SHAH ALAM: Born Under A Bad Sign. When I planned to go to Lumut for the launch of the Maharaja Lela last week, I thought it was a good time to check out the Teguh Samudera, the second of two RMN training ships. The ship was laid up at the Grade One Marine shipyard near Lumut. If you may recall, RMN took delivery of Teguh’s sister ship, Gagah Samudera in late 2016.

Teguh in the meantime remained laid up at the shipyard where both ships were sent there in late 2015 for completion. And even though Gagah is already being used by RMN after completion and delivery, she has yet to be commission into service.

I had wanted to check out Teguh for myself as there was no official word on her fate apart from talk that Gagah commissioning will not be held until her sister ship was completed.

After taking pictures of Teguh, from outside the perimeter fencing of the shipyard, I assumed that she could delivered to the RMN anytime soon as most of the equipment on the deck – the 30mm gun, navigation radars, lights and other equipment – have been fitted. That said I must admit I have no idea whether the other equipment inside the hull have been fitted and ready or not though as she was berthed in the water I assumed that her propellers have been installed.

For the record, Grade One Marine Sdn Bhd was awarded the deal in late 2015/2016 to complete the two ships which was originally contracted to NGV Tech Sdn Bhd, a shipyard based in Sijankang, Selangor.

NGV Tech signed the RM294 million contract with RMN for the construction of the training vessels at LIMA 2011. Gagah was launched on Dec 14, 2012 while Teguh’s ceremony was on Feb 27, 2013. Both were supposed to be commissioned within six months after their launch at the NGV Tech but the whole project turned into a fiasco when the shipyard was foreclosed by its creditors in mid-2013

Malaysian Defence has written extensively on the issue so for context go here, here and here

Despite its looks, I was told that it was unlikely that Teguh will be delivered to the RMN soon. Gagah commissioning also remain uncertain as it appears both are caught in a legal imbroglio. I am told that the court had ruled that the ships belong to NGV Tech creditor.

As I have no further details of the case I am leaving it at that. As it is Teguh will remained laid up at the shipyard for the moment while Gagah goes on her daily business without her KD prefix. It must be noted though, Teguh was slightly damaged when a fire broke out on the ship while she was undergoing completion at the shipyard in Lumut.

And before anyone ask yet again, the training ships are not part of the 15-to 5 plan. They are not part of the RMN fleet, proper, they are simply training ships like KLD Tunas Samudera.

— Malaysian Defence

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