UMT | Portal Rasmi Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

UMT to build first Underwater Archaeology Training Centre

UMT to build first Underwater Archaeology Training Centre

Tuesday, 09/11/2021

Share This Article :

The Marine Nature Research Station of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) will become much more than just a platform for conducting marine-related research. The station will be transformed to become the first Underwater Archaeology Training Centre.

UMT Vice Chancellor announced the news during the ASEAN Underwater Mini Landmark Programme at Bidong Island.

He said that Bidong Island has its own historical values in that its waters were used as the main route by trade ships from different countries, with some of these ships having sunk since the 15the Century.

“UMT is grateful to the Ministry of Tourism, Art, and Culture (MOTAC) for choosing the waters of Bidong Island as the location to place the ASEAN (symbol of Unity) logo sculpture to turn into an artificial reef,” Professor Mazlan said.

“The selection of Bidong Island as the site for the ASEAN Underwater Mini Landmark Programme is befitting, as the place is home to natural and historical heritage as well as a shipwreck artifact. These become new attractions to tourists, and the place is suitable to be considered as an Underwater Archaeology Research Centre, which will be a training centre for ASEAN countries, and as Malaysian Marine Training Centre.

“The discovery of Bidong Shipwreck opened a new chapter in the history of shipwreck investigation in Malaysia. New information was sought regarding the number of sunken ships at the South China Sea, the causes of the sinking, the shipbuilding technology, and the ships’ operations.

“We hope that UMT’s initiative to set up the first Underwater Archaeology Training Centre will receive support from all parties.”

Professor Mazlan added that the training centre will also function as a recreational diving centre.

“The research centre that belongs to UMT is a popular site for recreational scuba diving. Various sculptures were placed in the waters around the island, and the area is known as Underwater Gallery. The Underwater Archaeology Training Centre will become another facility for the training of scuba diving at Bidong Island,” he said.

Professor Mazlan said that there will be many opportunities for collaborations between UMT researchers and those from ASEAN countries with the establishment of the Underwater Archaeology Training Centre.

“They may conduct studies on the cargo and artifacts found near the shipwreck to discover more about the heritage of the countries,” he said.

Among the sculptures and replicas bound to become the new attractions for scuba divers at Bidong Island are Sultan Haji Omar Mosque (Brunei), Independence Monument (Cambodia), National Monument (Indonesia), Patuxai Monument (Laos), Petronas Twin Tower, KLCC (Malaysia), Shwedagon Pagoda (Myanmar), Jose Rizal Monument (Philippines), Merlion (Singapore), Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan (Thailand), Tran Quoc Pagoda (Vietnam), and ASEC Arch/Monument (symbol of Unity) (ASEAN Secretariat).

 

Published by:
Corporate Communications Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu