SHAH ALAM: Walk like an Egyptian Part 4. The Egypt has taken delivery of its first locally build Gowind corvette, ENS Port Said – pennant number 976 on January 6. The handover ceremony was conducted at the Alexandria Shipyard where the ship and two others – Al Moez (977) and Luxor (978) – were built.
ENS Port Said. Alexandria Shipyard
Port Said handing over took some 27 months as she was launched at the shipyard in September 2018. This is not surprising as she was the first to be built in Egypt and it is also likely her delivery was further complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Egyptian Navy first of class Gowind corvette El Fateh was built by Naval Group in France and delivered in 2017.
A picture of the stern of the ship where the Thales Captas towed sonar and its associated are equipment located.
Release from the shipyard
Alexandria Shipyard Company celebrates the handover of the corvette “Port Said”
Today 6th of January 2021, Alexandria Shipyard Company celebrates the handover of the corvette “Port Said” (ENS 976) as the first Egyptian “Gowind” corvette that will join the service with the Egyptian naval fleet to carry out its combat missions.
The corvette “Port Said” was launched on 9/2018, and it is the first warship to be built with 100% Egyptian capacity resulting from fruitful technology transfer cooperation with the French side represented in “Naval Group” company.
The handover ceremony and the raising of the Egyptian flag held in the presence of The Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Navy “Vice Admiral / Ahmed Khaled Hassan” at Alexandria Shipyard before sailing to Alexandria naval base, “ENS 976” is the first of three Egyptian corvettes that will be joining the service with the naval forces according to a specific schedule.
The Egyptian Gowind Vessels of 102m Total Length, 16m Width, 2,600 tons Displacement and a maximum speed of 25 knots. The corvette is equipped with facilities for an embarked helicopter and drones. The Gowind corvette accommodates 65 crew members and is fitted with the Naval Group’s SETIS combat management system including Panoramic Sensors and Intelligence Module (PS1M).
A panoramic bridge offers 360° visibility and a single enclosed mast offers 360° Sensor visibility. The Gowind New Multi-Mission Corvette Type Designed for Surveillance, Surface and Subsurface Combat, Protection and Escort Naval Missions, It can also perform Maritime Surveillance and Policing Missions against Trafficking and Piracy.
It has many technical characteristics and modern armament systems that enable it to carry out all combat missions at sea, support and protect the land forces along the coast during offensive and defensive operations which makes it a tremendous technological addition to the capabilities of the naval forces in support of their ability to protect the Egyptian national security.
— Malaysian Defence
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Sob sob sob..Mr M..please try to restrain yourself from adding more salt to our wound..Beside this, egyptian navy also already taken delivery of ens el galala, a fremm frigate
Firdaus – “ navy also already taken delivery of ens el galala, a fremm frigate”
Yes. Commonality and reducing the logistics/support infrastructure is not a concern. No surprises as Egypt is unlikely to war with a more powerful/competent enemy and the U.S. is always there. Still;
I don’t envy the people tasked to maintain all various things Egypt is getting; things with no communality and all requiring different parts and training.
Cash isn’t a problem despite the economy. After all Egypt is the 2nd largest recipient of U.S. aid (after Israel) and the Gulf Arabs have been very generous after Egypt’s current ruler overthrew the Muslim Brotherhood.
How was the status of our ship? Cancel, delayed or proceed?
Reply
It’s proceeding very slowly as the government has not signed off payments yet
Don’t feel bad. The Egyptians are skilled builders. Look they built the Pyramids, 4500 years ago!!
What are the govt waiting for anyway? Kiamat?
Reply
No idea
ENS Port Said 976 and KD Maharajalela 2501…..my date of birth….
.” LAMBAT SIAP… LAMBAT BURUK.. ”
Reply
Lambat siap, lagi cepat buruk. Tak percaya tengok rumah terbengkalai.
PH government froze everything and did not continue funding the progress when they were in power.
PN government seem to have no b*lls or interest to continue building these ships.
