Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) Maritime Enforcement

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will possess the first of three “new-generation” offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) to help fulfill its mission of protecting Malaysian waters. The 83-meter, 1,890-ton OPV is expected to be in service by the end of 2019.

THHE Destini Sdn Bhd has secured the contract for three offshore patrol vessels (OPV) for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. The contract is worth RM738.9 million, the company said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia on 19 January 2017. In a filing to Bursa Malaysia today, THHE Destini said, the contract, for 42 months, was expected to contribute positively to its earnings and net assets per share for the financial years ending Dec 31, 2017 to Dec 31, 2020. THHE Destini is a joint-venture company between TH Heavy Engineering Bhd’s (THHE) unit, THHE Fabricators Sdn Bhd, and Destini Shipbuilding and Engineering Sdn Bhd. By mid-2019, the first of class MMEA OPV, built by the THHE Destini JV, is expected to be launched late this year. Work on the three ships are progressing.

the MMEA OPV is derived from the Damen 1800 OPV design modified to suit MMEA requirements especially in increasing the number of personnel. The crew areas are designed like the Kedah-class fitted with attached bathroom facilities even for junior ratings. The extra manpower requirements meant that the hangar capable of storing a medium-twin size helicopter of the original Damen 1800 OPV design will not exist on the MMEA OPV. The ships however retain the helipad for the same helicopter. The OPV is expected to be equipped with a VTOL UAV though a final decision has not been made. The type chosen is expected to be a stand alone system with little integration with the OPV system.