Melaka’s new RM1.8bil shipyard to be named after navigator Panglima Awang

MELAKA: A RM1.8bil modern shipyard to be developed here will be named after Panglima Awang, also known as “Enrique de Malacca”, the famed navigator believed to have circumnavigated the globe in the 1500s, under a strategic collaboration with Turkiye.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said he lobbied for the shipyard to be named after the famed “Melaka boy” after accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on a three-day official visit to Turkiye to further strengthen long-standing bilateral ties between the two countries.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, was visiting the country until Jan 8 at the invitation of Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ab Rauf said the state has strengthened its position as a regional maritime hub following an official visit to Desan Shipyard in Istanbul to finalise a strategic collaboration for the Enrique of Malacca Shipyard project. He said the modern shipyard will be developed within the Straits of Malacca Waterfront Economic Zone (SM-WEZ).

The Melaka Government will sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Thursday (Jan 8) for the implementation of the strategic project.

“The Enrique of Malacca Shipyard project will not only strengthen the state’s maritime industrial capacity but also revive our maritime legacy on the international stage through global technological collaboration and expertise,” he said in a statement to The Star on Thursday (Jan 8).

Ab Rauf said the project will be developed along the coastline with direct access to one of the world’s busiest international shipping routes, the Straits of Malacca. Inspired by Panglima Awang, the shipyard will blend maritime heritage with modern shipbuilding technology.

The project covers an area of approximately 9.43ha and will be implemented through a joint venture between SM-WEZ Corporation, the lead agency of the special economic zone, and Henry The Black Shipyard Sdn Bhd as the project developer, with strategic collaboration from Turkiye’s leading shipbuilding company, Desan Deniz.

With a construction period of two years, the Enrique of Malacca Shipyard is expected to commence operations in 2028 and serve as a key catalyst for the growth of the maritime industry in the Straits of Malacca and the wider Southeast Asian region.

Key components of the project include shipbuilding and ship repair, marine services, fabrication facilities and maritime tourism attractions.

The SM-WEZ is a special economic zone established under the Malacca Straits Waterfront Economic Zone Corporation Enactment 2021, encompassing about 3,642ha of reclaimed land along 33km of coastline.

“The zone is envisioned to develop a future maritime city comprising ports, cruise terminals and high-impact commercial developments,” he said.

The state government is confident the project will attract international investment, create high-skilled employment opportunities and further strengthen Melaka’s standing as a key player in the global maritime industry.