SYNOPSIS

MMEA was formed as a result of a study undertaken by the Malaysian government in April 1999. The study revealed that enforcement was not effective because too many agencies were involved that resulted in overlapping functions, overlapping jurisdiction, and uneconomical use of resources. The MMEA began with the creation of a Nucleus team, tasked with making the necessary efforts in the establishment of the agency.

The technical visit will be at KM BAGAN DATUK that located at the National Hydrographic Center jetty owned by RMN. KM BAGAN DATUK is the first Malaysian New Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the New Generation Ronda (NGPC). The patrol boats are 45 meters wide and will be stationed at the Klang Maritime Area (DM4) in Port Klang, and will operate around the Straits of Melaka waters for search and rescue missions as well as monitoring the Malaysian maritime zone effectively. The ship was also the first to be equipped with the Fulmar UAV system from the Thales model, in which the ship crew could keep an air watch for 80 nautical miles. Fulmar UAVs are integrated with Automated Identification Systems (AIS) and capable of carrying ship duties such as piracy prevention operations, control of fishery activities and delineation surveillance. Equipped with two powerful MTU engines of 1,920 kilowatts (kW), the ship can reach 24 knots and can accommodate up to 41 crew members.