SHAH ALAM: Although her official handing over ceremonies were delayed twice – and many false starts – it appears MMEA first locally built OPV – KM Tun Fatimah/OPV1 – is already in its books. Malaysian Defence was told that the ship has been handed over to MMEA even without the official ceremony.
MMEA has not confirmed the handing over but on its Facebook page today, it reported that its deputy director-general (logistics) Vice Admiral (Maritime) Saiful Lizan Ibrahim visited the Kuching port to see the jetty where OPV1/Tun Fatimah will be based. The two Bagan Datuk class patrol boats –KM Sri Aman (4542) and KM Kota Kinabalu (4545) – and other MMEA boats, are berthed at the MMEA jetty at Muara Tebuas, some 25km away near the estuary to South China Sea.
As I mentioned before, the handing over – not the ceremony – was necessary due to variety of reasons, mostly due to legal issues. One might – the official handing over – laugh off such things as red tape etc but without it many things cannot be done.
For example, the Kuching port jetty where the ship will be berthing, MMEA needs to pay for the services. Without the ship being a government vessel under MMEA, the agency cannot pay for it.
Another issue will be the crew’s families. While the crew can travel to Sarawak on the boat, their families need to fly there, while their belongings need to be shipped there. Only – after the handing over is done – that these things could be taken care off.
It is the same when a new unit is stood up by the military. Only after the bureaucratic necessities are done, they could start working towards the new capability.
It is unclear when Tun Fatimah will sail to Kuching though. I believed it will be next year, which is just 11 days away. The ceremony to mark the handing over could be done in Kuching when she arrived there.
Do note, I am calling the ship Tun Fatimah, although MMEA has not officially call her that, as she is broadcasting the name on the AIS. Checks on the AIS showed that she remained at the THHE Fabricators yard in Pulau Indah where she had been based since her launch.
The MMEA jetty at Muara Tebuas is part of the agency’s headquarters in Sarawak which include an administration and sports complex as well as quarters for married personnel. It is likely that there is not enough quarters at the facility to accommodate the crew of OPV1/Tun Fatimah, hence the need to berth the ship at the Kuching port. The port is located near the Kuching suburbs allowing married crew to find housing facilities nearby. The bachelors will stay on board the ship.
*Updated with new information.
–Malaysian Defence.
If you like this post, buy me an espresso. Paypal Payment
View Comments (26)
Yes the big question is will she still be Tun Fatimah when they officiate her into the fleet or something else.
A rose is still a rose no matter what is finally called. The bigger question whether the other two ships can be completed in the next 2 years or only become another malaysian shipbuilding rafflesia
Looks like MMEA Kuching jetty have to upgrade to avoid its vessel berthing at Kuching Port.
Don't think they have money for that.
It all looks nice until one realise ship #2 & 3 hasnt even been joined their modules yet.
Has the financial issue of THHE been resolved so that those 2 can proceed? So many attention given to LCS that not many noticed this OPV is in the same shit.
From what I have heard, continuation of OPV2 and 3 will only be done once the issue of THHE liquidation is resolved and a new party steps in to continue the project.
With extra money like the Gagah?
Will MOF be stepping in to rescue them as well? I think eventually it will have to.
Of course, who else? We do not have billionaires who fund this kind of things. Anyhow, if I was, I also do not want to be involve in the rescue. I would prefer to donate a ship or two which I contracted out for myself instead of fixing the project.
Marhalim,
For sure extra money is needed. Nobody will want to step in knowing they will lose money.
Of course. The big question is whether THHE has been paid at least three quarters of the contract plus the loan earlier this year. With what had happened with the LCS, they may well be. I am guessing that to finish the two ships will be around RM200 million at least as from the pictures somewhere else - which I cannot verify - OPV 2 and OPV 3 looks the same as when I saw them in late 2019.
Thought THHE is owned by the MOF Inc & MOF Inc is the one doing the winding down? No?
Yes it was the company which is owned by MOF Inc that had decided to liquidate itself. Likely under orders from their bosses.
Forgive me but Im not aware if MOF will be doing so, as unlike LCS where an MOF SPAC will takeover BNS, there wasnt any word about THHEs fate. There was some news on TH restructure itself but not much news on subs ie THHE. Maybe, as I said before, there wasnt much political coins to gain so no much attention was given to THHE predicaments.
As for donations, be wary of billionaires (and oil sheikhs) bearing gifts. No deed comes without strings (or chain) attached.
The 3 OPV contract valued at RM740m. Govt provided THHE a RM150m loan. One wonders what happened to most of the original RM740m. I'm hoping the RM150m loan is for cashflow purposes as THHE is obviously not able to bill the government given the lack of progress with OPV2 and OPV3. Which means hopefully, at least half of the RM740m remains unutilised.