RMN's submarine for first Pacific exercise
Published on: Wednesday, May 04, 2016
SEPANGGAR: The Royal Malaysia Navy's (RMN) Submarine Escape and Rescue-Intervention (SMER-I) vessel, Mega Bakti, set sail for Jinhae, South Korea on Tuesday to participate for the first time in the Pacific Reach Exercise 2016 from May 23 until June 3.The multinational SMER exercise is a collaboration with the United States Navy and involves submarine operating countries in the Asia Pacific region.According to Submarine Force Commander Rear Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob in the past, Malaysia had been invited as observer but this time around, RMN will be participating in the exercise and bringing their asset as well.ADVERTISEMENT "Mega Bakti is assigned as a platform for the US Navy's submarine search and rescue system. The Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression System will be installed when the ship arrives in Jinhae, South Korea on May 11."After installation, Mega Bakti will undergo testing before participating in the actual exercise starting from May 23 to June 3 in Jinhae," he said to reporters after the sending-off of Mega Bakti at the submarine base in Sapanggar Naval Base, here.The triennial exercise aims to demonstrate the capabilities and effectiveness of the SMER system of the submarine operating nations involved.In addition, the exercise accentuates the latest SMER technology and rescue concepts from the United States of America, Republic of South Korea, Singapore and Japan.ADVERTISEMENT "Mega Bakti's participation is in line with the long-term planning of the RMN's Submarine Force, particularly in the development of the submarine escape and rescue capabilities."Previously, Mega Bakti was merely involved in routine assignments and internal exercises with RMN's assets only.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Her participation in this large-scale exercise definitely will determine the true capabilities of the vessel and give an opportunity to the RMN personnel and crew on-board to gain knowledge and experience in realistic and multifaceted rescue scenario," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
Twelve RMN personnel from Submarine Force Headquarters and 30 crew members of Mega Bakti will be involved in the exercise. On completion of the exercise, Mega Bakti is expected to return to Kota Kinabalu on June 21.The sending-off ceremony was officiated by Abdul Rahman and the Managing Director of Target Mega Marine Sdn Bhd, Dato' Sofiadin Jaafar, and witnessed by the Sabah Marine Department Director Benjamin Bernard Bijion and Target Mega Marine Sdn Bhd CEO Rear Admiral (Retired) Datuk Mohammad Rosland Omar.