DTN News: Malaysia Says First Submarine Unable To Dive

DTN News: Malaysia Says First Submarine Unable To Dive *Source: DTN News / AFP

(NSI News Source Info) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - February 14, 2010: Malaysia's first submarine, a European-made Scorpene delivered last September, has developed problems that make it unfit for diving, the defence minister said Thursday. The Royal Malaysian Navy placed a contract for two Scorpene submarines in June 2002. The first vessel, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, was launched at DCNS Cherbourg in October 2007. It was handed over in January 2009 in Toulon and arrrived in Malaysia in September 2009. The second, Tun Razak, was launched at Navantia Cartagena in October 2008 and is to commission in late 2009. DCNS is building the bow sections, Navantia the aft sections.

In October 2005, India placed an order for six Scorpene submarines. The submarines will be built at the state-owned Mazagon dockyard in Bombay, with technical assistance and equipment from French companies DCN and Thales. At the same time, India also placed an order for 36 MBDA SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles to arm the submarines. Construction of the first vessel began in December 2006 and is scheduled to be delivered in December 2012. One submarine will be delivered each year until 2017. In December 2008, Brazil placed an order for four diesel-electric-powered submarines based on the Scorpene. The submarines will be built by a joint venture company set up by DCNS and Odebrecht of Brazil and will enter service in 2015. The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman sailed into a grand reception last year as the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia for a total of 3.4 billion ringgit (961 million dollars). Named after the country's first prime minister, it was hailed as an important acquisition despite opposition allegations of corruption in the deal. "The submarine can still dive but when we detected the defects, we were advised that it should not dive," Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters. "The (parts found with) defects are still under warranty so the supplier and contractor are repairing them," he added. Navy chief Abdul Aziz Jaafar said a problem first emerged in the submarine's cooling system last December. After being fixed, another defect was identified in a different system last month. "We hope it can dive again after February 18 so we can carry out the tropical water trials," Abdul Aziz told reporters. The navy chief said the second submarine, the KD Tun Razak which is named after the nation's second premier, is expected to arrive from France on May 31. It was originally scheduled for delivery in late 2009. The two submarines have attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002. Malaysia's opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Razak in brokering the contract. Najib has denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was defence minister.

DTN News: Malaysia TODAY September 4, 2009 ~ Malaysia's First Ever Submarine Arrives To Acclaim

DTN News: Malaysia TODAY September 4, 2009 ~ Malaysia's First Ever Submarine Arrives To Acclaim

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media

(NSI News Source Info) PORT KLANG, Malaysia - September 4, 2009: Malaysia's first ever submarine was delivered Thursday to colourful fanfare and a royal visitor, in an acquisition that the government said "completes" the country's navy. Malaysia's first submarine, "KD Tunku Abdul Rahman", docks in Port Klang outside Kuala Lumpur September 3, 2009. The French-made "KD Tunku Abdul Rahman", the first of the two Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines ordered by the Malaysian Navy, made a port call on Thursday in Port Klang for a welcoming ceremony on its maiden voyage from Toulon in France to Sepanggar in east Malaysia. The "KD Tunku Abdul Rahman" was named after the Malaysian first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj. The European-made Scorpene submarine is the first of two commissioned from French contractor DCNS and Spain's Navantia for a combined total of 3.4 billion ringgit (961 million dollars). The second submarine is scheduled for delivery in late 2009. "With the arrival of the first submarine, our navy is now complete as it has an air component, a sea component and now a submarine component," defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters. The KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, named after the nation's first prime minister, sailed into a grand reception at the navy's deepwater Pulau Indah base in Port Klang, an hour's drive from the capital Kuala Lumpur. A naval band struck up martial tunes as the jet-black vessel, decorated with bunting and with its captain Zulhelmy Ithnain in the viewing tower, docked at the pier, which was packed with Malaysian and foreign naval dignitaries. Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was given a tour of the submarine, which set sail 54 days ago from the French port of Toulon, where the vessel was built. Naval officials said the submarine would be based in Sabah state, on Borneo island, where it will undergo fine-tuning before it is deployed in search and rescue and military exercises. The two submarines have long attracted controversy since the deal was signed in 2002. Malaysia's opposition claims that a 540-million-ringgit commission was paid to a close associate of now-Premier Najib Razak in brokering the deal. The prime minister, who also attended Thursday's ceremony, has denied there was any corruption in the deal, which was made when he was defence minister.

