KOTA KINABALU: The state Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s (MMEA) latest asset, KM Kota Belud, will arrive here tomorrow, ready for public viewing on the Agency’s Open Ship Day on Sunday.
The new generation patrol vessel will arrive here after sailing for four days from Klang Port, and will be showcased to the public at Sabah Port, along with KM Arau as part of MMEA’s 13th anniversary.
The locally-assembled ship is among the six built or being built to add to MMEA’s existing assets, and was officiated last year in Pulau Langkawi during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition.
“It will be placed at Sandakan maritime district for the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone),” said Sabah and Labuan regional maritime director Rear Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som in a statement here.
He said KM Kota Belud which was 45-metres in length, could sail up to 2,000 nautical miles.
Meanwhile, on the other five new generation patrol vessels, KM Kota Kinabalu will be placed at Kota Kinabalu maritime district and KM Lahad Datu will be placed in Tawau maritime district.
KM Bagan Datuk has been stationed at the Klang maritime district, KM Sri Aman in Kuching and KM Tok Bali in Tok Bali.
All these will ensure more efficient and dynamic operations, Mohd Zubil added.