KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy has proposed acquiring two new hydrographic survey vessels under Budget 2027 to accelerate seabed mapping and bolster maritime security in national waters.
Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain said the additional Survey Motor Launch (SML) craft would expand survey coverage and fill critical gaps in seabed depth and topography data.
“Currently, we operate only one hydrographic survey vessel for seabed mapping, which makes covering the country’s entire maritime domain a challenge.
“With two additional SML craft, we hope to accelerate the mapping process and achieve full coverage by 2050,” he said after launching the Seabed 2030 Indo-Pacific Ocean Mapping Meeting and Data Sprint 2026 yesterday.
Adm Zulhelmy noted that while the acquisition was approved under the second rolling plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan, procurement has yet to commence.
Designed to navigate shallow coastal waters inaccessible to larger ships, SML vessels gather vital depth data to produce precise nautical charts for safe maritime operations.
Beyond defence readiness, the expanded fleet is expected to support maritime infrastructure development and sustainable marine resource management.
The three-day event, hosted by the National Hydrographic Centre (PHN), gathered 250 hydrographers, researchers, and maritime industry professionals from 33 countries.
In his opening address, Adm Zulhelmy emphasised the power of global synergy.
“This is a wonderful reflection of what international collaboration can achieve when an idea is supported by shared commitment, trust, and a willingness to work together.”
He said the conference provides a platform to exchange technical expertise and explore innovative mapping approaches.
PHN, Malaysia’s lead hydrographic agency and a member of the International Hydrographic Organisation since 1975, is supporting the global Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project.
Globally, only 28.7% of the ocean floor has been mapped to modern standards as of April this year, leaving 71.3% uncharted.