DTN News: Navantia Launches Two Ships For Venezuela

DTN News: Navantia Launches Two Ships For Venezuela

*Sources: DTN News / Navantia ~ dated June 24, web-posted June 30, 2009 (NSI News Source Info) SAN FERNANDO-Puerto Real shipyard, Spain - June 30, 2009: On 24th. June, Navantia launched, at the San Fernando-Puerto Real shipyard, the first of the four Economic Zone Patrol Boat (PVOZEE) and the third of four offshore patrol boats (OPV’s) that are being built for the Venezuelan Navy. The vessels were named “Caribe” and “Naiguatá” and were christened by Dinorah Villasmil de Mata and Alma Pura Blanco de Padrón. Attending the ceremony were, among others, the Vice-chairman of SEPI, Federico Montero, and the San Fernando-Puerto Real shipyard's General Manager, Fernando Miguélez. The PVOZEE has a length of 98.90 meters, a displacement of 2,200 tonnes and a maximum speed of 25 knots. The missions are the control of the economic exclusive zone, search and rescue and also anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.The OPV has a length overall of 79.90 metres and the capacity to displace 1,500 tonnes and reach a maximum speed of 22 knots. These ships will be able to carry out a wide variety of missions such as coastal surveillance and protection, protection of maritime traffic, health assistance to other ships, external firefighting, the fight and control of marine pollution, transport of personnel and provisions, search and rescue operations, rapid intervention, frogmen support, surface defence and passive electronic warfare. The contract for these 8 patrol boats, whose construction will mean 5 million work hours (1,456,900 for Navantia and 3,580,700 for auxiliary industry), was signed on 28 November 2005. Their deliveries are scheduled to take place between October 2009 and July 2011.

Navantia Lays Keel for First Spanish OPV / Navantia Lays Keel For Spanish Navy’s First “BAM”

Navantia Lays Keel for First Spanish OPV / Navantia Lays Keel For Spanish Navy’s First “BAM”

(NSI News Source Info) March 18, 2009: On 13th. March, the San Fernando-Puerto Real Shipyard laid the keel for the Spanish Navy’s first ”BAM”. This milestone, which was organised as a work ceremony, sees slipway construction work start on the first of the four ships, which is scheduled for delivery at the end of 2010.

Navantia and the Spanish Navy signed the Work Order on 31 July 2006 for four BAM's whose construction will mean 3,130,000 work hours, 270,000 of which are devoted to engineering tasks.

Its main characteristics are:

- Length Overall 93.90 m

- Maximum Beam 14.20 m

- Depth to Flight Deck: 9.90 m

- Full Load Displacement: 2,505 t

- Average Draft at Full Load: 4.15 m

- Maximum speed: 20.5 kn- Autonomy (at 15 knots): 8,000 miles

- Provisions Autonomy: 35-40 days

- Crew: 35 (+5)

- Transport Personnel: 35 (+1)These ships will be able to carry out diverse missions, such as supporting State Forces and Security Services in the control of maritime zones, sea rescue, protection and control of sea traffic, environmental protection and the fight against pollution, among others.

Navantia Launches Second OPV for Venezuela / Navantia Launches Second Patrol Boat For Venezuela

Navantia Launches Second OPV for Venezuela / Navantia Launches Second Patrol Boat For Venezuela

(NSI News Source Info) March 16, 2009: On 11st. March, Navantia launched, at the San Fernando-Puerto Real shipyard, the second of four offshore patrol boats (OPV’s) that are being built for the Venezuelan Navy. The vessel was named “Yaviré” and was christened by Dña. Marieta Chapín de Yibirín. Attending the ceremony were, among others, the Venezuelan Ambassador to Spain, Alfredo Toro, the Vice-chairman of SEPI, Federico Montero, the Chairman of Navantia, Juan Pedro Gómez-Jaén and the San Fernando-Puerto Real shipyard's General Manager, Fernando Miguélez. The patrol boat launched today has a length overall of 79.90 metres and the capacity to displace 1,500 tonnes and reach a maximum speed of 22 knots.

