SHAH ALAM: Training Ships delayed again. The never ending saga of the two RMN training ships, PCU Gagah Samudera and Teguh Samudera, continues. I had reported before that Gagah is expected to be commissioned soon and the navy even fixed the date for it, Nov. 14.

Two weeks before that however, I have to report that Gagah commissioning has been postponed. I was not told the reason for the delay but it appears that it will take a while as no one will even dare estimate the new commissioning date.

Several months ago I was told that Boustead Naval Shipyard had decided not to bid for the job to complete the two training ships following surveys on both the ships. The surveys, I was told concluded that both ships were not in a good shape and it will take more money and time to complete them.

In short, the funds allocated for the completion was too low and the deadline was too tight for them to make any profit from the project. Initially I thought this was just idle talk from officials who lost a tender but it appears that the continuing travails over the two ships seemed to justify the BNS decision not to bid for the project.

For the record, Grade One Marine Shipyard Sdn Bhd in Lumut, was awarded the deal to complete the two ships.

Gagah Samudera was launched on Dec 14, 2012 while her sister ship, Teguh Samudera – pennant number 272 – on Feb 27, 2013. Both were supposed to be commissioned within six months after their launch at the NGV Tech Sdn Bhd yard in Sinjangkang, Selangor.

For more on the training ships, please read the previous posts on the issue for context. Here, Here and Here

Ironically, I was informed of the delay of Gagah’s commissioning after I inquired of her status following a tweet by an RMN officer, most likely the CO of the ship. He had tweeted on Oct. 27, pictures of the ship “on her first sea trials.”

From the pictures, we can ascertained most of her equipment including the MSI 30mm gun and Kelvin Hughes Sharp Eye navigation radar have been installed. I was not told about the problems that is delaying the commissioning but I am assuming it must be quiet substantive.

As for the LMS, an update will be coming in a few days.

BTW,Happy Deepavali!

— Malaysian Defence

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