KUALA LUMPUR: Admirals and representatives of 23 countries will attend the Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference 2018 here next week.
Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said the four-day event, which would start on April 16, would, among other things, give participating navies the opportunity to hold discussions.
He said RMN would exhibit its new initiatives, including an upgraded version of the K3M mobile application – K3M 2.0.
K3M, which stands for awareness, safety and community, was launched to boost safety at sea by shortening the response times of agencies such as the Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency,” he said.
“The Royal Brunei Navy has expressed its wish to launch a similar application,” he said after attending a “Fair Winds and Following Seas” ceremony which honoured 103 navy personnel who had retired since June last year or are about to retire at KD Sri Gombak here today.
“The new feature of K3M 2.0 is Sea Alert, which is web-based. As of now, coverage is limited to telecommunications, but Sea Alert will use satellite technology to channel information.
“Sea Alert is targeted at shipping companies and oil rigs.”
On a separate matter, Kamarulzaman said KD Hang Tuah, which had served the country for more than 50 years, would soon be transformed into a floating museum.
“RMN is in the final discussion stage to build an international navy museum in Bandar Lumut.
“The Perak government has agreed to allocate land in Lumut for the museum.
“KD Hang Tuah will moor beside the museum and function as a floating museum. The concept of HMS Belfast in England will be applied.”
He said RMN expected to implement the museum proposal in two years’ time, pending allocation from the authorities.
He said the museum would boost tourism in the northern states.