Xiamen University's Research Vessel Tan Kah Kee back on second visit

KLANG, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Xiamen University’s Research Vessel (R/V) Tan Kah Kee, docked at the Port Klang Cruise Terminal yesterday for a three-day Public Open Day until Aug 4.

R/V Tan Kah Kee’s inaugural visit to Malaysia was in 2019.   

Science Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said the event, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, demonstrated strong commitment from both nations to mutually advance their ties. 

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"Over the past 50 years we have treated each other with sincerity, working together harmoniously in pursuing mutual development, achieving fruitful results," he said in his speech welcoming R/V Tan Kah Kee.

Also present were Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, deputy director of the Council of Xiamen University cum academician of Chinese Academy Prof Dr. Dai Minhan, and Tan Kah Kee Foundation Malaysia chairman Datuk Tan Yew Sing. 

In addition to the fully booked open day, which has attracted over 1,000 visitors, the vessel will also host students and lecturers from Xiamen University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu on a training cruise to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Xiamen University in China.

R/V Tan Kah Kee is a state-of-the-art 3600-ton oceanographic research vessel equipped with advanced marine science exploration tools and serves as Xiamen University’s ‘Marine Campus’. 

The vessel is equipped to perform real-time observations and on-site scientific experiments across a range of disciplines, including hydrology, chemistry, biology, geology, and geophysics. 

Construction of the vessel started in March 2015 and it was launched and named in May 2016, before being commissioned in April 2017.

-- BERNAMA