Malaysia approves two new survey boats to accelerate seabed charting

At a press briefing following the launch of the Seabed 2030 programme, Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain announced that the 2027 Budget includes funding for two survey motor launches to be added to the National Hydrographic Centre's fleet. The centre presently operates only one dedicated hydrographic vessel, KD Perantau, which limits its ability to cover Malaysia's extensive maritime domain. The smaller boats will target shallow coastal waters, while deeper and open-water surveys will continue with KD Perantau and chartered ships.

Zulhelmy noted that chartered vessels would still be needed to meet the ambitious target of completing full seabed mapping before 2050. Rear Admiral Najhan Md Said previously highlighted that only 63 % of the country's waters meet modern hydrographic standards, leaving a significant gap to address.