SHAH ALAM: More OPVs and NGPCs in the future. The MMEA plans to acquire up to eight OPVs and 14 NGPCs as part of its capitalisation programme, Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said today. However plans for the new ships will depend on the funding by the government, with the requirements to be discussed with the Finance Ministry and announced when it was appropriate.
The design and shipyards for the new OPVs and NGPCs will not necessarily be the current ones – THHE-Destini JV and Destini – he said without the explaining further.
The two projects will be the main programmes for the MMEA in the near future apart from the three Multi Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) already approved for funding for approval for the next RMK. Each MPSSs will act as mother ship for at least six interceptor boats and other MMEA assets from drones to helicopters, allowing them to stay at sea for a longer period of time.
Hamzah was speaking after witnessing the delivery of two New Generation Patrol Craft (NGPC) – KM Tok Bali (4544) and KM Kota Kinabalu (4545) – to MMEA at the Destination Marine Services shipyard at Port Klang. The two are part of the six NGPC order worth some RM400 in 2015. The first three ships – KM Bagan Datuk, KM Sri Aman and KM Kota Belud were delivered in late 2017 and early 2018. The last NGPC – KM Lahad Datu (4546) – is set to be delivered within one month time, according to Hamzah.
Unlike the first three NGPC, the three patrol boats will not be equipped with the Thales Fulmar UAV.
The minister did not explained the delay in the delivery of the NGPC – work on Tok Bali, Kota Kinabalu and Lahad Datu were completed late 2018. It is understood that the contract and those of the OPV were placed under scrutiny by the previous government. It is also interesting to note that the current PM was the Home Minister during the last 22 months prior to his elevation to the current post.
Hamzah and delegation also visited THHE Fabricators at Pulau Indah nearby to check on the progress of the OPV project. Hamzah said the first OPV is expected to be handed over to the MMEA this October with the other two ships expected next year. It is likely the first OPV will only be launch this October with commissioning expected in the first quarter of next year.
Like other projects, the work at the THHE yard was only resumed early this month after being shut down due to the lockdown ordered by the government to prevent the spread of Covid 19. Work also slowed down since mid-2018 as the then government put a brake on progress payment.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (142)
It would only be logical for the next batch of OPVs to be the same as the present one. Design issues all ironed out and the JV showing good technical capability to execute the work. If the first ship is delivered in say Feb 2021, the delay would be exactly 1 year. Factoring in a 4 month COVID recovery period, this would mean 8 months delay. If the statement that there was a 12 month impact to the schedule due to payment issues, this would also suggest that THHE Destini JV would have recovered 4 months from that delay.
@ api69
Yes i agree that a 2nd batch of OPVs and NGPVs would be good if continue with the same design. After the 2nd batch then look for another design. For OPVs probably some larger design like these Tae Pyung Yang-class OPVs from South Korea. It has a length of 140m with a full displacement of about 4,000 tonnes. Each cost about usd37 million
http://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/04/two-more-3000-tons-patrol-vessels-for-the-korea-coast-guard-fleet/
From the Pelan Perancangan Strategik Maritim Malaysia 2040 (PPSMM 2040), we know that MMEA wants a total of 20 large patrol ships. So lets say 8 OPVs, 3 Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS, ornis it MPSS like marhalim wrote?), plus 6 kedah class transferred to MMEA, that would be 17 ships, with 3 more ships to complete the 20.
i would prefer
6x damen 1800 OPV
6x ex kedah class OPV
3x MPMS
3x Tae Pyung Yang-class OPV
2x something large after 2030
My concern is the MPMS each costing rm350 million (usd81 million) each. The budget for 3 MPMS we could actually used to buy 6 of the large Tae Pyung Yang-class OPV. The MPMS could actually be converted from used surplus idle oil and gas Offshore Support Vessels for very little outlay. The current MPMS budget could then be used to actually get 3 Tae Pyung Yang-class OPV plus 3 MPMS converted from oil and gas OSVs, which is IMO a better proposition.
http://img2.yna.co.kr/photo/yna/YH/2016/04/05/PYH2016040504130006500_P4.jpg
http://image.chosun.com/sitedata/image/201611/10/2016111001565_11.jpg
http://dvzpv6x5302g1.cloudfront.net/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/058/Southeast_Asia_MMA_Offshore_PinnacleWEB.jpg
http://dvzpv6x5302g1.cloudfront.net/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/054/Southeast_Asia_MMA_Pinnacleweb.jpg
"The design and shipyards for new OPVs and NGPCs will not necessarily be the current ones – THHE-Destini JV and Destini – he said without the explaining further."
please no to the new design or new class of ship. MMEA should prioritize common hull and fleet more.or i guess its more money for crony and more bad move/future for MMEA.
BTW the Damen 1800 OPV looks beautiful...
Let me share the link to the larger picture for the benefit of readers here
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MAB_5025-2.jpg
Good news indeed. Hope the fleet of MMEA/Malaysian Coast Guard will be larger and modern. Also a good news for the program of the 3 new MPMS ships that already approved. Just recently we heard about the program to purchase about 3 - 4 new helicopter for the MMEA. Is this helicopter purchasing program for MMEA also approved or it is still in proposal?
BTW, that Kota Bharu-class OPV looks beautiful and great :)
That's good to hear. Hopefully they will go ahead with the plan...although I agree with some commenters that they should continue with the existing design and just add more.
Here's hoping that we will hear similar announcements for RMN and RMAF
zack
Ship design gets old. A 1970s OHP class ship is different than 2000s OHP class ship. Obviously there will be changes
A brief question
Does the PCU Kota Bharu the same class as Pakistan Navy's PNS Yarmook?
Reply
Same design but the Yarmook has a higher tonnage of 2100.
@ marhalim
From the videos, seems that there is a vosper class PV at the shipyard, the KM Kukup 3135, ex KD Panah which was retired in 2018. Hopefully it can be saved and be restored to its former TLDM identity for the future TLDM Museum.