DESAN’s First Overseas Shipyard Investment in Malaysia
Turkish shipbuilding company DESAN has signed a joint venture agreement to establish a shipyard on a 171-acre site in Malaysia’s Malacca State.
Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with the facility expected to become operational within approximately two years.
The project will be developed under the Straits of Melaka Waterfront Economic Zone (SM-WEZ) and marks DESAN’s first shipyard investment abroad. The new facility will focus on military and commercial shipbuilding, as well as maintenance, repair, and modernization activities.
Engineering works have already commenced, and ground surveys have been completed. Once operational, the shipyard is expected to make significant contributions to the regional maritime industry.
DESAN Chairman Cenk İsmail Kaptanoğlu emphasized that the project will strengthen defense and maritime cooperation between Turkey and Malaysia, creating a long-term industrial partnership based on knowledge and technology transfer.