So either way, we’re basically screwed then(LCS-wise, of course)?
Actually PH gov did the right thing. They merely had ask to renegotiate the price n that they did including the Chinese. Price went down. But the LCS were delayed even during BN time. Boustead just did a bad job . Rm 6 bil paid n not even 1 ship in the water. Had they been doing their job, at least 4 should have been built. That is much fairer. And on top of that have the guts to ask for another RM3 b. Making total price of RM12 B.
@Lee Yoke Meng
Despite the foibles of BN Government that time, yes they should review back the projects but freezing it for 2 years is not what I call ‘right thing’ to do. What it did was dig a deeper hole with the ever increasing cost. While the delay started in BN time it gotten really chronic during PH time. So I would lay majority of the delay blame on PH. Boustead, I do agree is at fault for spending RM6Bil and still no ship touch water.
If to blame, there’s a lot to go around for all parties. The problem is, neither side are willing to persevere with this project and see to its completion.
@joe
We know the delay was at least in part due to PH’s fraud investigation at Boustead.
Also they were attempting to reduce the debt burden of the country. Austerity measures are also important.
And sorry to say, but I think I’d rather have 24 Damen 1800 OPVs than 6 Gowind frigates. Yes it pulls the peer combat teeth of the RMN, however it would result in a step change in our maritime policing ability.
@Chua
Yes yes, we’re well aware the delay from PH was due to the investigation but did it take 2 years and not even a single charges brought up? Really?? They whom were so quick to lay charges and evidence on 1MDB but seemingly clueless about what’s going on in Boustead? To me its more gross mismanagement rather than outright fraud, except for that one employee being investigated. Again, neither side is transparent on the real reasons for the delays and overruns.
Reducing burden? Austerity measures? Hah! Then why all the mega projects from them? Save money here and putting it elsewhere is nothing more than right pocket into left pocket. Same thing. Politicians are all the same, never trust them.
And your plan would just turn TLDM into a pure peacetime patrol navy. What happens when things heats up? Expect Uncle Sam to come rescue?
@Chua
I don’t think ’24 Damen OPVs’ is the better solution. We might just as well halve the Navy and upgrade Maritim M’sia. I find the Boustead LCS Saga distasteful, but I do concede we need teeth for our sailors. Unhappily, I see we may have to buy more sampan-sized boats 🙂 instead of galleons or frigates. Or do we buy second-hand if we can’t get new boats fast enough?
24 damen opv is kinda too much right..i’ll still take 6 gowinds and yes additional 3 damen opv and 3 large opv for mmea (3000 to 4000 tonne)..Here’s hoping LCS will proceed as planned even if per unit price will eventually increase..
Taib – “. Or do we buy second-hand if we can’t get new boats fast enough?”
On paper this would appear to be a short term solution.
In reality it’s unlikely to happen – both the RMN and government are against the idea. Some navies are willing to incur the penalties of buying pre used and operating various types of ships with zero or little commonality – the RMN for good reason isn’t.
Operating costs (ships and their various systems get more expensive run as they age (no point achieving short term costs savings only to have to fork out more in the long run) and communality issues are major concerns.
It’s for these reasons that the RMN (a small navy short of resources even in the best of times) has rejected various offers for ore used over the years. As it stands the RMN has made it a priority to reduce its already large logistical/support footprint.
Chua – “And sorry to say, but I think I’d rather have 24 Damen 1800 OPVs than 6 Gowind frigates”
Doesn’t work that way … It’s like saying it’s better to have 150 rifles rather than 24 mortars or 50
UASs rather than 25 MPAs. Different things are good for different things.
Multi role frigates (which are what the LCSs are) have a primary external security function; notwithstanding their peacetime roles. MMEA operated OPVs have a primary constabulary type function; notwithstanding the fact that in wartime the MMEA would be under RNN control.
Having more of one type doesn’t do away with need for another as both are intended for different things. Both organisations have a role to play and both are underfunded and under resourced thanks to the politicians.