Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Saturday commissioned its newest Offshore Patrol Vessel, KM Bendahara, to strengthen maritime security and enforcement in Sabah waters and the South China Sea.
Formerly the United States Coast Guard cutter USCGC Steadfast, the vessel was acquired under the United States' Foreign Military Sales programme and arrived in Kota Kinabalu in November last year after a 49-day, 12,600-nautical-mile delivery voyage.
Home Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr Awang Alik Jeman said the commissioning reflects the Government's commitment to strengthening maritime security, with more than RM30 million allocated for the vessel's refurbishment, maintenance, crew training and delivery to Malaysia.
He said KM Bendahara will operate alongside KM Tun Fatimah and KM Arau, enhancing MMEA's operational capability in Sabah, where the agency had carried out 27,933 inspections, 12,892 vessel searches and 142 arrests involving seizures worth RM91.53 million as of June 30 this year.
MMEA Director-General Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the vessel, operated by a crew of 50, is Malaysia's first successfully completed Foreign Military Sales acquisition of a maritime vessel and remains operationally capable following extensive refurbishment under a Ship Life Extension Programme.
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