MISC Hands Over Naval Auxiliary Vessel BM5 To Navy

23 Januari 2016

Bunga Mas Lima (photos : MISC, Tarbatness)

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- MISC Bhd has handed over a naval auxiliary vessel to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) that would be deployed to safeguard the Malaysian waters.

Joining the RMN's fleet, the Bunga Mas Lima (BM5) vessel, will also help strengthen the country's naval maritime defence strategy.

The handing over ceremony of the vessel, which held at the RMN Kota Kinabalu Naval Base today was graced by Navy Chief Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin and MISC President/CEO Yee Yang Chien.

BM5, a 699 TEUs container ship was the first Malaysian vessel to be converted into an naval auxiliary vessel and was tasked with escorting MISC ships to deter pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

The handing over ceremony of BM5 reflects MISC's dedication towards supporting the National Blue Ocean Strategy and RMN's role in safeguarding Malaysian waters.

"MISC's collaboration with the RMN in converting Bunga Mas Lima into a naval auxiliary vessel was a significant milestone for the company.

"It sets a bold precedent for the shipping industry as MISC was the first and only shipping company that has implemented this unique security arrangement to protect its ships, crew and cargo against piracy," Yee said in a statement today.

BM5 was launched on June 1, 2009 and throughout its involvement in RMN operations, codenamed Op Fajar, it has escorted 415 Malaysian vessels plying the Gulf of Aden and its adjacent area.

(Bernama)