SHAH ALAM: A Bernama story on MMEA patrol boats last month, got some people all excited though it did not reveal anything.
The Bernama story published on June 23- among others said that the agency will be getting nine new vessels – six patrol boats and three OPVs.
What’s so great about that? It’s old news actually. If you want to read the story go here. I guess it will not hurt to read a recycled story, once in a while.
So what is the patrol boat MMEA is getting by year end, which is not explained by the Bernama story? It will be the NGPC of course as I has posted before.
As for the OPV not a word about it was explained in the article. Anyhow, even though in the interview with Malaysian Defence, the MMEA DG says that it will be decided in a tender – the latest word is that it will not.
The builder, according to industry sources, has already been decided. It is a subsidiary of a government link company, I am told. Since they are still negotiating the details, I will not name the company but it must be noted that it had not build ships before!
For that reason, I am guessing that the first vessel could be build overseas and completed here while the second and third will be assembled here from completed modules. I stand to be corrected of course.
The design I am told may or may not be a German one as I had reported before. I will not named the design at this moment as there are too many sharks in the water!
So what is the specifications of the OPV. It will be about 80 metres long and it will be able to carry out the duties envisaged by the MMEA.
As specified by the MMEA, the OPV will be equipped with a hangar, flight deck and service space for a single helicopter up to 11-tonnes. This also means it will be able to operate UAVs with the Thales Fulmar X leading the pack as it had already been chosen for the NGPC.
That said a completely different UAV could be chosen as the decision lies with the ship-builder and not MMEA.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (9)
' Since they are still negotiating the details, I will not name the company but it must be noted that it had not build ships before!'
yup.....that the gov now...really want to gamble and then bring disaster if it was not complete or expensive
And let's hope that the auto cannon and the FCS will be the same as on the 6 patrol boats already contracted. These OPVs will be perfect of routine patrols in the EEZ and the Spratlys on account of having better endurance and sea keeping than anything currently operated by the MMEA - with the exception of course of the 2 former RMN Marikh class OPVs based in Langkawi which are aged and have sea keeping issues on account of their hull design.
Does the gowind opv share any similar parts as the rmn gowind? Does anybody care?
Reply
AFAIK No but it gave the shipyard work which is also good for ship building. We did not have the benefit of course as the BNS is starting from cold
A company that never produce a ship got the contract? What the heck?
Sorry to ask, why dont MMEA use same design as RMN kedah class? Perhaps can cut some cost.
Reply
To use the Kedah class design, they must give the contract to Boustead Naval Shipyard. I am not sure we can get three hulls for RM704 million even if we use the Kedah class design.
‘ Since they are still negotiating the details, I will not name the company but it must be noted that it had not build ships before!’
It really doesn't surprising me no more as Malaysia is the master in that field since the Mahathir era.
Hopefully there is no more PSCND, NGV tech fiasco.
There is not much the OPV can have in common with the LCS given that both are intended for different roles and that the LCS will have a comprehensive sensors and weapons fit; unlike the MMEA OPV which is intended for constabulary type duties. As far as commonality, the OPV should have the same gun and FCS as the already contracted patrol boats.
I don't think ocea opv270 and designs operated by Thailand,Brunei,Vietnam, Indonesia will be selected,on the premise a vsl is not operated by any close neighbour.
If govt select fassmer 80, the good points as I look at is are; it is an operational design, no neighbour have the same vsl (lessen the chance of mistaken ID for visual contact), can be tweaked during design process if any negative feedback from current operator such as Chilean Navy, fassmer is now a known contractor.
The Star
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
TH Heavy explains price surge to Bursa
PETALING JAYA: TH Heavy Engineering Bhd is in preliminary discussions with relevant government agencies to secure a contract for the supply of offshore patrol vessels.
“The terms of the contract remains to be negotiated and is in a state of flux,” it said in a reply to Bursa Malaysia yesterday over the sudden surge of its share price and trading volume.
The company said it intended to capitalise on the strategic location and resources of its fabrication yard and will continue to pursue all opportunities related to the upstream oil and gas business as well as to diversify into downstream and other non-oil and gas businesses such as marine vessel building and repairs. There was no indication on the size of the contract that the company is targeting.
The company is 30%-owned by Lembaga Tabung Haji.
TH Heavy had been hit hard by the downturn in the oil and gas industry.