This enables a warning to be communicated to the population well before the tsunami hits the coast. A number of automatic tidal stations will also be installed along the Malaysian coast to complement the newly installed buoy detection system.

Astronautic Technology Sdn Bhd, the appointed solution provider to the Malaysian Government, has been working closely with Fugro Oceanor, part of Fugro Global Environmental and Ocean Services (GEOS), in establishing the tsunami detection system. Fugro Oceanor has engineered, manufactured and implemented marine monitoring and surveillance systems for many years. Oceanor Seawatch buoy systems installed in the waters off countries such as Spain, Greece, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa and Peru have formed parts of the regional networks of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). This involvement was strengthened in 2004 when, with the assistance of Fugro Oceanor, the operators and owners of these Seawatch systems formed a forum called the Seawatch Partnership. For tsunami warning purposes, the current Seawatch system is easily upgraded, as will be the case off Malaysia.

MJ Information No: 21414