. In component design
course, I was able to extend these mechanics fundamentals on designing different mechanical components
including gears, bearings, bolts, welding joints and belts against static and fatigue failures. Fluid mechanics
was no exception, I have learned how to deal with fluids as a potential load carrier to underwater structures
and dams as well as a driving force to generate power through turbines and pumps. These courses were the
reason behind my passion to continue my journey in Applied Mechanics and Design and to take related
online and final year elective courses.
A year ago, I became an intern at OMAHAMS Corp. – a key industry player in the Marine sector. I was
given the opportunity to work under several professional engineers and project managers. This helped me
to translate what I have learned in the classroom and put it into practice. I worked on their latest project -
repair/refitting work of a navy warship. The warship was undergoing several repair processes including
mechanical, outfitting, electrical and electronics which allowed me to gain a rich hands-on experience. I
closely monitored the installation of new engines, gearboxes, generators, and newly requested fresh water
and fuel tanks. Also, replating and repainting underwater hull, and joints welding. Moreover, I was exposed
to several mechanical processes including shaft and propeller blue fit test, shaft alignment (Piano Wire),
boring, and installation of bearings, shafts, propellers, and rudders. I have also been introduced to the
working mechanisms of all piping systems onboard the warship that includes fuel oil, lubricant oil, sea
water cooling, chilled fresh and sea water, domestic fresh and sea water, bilges, fire main, hydraulic steering
gear, sewage and drainage piping systems. Working at OMAHAMS was really an eye-opening adventure.
I started my training with zero knowledge in the marine sector, but I left with a rewarding experience.
After my internship, I went again to the classrooms for my Final Year Project (FYP). Excelling at the
mechanics-related courses had laid the path for me to choose Applied Mechanics and Design as the
governing filed of my FYP. Mechanics for me was challenging, yet it was logical to understand, visualize
and comprehend. After discussing the research projects with my professors, I was assigned to a state-of-
the-art topic and work with a PhD student on his thesis. My project’s title was “Mode I interlaminar fracture
Abdulelah Abdullah | Letter of Motivation

toughness of carbon fiber/epoxy filled with carbon nanotubes.” The scope of my FYP was wide for
undergraduate projects, but this had propelled me to read more and understand research work in depth. I
got a rich hands-on experience all the way from manufacturing the composite samples to preparing them
for testing, that includes 3D modeling, drilling, sheet shearing, adhesive bonding and tensile testing.
Working in a research team and having a constrained timeline has driven me to finish my experiments
earlier than most of my peers. Interacting with postgraduate students for one year has broadened my views
on research work. This has led me to start working on a review paper with several colleagues on the effect
of nanomaterials in enhancing toughness and strength of composite materials. The review paper is currently
in its last stages before submitting to a publishing journal. Besides that, I am also working to publish my
experimental paper in collaboration with the research team. While working on my FYP, I realized the
potential of composite materials, which can be used as advanced load carrying structures for ships, aircrafts,
and automotive vehicles. These light yet strong materials have superior mechanical properties making them
excellent candidates for heavy and high temperature applications. However, there are some drawbacks that
researchers are currently trying to overcome by incorporating nanomaterials as nano reinforcements
tougheners.
There are three major reasons I am applying to your master’s program. First, the study program is revolved
around ship design and marine structures which is aligned with my academic ambitions and internship
experience. Second, it will allow me to extend the knowledge I acquired in my degree such as Solid
Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Fracture Mechanics (FYP). I believe learning courses such as Ship
Technology, Ship Structure and Hydrodynamics would allow me to harvest what I have started in my
bachelor journey. Third, it offers great research and internship opportunities under the supervision of some
prominent professionals and researchers. For example, Nantes (ICAM, France) - one of EMSHIP partners
(3rd mobility) - that specializes in Composites Materials & Design of Offshore wind turbines has captured
my interests since it is closely related to my FYP. It is my desire to work with such experts and to complete
my master’s thesis under the supervision of well-known professors.
Ultimately, I yearn to carry my aspirations for ship design and marine engineering and foster it by
combining lab and site work towards a series of possible breakthroughs. When I did my internship at the
shipyard, I was so fascinated with how they design, build, and repair the vessels. I was overwhelmed with
how engineers can produce such remarkable and huge ships. I perceive EMSHIP as the perfect opportunity
for me to be part of the development of this intriguing field. I cannot wait to be surrounded by accomplished
professors and keen students in a diverse learning environment. I am confident that my aspirations in
offshore engineering and ship design will be well-addressed by EMSHIP. With your consideration, I believe
that the EMSHIP scholarship will be my gate to a promising and rewarding career.

Sincerely,
Abdulelah Abdullah

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