SHAH ALAM: Keel laying for MMEA OPVs. Work on the first of class MMEA OPV is apparently going well. The yet to be unnamed ship will be jointly built with her two sister ships as the keel laying ceremony for the second and third vessel expected at the Tabung Haji Heavy Engineering shipyard at Pulau Indah, Port Klang, next month.
As you aware THHE JV with Destini Bhd, was awarded the contract to build the three vessels based on the Damen 1800 OPV design.
The latest CGI of the MMEA OPV being built by THHE Destini.
The keel laying ceremony for the first vessel was conducted on Dec. 20 last year. Despite the Malaysian Defence headline, work did not start on the ship immediately after the ceremony due to bureaucractic red tape. In fact it only started during DSA 2018, the third week of April.
A side view of the latest CGI of the MMEA OPV
Apparently work was delayed as THHE Destini had difficulties in importing the steel sourced from Damen from Singapore as it lacked the export permit for such products. I was told that the steel was only cleared for import after they changed the consignee to Destination Marine Services Sdn Bhd, the builder of the NGPC (also a company wholly owned by Destini). As Destination Marine had imported steel for shipbuilding for some time already it was the logical that it would be approved for such things compared to the new kid in the block (THHE Destini)
The stern view of the MMEA OPV
Anyhow presented here are the latest drawings for the MMEA OPV. If you look closely it appears that the OPV will have three mountings for heavy machine guns apart from the Aselsan 30mm SMASH main gun. Two HMG mountings are on the port and starboard of the bridge with the third one placed overlooking the helicopter deck.
Forward and aft CGI of the MMEA OPV
Word is that the THHE Destini is looking into a rotary UAV solution for the OPV instead of the Thales Fulmar X integrated into the NGPC.
An overhead CGI view of the MMEA OPV.
There are various rotary UAVs already marketed in Malaysia with the Schiebel camcopter operated by the Defence Intelligence Staff Division (DISD) so any of this could be chosen. I am told the final decision has not been made on the make.
Schiebel Campcopter S-100 VUAV of the MI/BSPP. The system is also deployed to ESSCOM.
In other news, the RMN is scheduled to decommission KD Mutiara at the Lumut naval base tomorrow. The fate of the hydrographic ship was sealed after the decision was made to lease commercial vessels for such duties as part of the 15 to 5 transformation plan.
–Malaysian Defence
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Apart og HMG,the opv have 4 fire fighting water “cannon” amidship, 2 partially blocked by funnels but water spray can be directed over it. Good for spraying water at other people (and coasties) boats too.
Rotary UAS obviously shorter ranged than fixed wing, any idea why they need it?Of coz IMHO they dont want to beat TLDM again in UAS game.
Interesting to see jetskis and airboats in the graphics!
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/OPV-18002-1024×465.jpg
Compare to vietnam coast guard Damen DN2000 OPV (4 ships in service).
http://static9.nguyentandung.biz/files/2015/05/lo-dien-tau-tuan-tra-co-lon-moi-cua-canh-sat-bien-viet-nam.jpg
Any news for the second LCS launching ceremony?
“Apparently work was delayed as THHE Destini had difficulties in importing the steel sourced from Damen from Singapore as it lacked the export permit for such products. I was told that the steel was only cleared for import after they changed the consignee to Destination Marine Services Sdn Bhd, the builder of the NGPC (also a company wholly owned by Destini).”
this is disturbing. does the JV company did not foresee the export permit?how could that happen since Destini already import from Singapore for their project??
anyways congratulation to MMEA for this. they sure get a good vessel after a long years of waiting. hope this ship will reduce burden of navy.
Reply
Apparently they did not foresee the problem
The complement of the mmea opv as seen in the image seems like
1x Fast interceptor boat on starboard side
1x 9m RHIB on stern ramp
1x 7m RHIB on port side below heli deck
1x airboat on port side
2x jet ski on port side
Seems like this ship is equip for various kind of situation.
The RHIB below the helideck is surely the rescue boat, which is an IMO requirement. Ship is built to commercial standards so need to comply to IMO requirements.
Heard the ship is also designed with a strengthen keel and stem, which would make it suitable to use as a battering ram.
@ api69
Probably against wooden fishing boats. Don’t think so against other coast guard vessels.
I did not see you comment on my apmm post. I was hoping you can give your opinion on that.
@ …
Which post was that?
Anyway, a 60 mm solid steel stem can cut a steel hull PC in half with maybe a slight dent to the stem itself…. LOL