MMEA has Taken Delivery of Four Fast Interceptor Boats

06 Desember 2011

With 2 x 895 kW MTU 8V2000 M93 diesels engine can boost the boat for 60+ knots (up to 70 knots available depending on engine and configuration selection), the boat endurance : 2 days without replenishment, and max range 300+ nautical miles (all photos : Defencetalk, Militaryphotos)

LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has so far taken delivery of four of the 10 ONUK MRTP16 fast interceptor craft constructed by BYO Marine Sdn Bhd under contract.

The official handing over and launch of the vessels, named PENGGALANG 10, 11, 12 and 13, yesterday was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the BYO Marine dockyard here.

The Malaysian government signed a contract with BYO Marine on Feb 18 this year for the delivery of 10 ONUK MRTP16 fast interceptor craft. Three of the boats were handed over in June, August and November, respectively, and one was handed over yesterday.

MMEA director-general Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said two of the delivered boats were constructed in Turkey and the other two, here.

“The remaining six are expected to be delivered in June next year. Of the six, two will be built in Turkey and four here. The fast interceptor boats will enhance our capability in undertaking operations,” he told reporters after the official launch and delivery ceremony.

The three boats delivered earlier have been put into operation in the northern and southern maritime regions to patrol the country’s maritime zones in the Strait of Melaka.

Each of the fast interceptor boats can reach a speed of more than 60 knots and can accommodate up to 10 crew at any one time. It takes only 15 minutes to reach the Kuala Perlis jetty from Langkawi compared to the one hour taken by passenger boats.

Besides anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations, these boats can be used in search-and-rescue operations and pollution control.

BYO Marine Sdn Bhd is a joint-venture company of Boustead Heavy Industries Defence Technology of Malaysia and Yonca-Onuk JV of Turkey.

(Bernama)