KOTA KINABALU: Maritime security at the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone) will receive a boost when the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's (MMEA) latest asset – KM Kota Belud – begins operations in Sandakan waters on Feb 15.
The 45 metre-long high-tech patrol vessel – which can sail for up to 2,000 nautical miles – is equipped with an infrared system, a range of sophisticated weapons, and is capable of detecting movement as far away as 185km.
KM Kota Belud commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Mohd Hafidz Mohd Tajuddin said the ship also features Turkish artillery which is fully controlled from the vessel, an unmanned aerial vehicle, and high-powered boats, among others.
"These (assets) are suitable for our operational duties in Sandakan. I believe (KM Kota Belud) will be able to assist other existing vessels owned by MMEA and other enforcement agencies in (eastern Sabah)," he told reporters at the Maritime Open Day event at the Kota Kinabalu Ports here today.
The new vessel, which will be manned by 25 crew members, will be stationed within the 17th Maritime District, which comprises an area stretching from Langkayan to Dent Haven in Lahad Datu.
Mohd Hafidz said he had undergone a four-month long training course at Port Klang to learn and master all the systems on board KM Kota Belud.
The locally-assembled ship is among six which were built or are in the process of being built as additions to MMEA's existing assets, and was officiated last year during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) exhibition.