KA Bunga Mas Lima

KA Bunga Mas Lima (BM5) is a container freighter purchased by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and converted into an auxiliary ship. Bunga Mas Lima was the second ship owned by the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) to be deployed to the Gulf of Aden.

KA Bunga Mas Lima (BM5)
History
Malaysia
Name: KA Bunga Mas Lima (BM5)
Builder: Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering
Launched: 7 March 1996
Acquired: 1 June 2009
Commissioned: 1 June 2009
Identification:
Status: In active service
General characteristics
Type: Auxiliary multi-purpose support ship
Displacement: 9,000 tonnes
Length: 132.80 m (435.7 ft)
Beam: 22.7 m (74 ft)
Draught: 7.5 m (25 ft)
Propulsion:
  • Heavy Fuel Oil Tank (used for cruising) - 540 tonnes
  • Marine Diesel Oil Tank (used for generator) - 50 tonnes
  • Cylinder Oil Tank - 11,000 L
  • Fresh Water Tank - 980 tonnes
Speed: 17.0 knots (31.5 km/h; 19.6 mph)
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 x Fennec AS555 or Super Lynx
Aviation facilities:

Hangar

Helicopter landing platform

Development

The Bunga Mas Lima was built at Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering in Pasir Gudang, Johore together with her sister, KA Bunga Mas Enam (BM6). She was launched on 7 March 1996, and was subsequently purchased by the Malaysian Government.[1] The conversion included modifications to accommodate extra crew, fittings for launching rigid hull inflatable boats, a helicopter deck to accommodate landing and a hangar. The foreword crane of Bunga Mas Lima was taken out since its presence inhibited helicopter landing while the 2nd crane were rested to the starboard side of the ship above the hangar.

Labeled as auxiliary vessel and manned by MISC crews, conscripted into the navy reserve, with Malaysian Armed Forces special operations on board, the ship is a signal that new warships are badly needed by the navy to fill in the gap on the absence of multipurpose support ships as all of them had been sent to Gulf of Aden during the piracy breakout.[2] The ships, KD Sri Inderasakti, KD Mahawangsa and KD Sri Inderapura are either undergoing refurbishment or engaged in other duties within Malaysian waters.

However, the current RMN warships, especially the multipurpose command and support ship and the LST, were not fitted with a helicopter hangar but only a landing pad, which is why the RMN opted to have a vessel such as Bunga Mas Lima. Without a hangar, it is almost impossible for a taskgroup to rely on to helicopter operations, as they cannot maintain and service the helicopter especially in rough sea conditions.

On the contrary, the frigates and the New Generation Patrol Vessels (NGPV) had themselves equipped for helicopter operation, with an enclosed hangar and a landing pad capable of receiving an Agusta Westland Super Lynx or a Eurocopter AS-555 Fennec helicopter.

Major operation
  • In January 2011, the Royal Malaysian Navy foiled a hijacking attempt on the Malaysian-flagged MT Bunga Laurel chemical tanker carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride. The KA Bunga Mas Lima responded after receiving a distress signal from the Bunga Laurel. A Fennec attack helicopter was used to pin down the pirate mothership as PASKAL commandos boarded the tanker. The commandos injured three pirates in the battle to retake the ship. 23 crew members were rescued and seven Somali pirates were detained.[3]
  • On 5 February 2011, the Bunga Mas Lima was on duty in the Gulf of Aden and sailed to the Port of Adabiya, about two and a half hours' journey south of Cairo, to ferry 500 Malaysian students out of Egypt during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Besides the Bunga Mas Lima, the Royal Malaysian Air Force deployed a C-130 Hercules. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia also made special rescue flights out of Cairo to bring Malaysian students home.[4]

References
  1. Abas, Marhalim (3 June 2011). "MV Bunga Mas Lima Goes Pirate Hunting". Malaysian Defence.
  2. "9th Ops Fajar of Bunga Mas 5 begins". New Straits Times. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011.
  3. "Paskal commandos foil hijack attempt in Gulf of Aden". The MalayMail. 2 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011.
  4. "Govt to bring M'sian students out of Egypt - Najib". The Star. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 February 2011.
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