SHAH ALAM: New ship for MMEA. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officially took over JCG Erimo PL O2 from Japan Coast Guard, yesterday (Jan. 19, 2016). The handing over and renaming ceremony of the ship – now known as KM Pekan – took place at Innoshima Port in Hiroshima.
With the ceremony, Pekan is now the senior ship of the class. As you are aware, MMEA is getting two ex-JCG patrol ships, the Oki and Erimo. Oki will be re-named as KM Arau. MMEA posted the news of the handing over on its Facebook page.
MAJLIS SERAH TERIMA KAPAL JCG ERIMO PL 02 (KM PEKAN) KEPADA MARITIM MALAYSIA BERJALAN LANCAR
PULAU INNOSHIMA, 19 Januari : Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia hari ini melakar lagi sejarah baharu apabila dengan secara rasminya menerima Kapal JCG Erimo PL 02 dari Japan Coast Guard (JCG).
Majlis serah terima kapal JCG Erimo PL 02 berlangsung lebih kurang jam 12 tengahari tadi (waktu Malaysia) di Limbungan Pulau Innoshima, Jepun.
Pegawai Memerintah JCG Erimo PL 02 Captain Yamamoto secara rasminya telah menyerahkan kapal tersebut kepada Kepten Maritim Robert Teh Geok Chuan selaku Pegawai Memerintah KM Pekan.
Majlis penyerahan tersebut turut disaksikan oleh Laksamana Pertama Maritim Mohd Aliyas bin Hamdan, Pengarah Cawangan C3I Maritim Malaysia bersama barisan Pegawai Maritim Malaysia serta anak kapal JCG Erimo PL 02.
TAHNIAH!
Based on the statement above, it is likely that it was a hot transfer – meaning that Erimo was still operational when it was handed over to MMEA. The statement did not mentioned about the other ship but from the picture we can assumed that the Oki/Arau was tied up next to Pekan. There was also no mention when Oki will be handed over to MMEA.
The statement also did not say when Pekan is supposed to sail home. Its likely that they will train with the ship in Japan for at least three months and returned home before Ramadan.
— Malaysian Defence
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Heh second hand ship. Its free so i guess its fine…
Do you have any update on new OPV that MMEA plan to acquired?
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Tomorrow
Don’t poo poo secondhand Japanese ships. Knowing them (I have known a few Japs), the ships will still be in pristine condition!
If in pristine condition, I assume that; 1. They have enough spares for onboard equipment of the 70’s. 2. They had replaced obsolete equipment. 3. They have good workshop that can fabricate parts that was no more from OEM. 4. They really never skip any scheduled maintenance/shutdown which was fully funded.
Yes but the operating and maintenance costs of these ships will still be a cause of concern; notwithstanding the fact that they’re in ”pristine” condition. It’s interesting to speculate whether MMEA actually wanted these ships or whether it had no choice in the matter.
Looking at the high freeboard – even if a decision is made to arm both ships with an auto-cannon, this might not be possible. One things’s for certain, both are made for ops in very rough seas, hence the high freeboard.
It’s given that some minor things – probably stuff like radios, GPS, etc – will be added by the MMEA. It’s also safe to say that since entering Japanese service the ships have received periodic refits and overhauls; the fact remains however that the hulls are high mileage hulls and the engines, gear box and generators are not ”young”. A big question is whether in the coming years we’ll be able to get spares- without hassles – for the critical components on these ships.
On paper it’s good news as the overstretched MMEA gets additional hulls but there are still concerns when getting an aged, high mileage hull; even one that is in good condition. Ideally, both ships will be home ported at the same places – this simplifies logistics – but apparently they’ll be based at different locations. At the logs and maintenance manuals [as is normally done when transfers take place] will be handed over so the MMEA will have a good idea as to how long more these ships can be operated.