Phoenix Rising, OPV 2 and OPV 3

SHAH ALAM: Work for the completion of OPV2 and OPV 3 are still planning in the stage. MMEA director-general Rear Admiral (Maritime) Rosli Abdullah said the agency has issued RFI to 12 shipyards to determine the way forward for the revival of the two incomplete vessels.

According to Rosli, OPV2 was 70 per cent complete while the more was needed on OPV3 as she is only 50 per cent complete. He said OPV 2 could be completed within 12 months as the new builder needs only to connect the two main blocks together.

The modern bridge of KM Tun Fatimah. Malaysian Defence

Rosli declined to say how much money had been paid to THHE-Destini JV for the OPV project – including finishing KM Tun Fatimah. Asked whether the payment was like the ones paid to Boustead Naval Shipyard for the LCS, Rosli replied in the affirmative but stated that unlike the RMN ships, they (equipment on the OPV) are not too sophisticated and they will not be obsolote when we restart the project.

A partial view of the OPV engine room. The MMEA OPV is fitted with four diesel engines, three generator sets and one emergency gen sets, all by Caterpillar. The ship can go 16 knots with only two engines and cruise with only one generator set running, high mechanical redundancy and economical as well.

For the record, the contract for the three OPV is RM738.9 million. I am assuming that THHE-Destini JV was paid some RM400 million until the project stopped in 2021 based on the progress payments for the the steel and other of equipment of the OPVs. Another RM152.6 million loan was extended to THHE to complete KM Tun Fatimah in early 2023. This means some RM552 million has been made to THHE.

The rear module of OPV1 being trucked into the slip way for the joining process

Asked how much more money was needed to complete the two OPVs, Rosli declined to say it. Asked whether it will be higher than the contract announced in 2017, he said “Of course it will be”.

OPV1 on the slipway ready for joining back in 2019. Via source

It must be noted that Home Minister Shaifuddin Nasution in April, this year stated that they need some RM200 million to complete the two OPVs. I am assuming that the whole projec will cost some RM1 billion. It will also be ten years late.

MMEA new ship building and refit costs under the 2025 budget, MMEA

As the OPV revival was not included in the 2025 budget (see above), it is likely the work on the two ships will start next year. The incomplete hulls of both ships and their equipment are likely still stored at the THHE Fabricators yard in Pulau Indah.

— Malaysian Defence

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