The Open Ship Days on board Research Vessel Tan Kah Kee (R/V TKK) was successfully held at Boustead Cruise Center, Port Klang, Malaysia on 17 & 18 August. Organized by Xiamen University (XMU), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) and China-ASEAN College of Marine Sciences (CAMS), this is the first time that a Chinese scientific research vessel opens to the Malaysian public free of charge. After a week of online registration, the open day event has attracted about 1,000 participants from all walks of life, including teachers and students from many universities, middle schools and primary schools in Malaysia.

Research Vessel Tan Kah Kee docked at Boustead Cruise Center, Port Klang (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

The open ship day event opened to the public free of charge (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

The open ship day event lasted from 10am to 5pm for 2 days. More than 100 volunteers, mainly consisting of university faculty and staff members and students, guided the visitors to tour the research vessel. Visitors were able to explore this cutting-edge research ship and to participate in a series of exciting exhibitions, video playback and interactive activities. Laboratories and specially designed interactive booths covering a wide range of ocean science and marine environmental topics were also opened to the public. The event received great acclaim from the participants.

Visitors explored the ocean floor using Virtual Reality equipment (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

Visitors explored marine organism using microscope under the guidance of XMU Prof. Steinke (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

The open ship day event also received the active participation of University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and University of Delaware (UD), US. The event not only aims at improving public’s understanding of oceans, increasing people’s awareness of marine environmental protection, and pushing forward the development of marine sciences research and education, but also intends to facilitate the cooperation in marine science research among universities and research institutions in Malaysia and encourage academic exchanges in the fields of science and culture between Malaysia and China.

R/V TKK is an advanced general-purpose research vessel equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments dedicated to ocean exploration, research and education. Described as “clean, quiet, multidisciplinary and green”, this 77-meter vessel has carried out over 20 scientific cruises to different parts of the ocean since it was officially put into service in 2017. This visit to Malaysia is the first time that R/V TKK has been docked at ports outside China.

Student volunteer introduced research equipment to visitors (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

After a 12-day maritime scientific expedition, R/V TKK arrived at Port Klang in evening of 15 August. This visit by R/V TKK to Malaysia is part of the 2nd “XMU at Sea” project. During this project, R/V TKK first set sail from Xiamen to Sanya, then voyaged from Sanya to Klang, before embarking on the journey from Klang back to Xiamen.

Captain introduced the vessel navigation system to visitors (photo courtesy of Mr. Yang Weidi, XMU)

Supported by the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund and located at XMUM, CAMS is the first overseas college of marine sciences to be established by a Chinese university. It currently offers two undergraduate programmes, i.e. Marine Biotechnology and Marine Environmental Chemistry, with master’s and doctoral programmes under preparation and scheduled to be offered soon. It aims to facilitate cooperative relationships between China and ASEAN countries through advanced teaching and research in marine sciences and strives to become an internationally influential center for marine education, personnel training, scientific and technological innovation, and cooperation.

After the completion of the open ship days event, R/V TKK will sail from Malaysia on 19 August, carrying onboard 26 students and 6 lecturers from XMU, XMUM, UM, UPM, UMS and UD to conduct scientific investigations during the voyage from Port Klang to Xiamen.

In the future, R/V TKK will continue to play an important role in linking together XMU main campus and CAMS, undertaking multi-disciplinary maritime comprehensive investigation tasks, and conducting marine scientific research and teaching voyages.

-- XMUM news: http://www.xmu.edu.my/2019/0820/c16257a375307/page.htm?from=timeline