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Tender For Marine Police Interceptors

Marine Police FAC PC 31 built by Gading Marine. LOMOCean Marine supplied the design. NST picture via Polis Marin FB

SHAH ALAM: The Home Ministry has issued a tender for the supply of five fast patrol craft (FPC) for the Marine police. The tender was published on August 14 and closes on September 28, a period of 45 days.

The tender is valid until June 24, 2024. Apart from the tender for the five FPC, the ministry also issued a tender for the refit for ten patrol boats of the PA class. This tender was also issued on August 14 and closes on September 28.

Marine Police patrol boat PA 18 on patrol with interceptor Penyengat 17. PA 18 is one of the 10 boats to undergo refit under the tender.

Anyhow, for the FPC tender, specifications called for (for the full specifications please go to the Eperolehan website)

Shipyard is invited for the build, testing and commissioning 5 units Fast Patrol Craft (hereafter referred to as FPC) for the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) application.

It is the intent of this technical specification to describe the concept and requirements of an Aluminium Alloy FPC Boat to be operated by the Royal Malaysia Police in Malaysian territorial waters and also throughout National sovereign waters.
PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS AND PARTICULARS. Boat dimension: a)
Length overall (L.O.A) : 18.0 to 19.0 meters.
b) Length Water Line : 15.0 to 16.0 meters.
c) Beam (Molded) : 4.0 to 5.0 meters.
d) Depth (Molded) : 2.0 to 3.0 meter.
e) Draft max. At full load : Less than 1.2 meters.
f) Displacement: Lightship : 20.0 to 22.0 tones. Loaded : 26.0 to 28.0
tones.
g) Speed Maximum: Not less 48 knots at 100% MCR With (27 tonnes)
Displacement.
h) Range: More than 350 Nautical Miles @ 35 Knots.

Propulsion shall be by means of twin marine MAN or MTU or equivalent diesel engines each having optimum power, minimal dimensions, easily maintained and repaired, protected against lubricating oil thinning having low fuel and oil consumption, and quick readiness for operation
Water jet Propulsion Systems. The FPC shall be fitted with Hamilton or Marine Jet Power X400 water jet propulsion system. The water jet pump section including impeller shall be a high protection against corrosion and also giving high strength against sand/mud ingression. The water jet system shall be suitable for the engine output. The shipyard shall ensure that all steps are taken to ensure that the system is best suited.
The FPC shall
be of fast planning, constant dead rise, monohedran hull design, fitted with two (2) Marine Diesel engines driving two water-jet propulsion. The FPC shall be constructed of Aluminium and designed to meet all requirements of the Mission, Tasks and Functions;
b) The FPC shall be outfitted with a prominent, fixed fenders system that
will protect hull from collision without damage.
The Lounge/Rest Area shall be arranged below main deck and having seating capacity of four (4) persons for crews and officer’s. The Lounge shall be equipped with the following: a) LED Smart
SONY TV 32” tightly fitted. b) Radio and CD player tightly fitted. c) LED
Cabin Lights. d) Complete with audio/visual system.
A six (6) men cabin shall be arranged forward below the Main Deck. The Cabin shall have the following: (a) Three (3) double tier bunks. (b) Mattress, pillow and bed sheet (c) LED Cabin Light

1 Remote Control Weapon System (RCWS). The FPC shall fitted with Sea Rogue 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) base which shall be able to withstand gun shock/blast. The RCWS to be supplied and installed by the Shipyard.
8.7.1.1 It shall be fitted with RCWS which is a remotely operated stabilized
weapon station for 12.7 mm Heavy Machine Gun. RCWS shall fulfil or better than the following requirements:
a) The system should be able to detect, identify, track and engage intruders.
b) The RCWS shall consist of Fire Control Console (FCC), Electro Optical
Sight (EOS) and 12.7mm gun. The RCWS shall be able to withstand the
harsh marine environment comply with MIL-STD-810 which is environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests or equivalent for environmental test methods according to operational
temperature, humidity, salt fog, vibration, shock and electromagnetic
compatibility.
c) The gun turret and EOS shall be fitted with gyro stabilization platform
which provide not more than 2 miliradian of accuracy at Sea State 3.
8.7.1.2 Fire Control Console (FCC). FCC is fitted with minimum one (1)
ergonomic console which include control switches, joysticks, indicator light
and display panel. The console shall be totally enclosed, ergonomics,
compact with suitable material to withstand the harsh marine environment.
The console shall provide the following functions and capabilities: a)
Control of gun in remote and local condition. b) Control of turret position
and speed. c) Defining restricted firing zones. d) Ballistics computation or
prediction e) Data transmission test and analysis. f) Trigger mechanism for
gun firing. g) Movement of turret on azimuth and elevation axis. h) System
setting adjustment. i) Aiming reticle. j) Target range. k) Electro optical units
zoom levels. l) Number of remaining rounds and fired rounds. m) System
operating mode. n) The FCC shall include an Automatic Target Tracking
Unit with which the system can detect and track targets automatically from
EOS video feed.
SAMBUNGAN. o) The FCC shall be located at the wheelhouse.
8.7.1.3 Electro Optical Sight (EOS). It shall include high resolution
Thermal Imaging System and a high performance day TV Sensor that
enables target detection in any weather condition. The EOS shall fulfil or
better than the following requirements:
a) Day TV Camera. It shall be rugged, compact with high-resolution colour
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camera for target identification and classification in daylight and night.
b) Cooled Thermal Imaging Camera. It shall have thermal imaging
cameras with a cooled detector.
c) Tracking System. It shall be fitted with optical tracking system with
manual and automatic tracking capability.
d) Laser Range Finder (LRF). It shall be eye safe, compact and accurate
used for determining the distance of the COI.
e) The EOS shall provide: i. Elevation angle : Not less between 20° and
+60° ii. Bearing angle : ±10° (with respect to the gun) iii. Power supply : 18
VDC to 32 VDC iv. Axes speed : At least 60°/s v. Axes acceleration : At
least 60°/s vi. Detection range : At least 1.5 nm
8.7.1.4 Gun RCWS. The 12.7 mm gun system shall fulfil or better than the
following configurations: a) The 12.7 mm shall be mounted on the
forecastle or upper wheelhouse.
b) The gun shall be mounted on the gyro stabilized platform.
c) The Turret provides: i. Elevation angle : Not less between 20° and +60
ii. Traverse angle : 360°. iii. Axes speed : At least 60°/s iv. Axes
acceleration : At least 60°/s² v. Power supply : 18 VDC to 32 VDC. vi.
Number of round : Not less 200 round/min. vii. Bullet. : 12.7 mm x 99 mm.
8.7.2 General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62 mm. Two (2) gun mountings
with pivot for swivel multi-direction to mount two (2) FN Herstal General
Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) 7.62MM (Open Bolt) Light Pintle Head
External Pintle Mounted at port and starboard side. The 7.62mm machine
Gun to be supplied by the Shipyard. The gun mounting shall be fitted with
bullet proof armor shield no less than NIJ level III fitted to the FPC.
8.7.3 A suitable locker for gun ammos is to be arranged with built-in
wooden gratings at floorboard.
8.7.4 Eight (8) Floating Bullet Proof life jacket (level III) each boat.

SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM DAN THERMAL IMAGER FORWARD
LOOKING INFRA RED (FLIR) – (FITTED TYPE) The FPC shall be fitted
with a Surveillance System : (a) One (1) x Unit uncooled SeaFLIR
Thermal Imager or equivalent. (b) The Thermal Imager unit must have
effective range at least 6 kilometres, gyro stabilization camera and 17”
monitor. (c) The Thermal Imager unit monitors shall be fitted at Detection
Station (Wheelhouse). (d) Open Array Radar – Capable detect 20 targets
and water proof at least IPx5. (e) 3D Sonar System – Min. depth 200 feet,
thru-hull transducer. (f) Global Positioning System – Capable to track 18
satellites simultaneously. (g) Automated AIS

One of FIC of Polis Marine procured from Gading Marine. Note the canvas cover above the stern deck. Gading Marine

Based on the above specifications, I believed Gading Marine G2000 Mk II FIC 18m class should be the favourite to win the tender. The boats – the older variant – are already in service with the Marine police (two) and the RMN (six). RMN is also getting 13 of the MK II FIC. The older variants of the G2000 FIC are not equipped with a RWS but the RMN Mk II version are equipped with a RWS.
Gading Marine G2000 Mark 18 metre FIC on display at MIEC. Note the RWS on top of the main cabin. Malaysian Defence picture.

— Malaysian Defence

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Marhalim Abas: Shah Alam

View Comments (18)

  • That is a very comprehensive tender description. Good job pdrm!

    Still I am waiting for the day that the marine police will eventually be merged with APMM.

    • It could be done in one day, really, if the government has the courage to do so.

  • Why would be Marine police want .50 mounted on these boats. Sounds like overkill to me. 7.62mm is ok…but .50 cal?. Who do they intend to apprehend?

    • Its good of them to use a 50 cal machine gun. It will enable them to distance themselves from their target

  • "The FPC shall fitted with Sea Rogue..."

    Isn't the Sea Rouge a RWS made by Reutech of South Africa?

  • When it is this detailed, they already know what they want and whom to get from.

    @Tom Tom
    Overkill is necessary to strike fear during approaching/boarding suspicious boats. When a pirate boat could be armed with 7.62mm AKs, an equal calibre opponent might not seem to be scary enough, but if a 50 cal is pointed towards them it might change their minds.

  • Interesting & understandable they went with Sea Rogue as its the sea-going version fitted onto the Gempita RWS variant.

  • If these boats are to be deployed in the waters around Sabah, I think the use of 50 cal is appropriate. IIRC among the weapons seized from Kiram's pirates in Lahad Datu included M16s with a grenade launcher attachment. That's some serious firepower.

    Personally I would've asked those boats to be fitted with grenade launchers too but that would really be an overkill.

  • 50 cal has an effective range of 1.8km and a maximum range out to at least 3km. In naval terms thats basically short range.

    • Yes but for a 19 meter boat it is good enough to take on trawlers and slightly bigger boats. If they want longer range weapon and more stopping, they could always go for 20mm or light 30mm. The 20mm is specified for the mother ship which the ministry had also tendered but had not make a decision.

  • "20mm is specified for the mother ship"
    I think that's more for self protection against larger ships rather than chasing down suspicious boats. Motherships are supposed to operate slightly behind the front line as support vessels after all.

    • From my post on the mothership, it is stated there that she will also be used as a patrol vessel as we do not have the luxury of numbers. So the 20mm gun will be useful in any scenario. As she is not built to chase boats around, the longer range 20mm cannon will be useful in firing at boats trying to run away from her. The ROE will guide her crew on when to use them.

  • 50cal is more than enough facing civil ships of 10-30m in length like trawlers, smuggler speedboats or wooden barter tongkangs. They will only use them usually within 300-600m range only.

    The gun+RCWS is used mainly to fire warning shots across the bow so to stop ships, which they usually do as they cannot outrun the very fast FIC. If speedboats try to run away then it will be used to disable outboard engines.