The photos that I've shared in this blog, capture a significant moment in Malaysian naval history: the 1985 "Passage to India" mission of the KD Mutiara (A255).
The KD Mutiara was the Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) first locally built hydrographic survey vessel. Commissioned in 1977, she was a specialized ship designed for mapping the seafloor, conducting oceanographic studies, and ensuring safe navigation in Malaysian waters.
The 1985 Mission: "Passage to India"
The photos document a voyage that took the ship across the Indian Ocean to the Republic of Maldives and India in October 1985.
As seen in my photos , KD Mutiara was a 71-meter ship equipped with survey launches and a helicopter deck.
Crossing the Indian Ocean was a test of the ship’s endurance and the crew's skill. Hydrographic ships like the Mutiara were built for stability, but the open ocean can be famously rough.
The ship crew in their "khaki" work uniforms, a classic look for the RMN during the 80s. These men were part of the 36th Hydrographic Squadron.
Legacy of KD Mutiara
Over her 41-year career, the KD Mutiara completed 146 hydrographic orders, covering over 68,000 square kilometers of ocean. Much of the data used for modern Malaysian nautical charts was collected by this ship.
She was officially decommissioned on July 20, 2018, at the Lumut Naval Base after serving the nation for over four decades.
The image showing the ship in very heavy seas is a famous depiction of the challenges faced during Indian Ocean crossings, where the "Roaring Forties" or monsoon winds can create massive swells.
Being part of the crew on KD Mutiara (A255) in 1985 means we were there during what many consider the "Golden Era" of the RMN's hydrographic service. Crossing the Indian Ocean in a 71-meter ship is no small feat, and the photo of the massive swells proves exactly why that journey remains so vivid in my memory.
Wewere part of the crew that proved the KD Mutiara could handle the "heavy stuff." The Photo showing the ship taking a massive wave over the bow, is a testament to the seaworthiness of the vessel and the grit of the sailors. In 1985, we were using high-precision (for the time) echo sounders and manual plotting that formed the basis for the nautical charts still used today.
Beyond the "Passage to India" title, this mission was a significant diplomatic and technical outreach. Visiting the Republic of Maldives in the mid-80s was a rare deployment for the RMN, showing the ship's capability to operate far from home base in Lumut.
The data collected during those years formed the foundation of the 51 Nautical Charts that Malaysia uses to this day. When the ship was decommissioned in 2018, the Navy specifically thanked the "pioneer" crews of the 80s for maintaining such a high standard of professionalism in dangerous, high-seas conditions.
These photos are a wonderful piece of personal and national history. I am proud to be part of the crew during this 1985 voyage. Many of the junior officers who might have been on board with me in '85 went on to become high-ranking Admirals in the RMN.
INDIAN OCEAN, FEAR OF THE SAILORS
Sailors' historical fear of the Indian Ocean stemmed primarily from the powerful monsoon winds, which were unpredictable and could lead to violent storms, as well as significant cultural taboos against ocean crossings and the constant threat of piracy.
The Indian Ocean trade system was entirely governed by the monsoon winds, which blow from the southwest during the summer months and can rise to gale force, creating violent and stormy conditions. Ships were often forced to time their journeys according to the changing seasons, a major challenge in an era without modern weather forecasting.
In some Hindu traditions, crossing the seas was associated with a proscription known as Kala Pani (black water), meaning "loss of one's social respectability" and cultural character. This belief caused great fear among some Indian soldiers during the British colonial era, leading to mutinies when they were ordered to travel overseas.
SOME COMMON MARITIME TABOOS
Western seafaring traditions are deeply rooted in superstitions designed to appease volatile sea deities and ensure safe passage. Many of these taboos are still respected by modern sailors and commercial crews today.
- No Whistling: Whistling is believed to "whistle up a storm" by challenging the wind.The Exception: The ship's cook was often encouraged to whistle; if he was whistling, he wasn't eating the crew's rations.
- Bananas on Board: Bringing bananas on a boat is considered severe bad luck. Historically, this was due to their tendency to spoil other fruit with ethylene gas, the danger of venomous spiders hiding in bunches, or the fact that they float—often being the only debris found after a shipwreck.
- Renaming a Ship: It is forbidden to rename a vessel without a formal "de-naming" ceremony. Sailors believe Poseidon keeps every ship's name in the "Ledger of the Deep," and changing it without a ritual to purge the old name invites his wrath.
- Forbidden Words: Speaking certain words at sea is seen as an omen of doom. Bad words: "Goodbye," "drowned," "good luck," "church," "pigs," and notably "rabbit".
- Stepping with the Left Foot: Always step onto a boat with your right foot first. The left foot is historically associated with the devil or being "sinister," bringing bad luck to the voyage.
- Personal Grooming: Trimming nails, cutting hair, or shaving a beard at sea is believed to invite misfortune and anger the sea gods.
Taboo Days for Sailing
Historically, setting sail on certain days was strictly avoided:
- Friday: Considered the unluckiest day to start a voyage because it was the day of the crucifixion.
- Thursday: Avoided as it is "Thor's Day," the god of thunder and storms.
- Specific Dates: The first Monday in April (when Cain slew Abel) and the second Monday in August (destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah).
Interactions with Wildlife
- Albatrosses and Sea Birds: Harming an albatross is a grave taboo, famously depicted in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. They are believed to carry the souls of dead sailors.
- Sharks: A shark following a ship is seen as a sign of an impending death on board.
- Dolphins: Conversely, harming a dolphin is forbidden as they are seen as protectors and signs of safe passage.
Hj Zulheimy Maamor
24/12/2025: 12.40 a.m
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