MMEA’s OPV1 ship starts inaugural patrol in S’wak
KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s (MMEA) first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV1) fully built in Malaysia has officially commenced its maiden operations with surveillance activities in Sarawak waters.
Home Ministry secretarygeneral Datuk Ruji Ubi said the vessel, measuring 83 metres long and 13.7 metres wide, was handed over to MMEA on Jan 2, and is capable of operating at sea for up to 21 days without the need to resupply.
He said the vessel, constructed using the Damen 1800 ship design, is capable of reaching speeds of up to 21 knots as well as operate in Force 7 conditions offshore.
“With the addition of this OPV for MMEA, we hope to enhance the security of the nation’s maritime borders, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, addressing threats to sovereignty and potential encroachments by foreign fishermen.
“We anticipate that MMEA will enhance its operational efficiency and services,” he said during a press conference following his official visit aboard OPV1 yesterday.
OPV1 is the fi h operational offshore patrol vessel for MMEA, complementing KM Arau, KM Pekan, KM Langkawi and KM Bangi.
He said the presence of OPV1, assigned to safeguard the state’s waters especially in Beting Patinggi Ali and Beting Raja Jarum, serves the additional purpose of minimising the risk of exploration and petroleum companies becoming targets of pirates, whilst keeping an eye out for smuggling and trafficking activities in Malaysian waters.
“The presence of OPV1 will strengthen the security operation in the Malaysian Maritime Zone, particularly within the South China Sea region which is an area crucial for economic activities and transit of commercial vessels linking the southern and northern parts of the sea,” he added.
According to Ruji, the naming ceremony for OPV1 is slated to be officiated by the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at Pending Port soon.
On plans to add aircra assets, he said works to procure four helicopters and one fixedwing aircra are already in the pipeline as the allocation of RM600 million had been approved.
According to him, the four helicopters will be stationed at the first Malaysian Maritime Air Base in the region, which is at the Sandakan Maritime Air Operations Centre in Sabah.
“We expect the helicopters to be acquired within 24 to 36 months and it will strengthen air operations in Sabah and Sarawak because MMEA at present only has one air operations centre in Subang, Selangor.
“The procurement of the assets is still in planning, but we believe this will strengthen our operations, particularly in the South China Sea waters near Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
On the progress of OPV2 and OPV3, he said both assets are anticipated to be delivered within the next two years, each currently at 76 per cent and 56 per cent completion, respectively.
“For OPV2, there is 24 per cent completion le , and for OPV3, about 43 per cent remains. Both are modeled a er OPV1.
“The total cost for all three OPVs is about RM740 million and these assets will enhance border control in the South China Sea region,” he said.
Earlier, Ruji flew from Kuching International Airport aboard an AW139 helicopter and landed on OPV1 to participate in the vessel’s maiden voyage.