Here We Go Again…Malaysia Ship Problem

KUALA LUMPUR: It appears that the new ship hoodoo has struck RMN again as work to commission both training ships – PCU Gagah Samudera and Teguh Samudera – has floundered as the builder, NGV Tech Sdn Bhd, is alleged to be in a financial bind. 

Industry sources stated that the alleged financial trouble was so bad that the creditors had threatened to take possession of the two ships, which was only prevented when the government gave an emergency grant to the company.

Efforts to contact NGV Tech for comments was futile as calls made to its listed telephone number went unanswered.

Industry sources said Gagah Samudera was now berthed at the RMN Hydrography Centre in Port Klang while Teguh Samudera reportedly remained at NGV Tech yard in Sinjangkang, Banting. 

Both ships are not expected to be commissioned this year. Gagah Samudera was launched on Dec 14, 2012 by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor while Teguh Samudera launched by Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali on Feb 27, last year. Both were supposed to be commissioned within six months.

NGV Tech signed the RM294 million contract with RMN for the construction of the training vessels at LIMA 2011.

RMN Chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar when met today after signing an MOU with Boustead Naval Sdn Bhd declined to specify details of the problems affecting both ships apart from saying that it was under purview of the Secretary General of the Defence Ministry. He said at least five shipyards were interested in reviving the project.

During his speech at the launch of Teguh Samudera, Abdul Aziz had call on the government for a follow-up contract for at least four more of 75-metre hulls for training and patrol duties. For more details on the technical aspect of the ship go here. 

Meanwhile, Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor said today the LCS project “was on track and on schedule for delivery as stipulated by the contract in 2018″.

A close-up of the BNS Gowind Frigate

He said work on the ship’s design, systems and building process had started two years ago using simulation and virtual design tools. He, however, was unable to confirm exactly when the construction of the first of the six-class ship will start at the BNS yard in Lumut.
“It will be by the middle of the year,” he said when pressed for an exact date. 

Asked whether the engines and generators for LCS has been selected, he confirmed the ships will be fitted with four diesel engines and four generators. Pressed to name the engines, he said “MTU”. Generators “Also MTU,” he answered.

On the missile systems, Ramli said “More or less it had been selected. But as the LOA has not been signed I am unable to announce the missile systems. Maybe Tan Sri Aziz will want to announce it,” he added. However, Abdul Aziz declined to confirm the missile systems.

For the record, only the missile systems – SSM and SAM – remained the major sub-systems of the LCS that has yet to be confirmed as the rest had been made public via Boustead releases. Meanwhile the DCNS-designed CMS is undergoing “land integration tests” to ensure its ready for installation when the ship are ready.– Malaysian Defence

Sumber :  Malaysian Defence