Source: The Star Online
Sunday February 27,
2005
Patrol vessels project hits a snag
KOTA TINGGI: The RM5bil project to build new generation patrol
vessels has hit a snag, causing a delay in the handing over of the
first two vessels to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN).
According to the contract, the navy was supposed to receive the
ships last September, said RMN chief Admiral Datuk Seri Mohd Anwar
Mohd Nor.
However, due to some technical problems during the sea trials, the
handing over of two vessels, PV1 and PV2, has been postponed to
July, he said.
The remaining four patrol vessels are scheduled for completion by
June 2008, Admiral Mohd Anwar said after a ceremony to open the KD
Sultan Ismail naval base, formerly known as the Naval Recruit
Training Centre (Pularek) at Tanjung Pengelih in Pengerang
here.
Johor's Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ismail performed the ceremony to
name and commission the base yesterday.
Admiral Mohd Anwar added that the training package for the
personnel to operate the vessels was also behind schedule.
In 1999, the Government had signed a RM5.35bil contract with Penang
Shipbuilding-Naval Dockyard to build six vessels.
Admiral Mohd Anwar said the PV1 and PV2 vessels were 98% completed
and were currently undergoing sea trials to rectify minor technical
problems and then the vessels would be handed to the navy.
The contract specified that the ships had to successfully pass all
sea trials. We will not compromise on that, he added.
He said the other four vessels were being built in Pulau Jerejak,
Penang, and Lumut.
Earlier, Sultan Iskandar said he was proud of the bases new name,
which was in memory of his late father Sultan Ismail, who was the
first honorary captain of the RMN.