MELAKA: A RM1.8bil modern shipyard to be developed here in collaboration with Turkiye will be named after Panglima Awang, also known as “Enrique de Malacca”, the famed navigator believed to have circumnavigated the globe in the 1500s.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said he had lobbied for the shipyard to be named after the famed “Melaka boy”.
Ab Rauf said the state has strengthened its position as a regional maritime hub following an official visit to Desan Shipyard in Istanbul to finalise a strategic collaboration for the Enrique of Malacca Shipyard project.
He said the modern shipyard will be developed within the Straits of Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone (SM-WEZ).
“The Enrique of Malacca Shipyard project will not only strengthen the state’s maritime industrial capacity but also revive our maritime legacy on the international stage through global technological collaboration and expertise,” he told The Star.
Ab Rauf said the project will be developed along the coastline with direct access to one of the world’s busiest international shipping routes, the Malacca Strait.
Inspired by Panglima Awang, he said the shipyard will blend maritime heritage with modern shipbuilding technology.
He said the project covers approximately 9.43ha and will be implemented through a joint venture between SM-WEZ Corporation, the lead agency of the special economic zone and Henry The Black Shipyard Sdn Bhd as the project developer, with strategic collaboration from Turkiye’s leading ship- building company, Desan Deniz, which has 47 years of indus- try experience.
“With a construction period of two years, the Enrique of Malacca Shipyard is expected to commence operations in 2028, and serve as a key catalyst for the growth of the maritime industry in the Straits of Malacca and the wider South-East Asian region,” he said.
Ab Rauf highlighted that the key components of the project include shipbuilding and ship repair, marine services, fabrication facilities and maritime tourism attractions.
He said the SM-WEZ is a special economic zone established under the SM-WEZ Corporation Enactment 2021, encompassing approximately 3,642ha of reclaimed land along 33km of coastline.
“The zone is envisioned to develop a future maritime city comprising ports, cruise terminals and high-impact commercial developments,” he said.
The state government is confident the project will attract international investment, create high-skilled job opportunities and strengthen the state’s standing as a key player in the global maritime industry, he added.