Venezuelan Navy, Coast guard ships -Four (4) spanish made OPV class BVL (on order) delivered in 2009~2010. CG-21 Guaicamacuto, under construction, CG-22 Yavire, under construction, CG-23 Naiguata, under construction and CG-24 Tamanaco, under construction. These ships will be able to carry out a wide variety of missions such as coastal surveillance and protection, protection of maritime traffic, health assistance to other ships, external firefighting, the fight and control of marine pollution, transport of personnel and provisions, search and rescue operations, rapid intervention, frogmen support, surface defence and passive electronic warfare. In addition to the CPV’s, Venezuela also ordered four ocean-going Exclusive Economic Zone Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV’s) with a length overall of 96.6 metres, displacement of 2,300 tonnes and a speed of 24 knots, which are being built in Puerto Real. The contract for these 8 patrol boats, whose construction will mean 5 million work hours (1,456,900 for Navantia and 3,580,700 for auxiliary industry), was signed on 28 November 2005. Their deliveries are scheduled to take place between October 2009 and July 2011.

Navantia Lays Keel Of Fifth F-100 Frigate

Navantia Lays Keel Of Fifth F-100 Frigate

(NSI News Source Info) February 25, 2009: On January 20, the Fene-Ferrol shipyard laid the keel of F-105, the fifth F-100 frigate ordered by the Spanish navy. With this event, the shipyard began assembly of the ship on its launching slip; the ship is to be completed in 2010 and delivered in the summer of 2012.

The Álvaro de Bazán class (also known as the F100 class of frigates) are a new class of Aegis combat system-equipped air defense frigates entering service with the Spanish Navy. They are being built in the Spanish factory of Ferrol and are named after Admiral Álvaro de Bazán.

F-105 incorporates several modifications compared to earlier ships of its class, including improvements to the construction process and experience learned during operations of the previous ships. For example, living quarters will be improved, as will the command and control system, while a new radar, Lockheed Martin’s Aegis 1 D(V) will be installed. In addition, other modifications will be made so as to reduce maintenance costs.

The construction order for F-105 was signed on July 5, 2006 and its construction began on June 2007, with the cutting of the first steel plates.

Navantia Launches Final Norwegian Frigate / The Frigate F-314 “Thor Heyerdahl” Is The Fifth And Last Of The Series That Navantia Has Built......

Navantia Launches Final Norwegian Frigate / The Frigate F-314 “Thor Heyerdahl” Is The Fifth And Last Of The Series That Navantia Has Built For The Royal Norwegian Navy

(NSI News Source Info) February 13, 2009: Navantia has launched on 11st. February, at 17:12 p.m., in the Fene-Ferrol shipyard, the fifth frigate for the Royal Norwegian Navy, the F-314 frigate “Thor Heyerdahl”, named after this famous XX centuryNorwegian explorer.

HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, the fifth and final frigate built by Navantia for the Norwegian navy, is launched was Feb. 12, 2009.

The launching has taken place as an internal work milestone, after the cancellation of the official ceremony, scheduled for 9th. February, due to the worst weather conditions. The Godmother has been Miss Elisabeth Heyerdahl Lampe, great grandaughter of the explorer, and has been attended by NDLO General Director, General Trond Karlsen, as most relevant participant from the Royal Norwegian Navy. As an internal event, Navantia has been represented by the Fene-Ferrol shipyard, Angel Recamán Rivas.

The keel of this frigate was laid last March and the ship is expected to be delivered in September 2010, finalising the programme for the construction of 5 F-310 class frigates. The contract was signed in June 2000, after an international tender, in which Navantia competed with the most important european shipyards, and was until the contract with Australia, the biggest exportation contract in the history of naval construction in Spain.

Main characteristics:

-- Length overall: 123.25 m.

-- Maximum beam: 16.80 m. -- Depth to main deck: 9.50 m.

--Full load displacement: 5,130 t.

-- Design draught: 4.90 m.

-- Crew: 146 people