On July 9, 2025, Türkiye’s Desan Shipyard held a steel-cutting ceremony in Istanbul for the Multi-Purpose Mission Ship being built for the Malaysian Coast Guard.
The steel-cutting ceremony marks the official start of construction for the Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS), which is scheduled to be delivered in 2027 to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the official name of Malaysia’s Coast Guard.
The project follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Türkiye’s Desan Shipyard in February 2025. Desan has now commenced construction just five months after the initial agreement, signaling steady progress on the program.
“Today, we have officially begun the shipbuilding process together. As DESAN, we are excited and proud. This project will be a significant reflection of Türkiye’s capabilities in the maritime and defense industries. With its features, the ship will provide new capacity and capabilities to the Malaysian Coast Guard. At the same time, it will deepen the constructive and long-term cooperation between the two countries. We are proud that solutions developed in Türkiye are being preferred internationally, and that we are contributing to this success.”
Cenk İsmail Kaptanoğlu, Chairman of the Board of DESAN Kaptanoğlu Shipyard
The project will be certified by Türk Loydu and involves leading companies of the Turkish defense industry, including ASELSAN and HAVELSAN. The vessel will be equipped with high-tech components such as advanced weapon systems, electronic and communication infrastructures, and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles.
The 99 meter long Multi Purpose Mission Ship will have a crew of 70 with room for an additional 30 passengers. It will be capable of operating at sea for up to 30 days, and will be equipped with four fast interceptor craft, and two unmanned aerial vehicles in addition to a helicopter deck, medical facilities and a detention facility onboard.
The Multi Purpose Mission Ship will be primarily used for patrols in the South China Sea, with missions including responding to intrusions by foreign ships, illegal fishing, and transnational crimes like smuggling and human trafficking.
