Malaysian fleet strengthened with a multifunctional unit under construction in Turkey
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) celebrated the keel laying in Turkey for its future largest vessel, a 99-meter-long multi-purpose mission ship (MPMS). The ceremony follows the first steel cutting that took place last month, while the delivery of the unit is expected in 2027.
The construction, entrusted to the Desan shipyard, also involves Turkish defense companies such as Aselsan and Havelsan, tasked with installing advanced armament, communication, and detection systems. The vessel will be capable of operating on the high seas for 28 days without resupply, with a capacity for 70 crew members and 30 additional passengers. It will be equipped with two drones, four fast boats, a helicopter platform, and detention compartments.
According to the MMEA, the unit will be assigned to surveil the Malaysian exclusive economic zone, particularly in the South China Sea, a theater in recent years of illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers, often related to sanctioned cargoes from Russia and Iran.
Malaysian authorities have already introduced new regulations to counter these activities, such as the closure of the TompokUtara anchorage area near the Singapore Strait. However, the agency has emphasized the need to enhance operational and patrol capabilities.
In 2023, the MMEA received a budget of 159 million dollars to strengthen the fleet: 82 million were allocated specifically to the MPMS, while another 37 million financed the purchase of two new next-generation patrol boats.
