KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will receive two offshore patrol vessels from Japan early next year to further enhance the agency's operation capabilities.
Its Sabah and Labuan Region director Admiral (Maritime) Mohd Zubil Mat Som said the 90m long vessel named KM Arau would be placed in Kota Kinabalu while another one KM Pekan in Kuantan.
"The first vessel will arrive in January and to be followed by the second one later.
"I made to understand at a meeting recently that one of the vessels will be placed in Sabah region," he told reporters after the Sabah and Labuan Maritime Search and Rescue Operation Exercise (Sarex) here today.
He said both vessels had additional features, including longer sailing period capability and equipped with a helicopter hanger.
"I expect this vessel can sail for more than 30 days, can be at sea without fuel, communications and weather the rough seas of up to three to four metres," he said.
In another development, Zubil said MMEA proposed that the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry made it compulsory for boat operators to install the Automatic Detection System (AIS) and a radio system.
Both systems are important for security purposes in addition to facilitating search and rescue operations quickly in case of any untoward incidents at sea, he said.
(The Sun Daily)