Malaysia plans to get a fleet of 27
Offshore Patrol Vessels {OPV} for their long term naval upgrade -
with the first delivery of 9 vessels to be completed by
2009.
KD Kedah - sister ship to KD
Pahang - built to class MEKO A100 specs
Navy to get more offshore patrol
vessels
By CLARA CHOOI - The Star, 12 November
2007
LUMUT: More offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) will be built for the
Royal Malaysian Navy after they have taken delivery of the initial
six craft by 2009, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun
Razak.
However, he said, the vessels would be built in stages and in
accordance with the Governments financial means.
We will continue with the programme as many of the navy ships are
uzur dan usang (old and rundown), he told reporters after
launching and naming ceremony of the third patrol vessel at
Boustead Naval Shipyard here Monday.
Najib, who is also the Defence Minister, said the initial plan was
to build 27 of such new generation patrol vessels to ensure the
navy has an able fleet to carry out its duties.
When the time comes, the Government will decide on the
continuation of the project.
Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings
Bhd, currently has an OPV contract with the Government to design,
construct and deliver six vessels to the Navy.
The first two vessels KD Kedah and KD Pahang were delivered to
the RMN last year. The third vessel was named KD Perak and launched
by the Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun on Monday.
The third vessel was the first to be fully constructed at the Lumut
naval base using local manpower and expertise.
The fourth vessel is expected to be ready around the same time as
the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007
exhibition in December while the last two should be ready by the
end of 2009, said Najib.
He said the construction cost for all six vessels was estimated
over RM6bil.
