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Exports of ships, boats (including hovercrafts) and floating structures in
2005 (January-November) recorded an increase of 66 per cent to RM2.1 billion
compared with the corresponding period in 2004.
During the same period the government approved five new shipyard projects
with investments totaling RM97.6 million.
All of these projects were Malaysian-owned and located in Sabah and Sarawak.
Of the five projects approved, one major project, with investments of RM70.1
million, proposed to undertake shipbuilding and ship repairing activities
and the manufacture of metal fabricated products, mainly for the oil and gas
industry.
Generally, the demand for boats and ships in Malaysia is based on
replacement of ships (scrapped due to age or damage), demand for new ships
on a jobbing basis, development of the oil and gas industry and the
requirements of the military and police.
Currently, there are six large shipyards involved in shipbuilding, ship
repairing and metal fabrication activities.
The companies are Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (formerly known as
Malaysia Shipyard and Engineering), PSC-Naval Dockyard, Sabah Shipyard,
Ramunia Shipyard, Sasacom and Muhibbah Marine Engineering.
The largest shipyard in Malaysia has the capability to build vessels up to
30,000 DWT (dead weight tonnes) with the installation of 70,000 DWT ship
lift facility and repair vessels of up to 400,000 DWT.
Meanwhile Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd entered into a joint
venture agreement with Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd to offer Liquefied
Natural Gas Carriers maintenance and refurbishment services including the
provision of LNGC technical solutions to all LNG shipowners.
The shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in Malaysia is one of the core
sectors in the marine transportation industry and has developed specialized
skills and technology capabilities in engineering design, metallurgy,
corrosion control, machining, welding and fabrication.
The industry includes the manufacture of ships, boats, patrol vessels,
barges, pleasure crafts, yachts, hydrofoils, hovercrafts and ship repairing
activities.
The shipbuilding and ship repairing industry in Malaysia is fragmented, with
the majority of companies being small-sized shipyards. |
