SHAH ALAM: IT appears that APMM is moving towards using idle Oil and Gas (O&G) industry ships to augment its patrol fleet. Not much details on the proposed move yet apart from a tweet by APMM chief Datuk Ahmad Puzi Abd Kahar this morning.
I am trying to get more details but its likely that the APMM will lease Malaysian-flagged O&G ships laid idle by the low oil prices. How many and when it will start is the unknown at the moment. It must be noted that due to the Petroleum Development Act 194, ships involved in the local O&G industry must be Malaysian-flagged.
The proposed programme is under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) just like how the RMN uses Bunga Mas Lima and Tun Azizan ships.
For a better perspective on using non-naval ships for patrol duties, read the excellent post by Think Defence on the issue. Go Here
One of own regular reader – … – has also proposed using O&G ships by the APMM for patrols to overcome the country’s financial constraints. It appears that APMM is also thinking the same thing.
Like its sister services, APMM is hampered by the uncertainty in funding – both in operational and procurement programmes. By leasing idle O&G ships it may be able to conduct more patrols in Malaysian waters especially it is saddled with one of the oldest patrol fleet in the region.
APMM is expected to operate six new patrol boats by 2018 with another two OPVs expected to come on line by 2020 – if the funding is not disrupted due to the current economic headwinds.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (20)
So it seems that APMM boffins read Malaysiandefence regularly eh?
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I wish, most likely the industry looking for help
I believe NBOS team has data miners to look out for new ideas on the Internet (yes, im talking about you NBOS Research Assistants). If they are really reading this, I think that they are on the right path to really enhance the defence of malaysian sovereignty (and personally I would be very honored to be able to contribute to the NBOS).
Great idea for the MMEA. They dont need ships armwd to the teeth. But these ships do need to be armed with at least 1 40 mm gun n two or three 20 or 30mm guns . This is to provide teeth when meeting coast guard ships from China or against Sulu invaders.
Recently the indonesian authorities were forced to let go of a detained chinese fishibg vessel by a larger chinese ciast guard vessel. Some modifications for a heli pad n hardpoint to mount weapons must be made.
A win win situation for both parties, quick n cost effective. Can almost after several months have at least 3 or 4 additional ships for patrolling.
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Unlikely they could put up a 40mm or 30mm RWS on-board ships, most likely to cost issues. However, pintle mounted machine guns are possible. The trick is to put these ships in places they are not likely to meet up with vessels from bigger or belligerent countries. While the armed APMM ships patrol these sensitive areas, the leased O&G ships could be use at more benign areas like the peninsula east coast where the threats are mostly illegal fishermen and wreck hunters. Langkawi is another area where these ships could be handy.
Vessel crewed by civilian and coastguards on board calls the shot eh? APMM Act covers this kind of setup for peacetime? Never came upon this kind of arrangement for agency other than Navy.
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I am not a lawyer but based on a cursory reading of the APMM Act, I believed the APMM DG has the powers for such an arrangement. The power I believed comes under provisions that the DG could issue "Standing Orders" to run the agency as provided under the law. The act also spelled out that in wartime or crisis, the APMM is reverted to under the powers of the Defence Minister.
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Well, that's a good thing. Still, did they really read Malaysian Defence? Really curious on that...
A few .3 and .5 calibre per ship would be sufficient for those ATHTs to handle pirates, illegal fishers and smugglers in Peninsular Malaysia. Let the kedah and the langkawi concentrate on Sabah.
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Most likely GPMGs only as a box of rounds of the 50 BMG cost a pretty penny and that's just the normal ones not Raufoss HEI!
yeah you right...during the weekend watch a history channel program that stated a normal 50 caliber round cost USD3 per bullet while the Armoured Pierceing round cost USD60 per bullet in the US. Guess with all the import tax and middleman commission in Malaysia, it would be triple of that here.
For serious pintle mounted firepower, there is this twin .50cal mount.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4Dqp-BLkt8/TWWcpzZLWOI/AAAAAAAA7pY/-tZU_UJ6f-Y/s1600/mk95.jpg
Mounted on uss tornado in the persian gulf
http://www.warboats.org/images/jpg/StonerPics/stonerpc7.jpg
But the most ideal items to have on a Mmea patrol craft is water cannons (usually already installed on PSVs) and LRAD devices.
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Eight .50 calibre guns, each with 300 round ammo box on board a Malaysian boat? The Finance people will have heart attacks...
Lets go for Miniguns!!!
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The APMM has yet to catch the mini-gun fever. That said it is very suitable for the application
Lee - '' But these ships do need to be armed with at least 1 40 mm gun n two or three 20 or 30mm guns .''
Actually, priority will be in ensuring they are fitted with the needed comms to enable them to communicate with other MMEA assets and with RMN ships - that comes first. The weapons fit is secondary as it's a last resort self-defence weapon.When it comes confronting intruders in our EEZ; the issue of what weapons are on board is secondary; of major importance is having a presence there to back our claim that the waters are ours. Presence and fast reaction times are the key to dealing with intruders NOT weapons. Also, if we up the ante and play tough, China can also up the ante by deploying PLAN ships instead of the Maritime enforcement and Fisheries ships that are the ones mostly entering our waters. And for every ship we deploy; they can deploy 5 if they want to .......
As Marhalim said, any requisitioned O&G ships are not meant to be put in a situation where they have to confront intruders or I'd like to add; a situation in which a 12.7mm or a 20mm gun is not sufficient to deal with whatever the situation is! We also have to bear in mind that requisitioned O&G ships - being originally designed for O&G related work - will be useful for roles like routine patrolling, SAR, etc but not for other roles.
In fact, of far more importance than having ''firepower'' is having a FLIR or other devices todetect, track and designate contacts at certain distances and in adverse weather. Instead of heavily arming these ships, which will be superfluous, I'd rather the cash be spent ensuring they have a decent comms and sensor suite ....