Navy commandos storm hijacked liner
Adrian David
Mar 29:
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THE Royal Malaysian Navys (RMN) commando unit, Paskal, stormed a
cruise liner hijacked by terrorists northwest of Pulau Pangkor,
rescuing some 600 passengers and crew in a dramatic
operation.
Four teams of 12 Paskal members boarded the ship while another
descended from an Ecureuil helicopter using the "fast rope"
technique.
Within minutes, it was all over. The commandos overpowered 12
"terrorists" who were later removed from the ship.
The drama was a simulated exer-cise by the RMN.
The exercise a simulated night boarding but carried out during
the day was held in conjunction with "Eksesais Kerismas 24/2004"
that will end on April 10.
Briefing the media on board the multi-purpose command and control
ship KD Sri Indera Sakti, RMN Fleet Operations Command chief
Laksamana Madya Datuk Ramlan Mohamed Ali said the liner was
"hijacked" shortly after it left Port Klang for Penang.
The Paskal members were directed to undertake the tactical "special
ship boarding" mission after negotiations between the Government
and the terrorists, who "seized" the MV Fajar Samudera in Malaysian
waters early yesterday morning, reached a dead-lock. (The Fajar
Samudera is actually one of RMN's training ships and acted as a
cruise liner for the exercise).
"The scenario comprised a group of terrorists in high-speed boats
who took control of the liner after boarding it just after dawn.
"They wanted a ransom and seve- ral other demands. The liner
managed to send out a distress signal to its owners Pelangi
Shipping Sdn Bhd," Ramlan said.
Present at the briefing were RMN Region One commander Laksamana
Pertama Mohammed Nordin, who was also the exercise co-ordinating
chief, and Paskal commander Kdr Jamalludin Mohd Samad.
Ramlan said after negotiations were exhausted, the order for the
rescue mission, using the sub-surface, surface and aerial assault,
was given.
Paskal members in high-speed rigid hull inflatable boats, a Super
Lynx and a Eurocopter AS 355 Ecureuil helicopter, along with
support ships KD Sri Negeri Sembilan (patrol vessel), KD Lekiu and
KD Jebat (both frigates) and KD Mahawangsa (multi-purpose command
and control vessel), were deployed for the mission.
Using ropes, the Paskal members from the boats boarded the liner
from the rear while another team used the "fast rope" technique to
descend from the Ecureuil, on loan from Malaysia Helicopter
Services.
Ramlan said the liner was used to present a greater challenge for
the navy in dealing with terrorism and piracy on merchant and
passenger vessels in Malaysian waters.
Eksesais Kerismas 24/2004, involving more than 23 vessels, 13
aircraft and more than 3,500 men, began in waters off the Lumut
naval base on Wednesday before moving to waters surrounding Pulau
Pangkor.
It proceeds to the South China Sea where it will end at Tanjung
Gelang off Kuantan.
"The exercise is to test the battlereadiness and inter-operability
of the navy using realistic elements. It involved three phases
base defence and disaster control, conflict with a neighbouring
country and regional maritime war," Ramlan said.
The exercise also saw for the first time the deployment of five of
the newly-acquired Augusta Westland Super Lynx helicopters from the
frigates KD Jebat and KD Lekiu.
The Super Lynx is a multi-role helicopter for anti-surface and
antisubmarine warfare as well as search and rescue
operations.
The RMN will also deploy the helicopter from the Meko-100 New
Generation Patrol Vessels.
