BHIC expanding defence, security business
Group will also enhance shipbuilding expertise to meet navy’s needs
BOUSTEAD Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC) has expanded its scope to support a full range of defence and security requirements for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the army.
BHIC executive deputy chairman and managing director Tan Sri Ahmad Ramli Mohd Nor said the company was also committed to enhancing its shipbuilding expertise for the defence sector.
“We are involved in servicing and maintaining army weapons and defence radar.
“These are in addition to building new assets for the Royal Malaysian Navy, namely littoral mission ships (LMS) and newgeneration patrol vessels (NGPV),” he told NST Business recently.
Ramli said BHIC aimed to reinforce its capabilities to serve the navy’s “15-to-5” transformation programme.
The programme involves a reduction of 15 classes of vessels to five — which are LMS, multi-role support ships, littoral combat ships, NGPV and submarines.
“The development of the LMS and the second batch of the NGPV features high local content, involving high levels of technical skills among local workers,” he said.
He added that BHIC owned the designs of the vessels and had spent considerably in developing the human capital.
BHIC is building four LMS with its sub-contractor, a Chinese shipbuilding company.
Two units are being built in China, of which the first will be delivered in the middle of next year. The other two will be built at the Boustead Naval Shipyard in Lumut.
The LMS contract is valued at RM1.17 billion.
BHIC successfully delivered six NGPV in 2012, when parent company Boustead Group took over the contract secured in 1998 by Penang Shipbuilding and Construction Industries Bhd (PSCI).
Boustead Group acquired a major stake in PSCI in 2005.
Ramli said BHIC was undertaking the second phase of the NGPV project and aimed to nurture local vendors.
He said BHIC was also keen to promote its products overseas, and efforts were underway to engage with potential clients.
Ramli said BHIC recently secured several government contracts, mainly repair and maintenance works for commercial vessels at its shipyards in Penang and Langkawi.