Boustead Signs MoU With SMP, EES To Enhance Submarine Rescue And Naval MRO Capabilities    

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Boustead Holdings Berhad (Boustead) today signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Submarine Manufacturing & Products Limited (SMP) and Malaysian engineering firm ENRA Energy Solutions Sdn Bhd (EES) to enhance its submarine rescue and naval maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities.

Boustead, in a statement today, said the MoU with SMP, a United Kingdom-based subsea engineering company specialising in submarine, reflects both parties’ intention to explore opportunities in the development of submarine rescue systems, leveraging SMP’s expertise and Boustead’s role in facilitating defence-related initiatives within Malaysia.

Under the MoU, Boustead will provide strategic leadership and governance support, facilitate engagement with defence-related stakeholders and government-linked entities, and support project structuring, financing and long-term sustainability.

Both parties will also explore operational collaboration, project management and capability development within the defence sector.

The second MoU with EES, a Malaysian public-listed company involved in energy logistics, property development and MRO services, focuses on joint exploration of MRO services for naval propulsion and power generation systems, as well as lifecycle support for vessels operated by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).

Through the MoU, both parties will collaborate on targeted naval projects, including joint participation in tenders, sharing of technical expertise and coordinated business development efforts.

Boustead and EES will also explore the development of codification capabilities, including parts identification, standardisation and logistics support frameworks.

The MoUs were signed by Boustead Group managing director Datuk Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, SMP managing director Ben Sharples and EES chief executive officer Ikhlas Zainal at the Defence Services Asia Exhibition and Conference 2026 (DSA 2026) here.

The signing was witnessed by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, LTAT chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Azizan Ariffin, LTAT chief executive Mohammad Ashraf Md Radzi, Boustead chairman General (Rtd) Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Zainal, SMP Regional Sales Lead Christopher Webb, ENRA Group Berhad president & Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Kamaluddin Abdullah and ENRA Group Berhad chairman Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir.

The MoUs serve as non-binding frameworks for collaboration and do not create financial obligations at this stage, with specific initiatives and the proposed investment to be formalised through separate definitive agreements.

Ahmad Sabirin, in the same statement, said these collaborations reflect the group’s focus on strengthening Malaysia's maritime defence ecosystem.

“From submarine rescue systems to naval maintenance, repair and overhaul services, we are committed to building partnerships that enhance operational readiness, resilience and long-term sustainability,” he said.

-- BERNAMA