Malaysia Orders Sealegs Amphibious Craft

21 November 2009

Unique boat: Commandos carrying out a mock sea rescue operation at the Putrajaya Maritime Centre yesterday. (photo : Bernama)

Sealegs International said yesterday it had received an order from the Malaysian Government for one of its 6.1m amphibious marine craft.

The order has been placed by Malaysia's Fire and Rescue Department for evaluation and testing.

The order follows one for six Sealegs 6.1m rigid inflatable boats by the Italian Fire Department this year for use in flood-prone areas.

(NZHerald)

See Also :

Ministry Sets Eyes on ‘Sealegs’

Sealegs also used by Malaysia's Bomba (photo : Sealegs)

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will be the first nation in the world to own the “Amphibious Sealegs” – a high-tech boat functional both in water and on land – if the purchase receives the green light from the Government.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said its manufacturer wanted Malay-sia to be the first country to own the boat and to be the centre for its worldwide sales.

“The chief executive of Sealegs, New Zealander David McKee Wright, has Malaysia close at heart.

“His mother hails from Taiping, Perak, and the product is a sign of love and commitment towards his mother’s country.

“From my observation, the boat is suitable to be used not only by the navy’s elite squad but also by the other wings of the Armed Forces.

“I will ask for a special allocation to purchase the boat if the use of the ‘Amphibious Sealegs’ meet our needs, especially in helping to safeguard the sovereignty of our nation,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after witnessing a mock sea rescue operation at the Putrajaya Maritime centre yesterday, Ahmad Zahid said the “Amphibious Sealegs” would also be useful to other agencies, especially to carry out rescue and relief operations during floods.

The “Amphibious Sealegs” will be carrying out a four-day, 1,600km tour from Kelantan to Langkawi in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2009.

Wright said it took his company five years to create the RM360,000 boat, which is 7.1m in length and can seat eight people, adding that Malaysia was the first country which was introduced to the vessel.

“The ‘Amphibious Sealegs’ was created because of my love for the maritime industry. Malaysia was chosen to be the first country in the world to own the boat because of my background.

“It is not only the birth country of my mother, but I too, was born here,” Wright said.

(The Star)