One survey ship falls short of mapping Malaysia's vast maritime domain [WATCH]

Only 63% of Malaysia's extensive maritime territory has been surveyed using modern high-density hydrographic standards, leaving 37% of the domain yet to reach this benchmark. Rear Admiral Dr Najhan Md Said, director-general of the National Hydrographic Centre (NHC), explained that surveying Malaysia's maritime domain is a massive undertaking.

Malaysia's maritime domain spans over 569,845 square kilometers, more than twice the size of its land mass. The transition to multi-beam echo sounders in 1998 marked a significant breakthrough in comprehensive, accurate, and high-resolution seabed mapping. However, the sole hydrographic survey vessel, KD Perantau, faces limitations in surveying the remaining 37% of the waters due to its age and capacity constraints.

The National Security Council (NSC) has introduced a three-year strategic outsourcing program, allocating RM30 million annually to lease commercial hydrographic survey ships to meet the demand. This outsourcing has doubled the surveying pace, bringing modern coverage to 63%. Despite this progress, naval survey vessels are still required for national security reasons.

Hydrographic surveys are crucial for navigation, economic security, and maritime sovereignty, contributing significantly to Malaysia's economy through its "Blue Economy," accounting for 21.3% of the national GDP. Accurate nautical charts help authorities detect changes in seabed depth and identify underwater hazards, ensuring safe and efficient maritime trade.