The contract
signed at the end of March will remain in force for over two years (on
May 31 2017).
This new agreement makes it possible to extend the through-life support
time for the two 2000 type Scorpène submarines currently in service
before the beginning of their first major maintenance campaign. Indeed,
the Tunku Abdul Rahman should start its period of unavailability for
major repair and overhaul (ROH) in November 2015 and the Tun Razak in
June 2017.
The contract also covers the operation and maintenance of the industrial
infrastructures dedicated to the maintenance of submarines berthed at
the Sepanggar naval base of Kota Kinabalu as well as part of the procurement
required to carry out future ROHs.
DCNS and Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd (BHIC) thus consolidate
their position as service providers for these two submarines through
their joint subsidiary BDNC, owned by the two partners respectively
holding 40 and 60%. Boustead DCNS Naval Corporation (BDNC) was set up
in June 2009 to enhance the Malaysian strategic self-reliance and local
participation. BDNC, through its industrial organization, supports and
develops local industries. Up to now, more than 30 local companies have
been involved and operate in the Submarine maintenance activities.
This cooperation with the Royal Malaysian Navy offers BDNC the opportunity
to play an important role in helping Malaysia to maintain and develop
a submarine force. BDNC is completely committed to allow Malaysia to
be in the exclusive club of navies with a submarine force.
These two DCNS products were delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy respectively
in January and October 2009. The two 67.5 m long submarines displacing
1,550 tons are operated by a Malaysian crew of 31 and have an endurance
of 45 days. |
