KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is strengthening its role in global seabed mapping by hosting an international meeting and data sprint. The event brings together experts from 33 countries to advance ocean mapping and data sharing.

Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Dr Zulhelmy Ithnain officiated at the opening of the Seabed 2030 Indo-Pacific Ocean Mapping Meeting and Data Sprint 2026 here.

The event saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the Melaka and Singapore Straits Electronic Navigational Charts and a Seabed 2030 data-sharing agreement.

The signatories included National Hydrographic Centre director-general Rear Admiral Dr Najhan Md Said, Indonesian Navy Hydro-Oceanographic Centre (Pushidrosal) Commodore Edward Halomoan Sibuea and Japan Hydrographic Association representative Dr Masayuki Fujita. A representative of Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority and Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project director Jamie McMichael-Phillips also signed the agreements.