MT Bunga Mas Lima

History
Malaysia
Name:	MT Bunga Mas 5
Namesake:	MT Bunga Mas 5 of the First Fleet
Builder:	Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering
Launched:	1997
Acquired:	1 June 2009
Commissioned:	1 June 2009
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 ltrs Fresh Water Tank - 980 tonnes
Speed:	17.0 knots (31.5 km/h; 19.6 mph)
Armament:	Medium arms FN MAG FN Minimi Mk 19 grenade launcher
Aircraft carried:	1 x Fennec AS555 or Super Lynx
Aviation facilities:	Helicopter deck, hangar facilities

MT Bunga Mas Lima (BM5) is a container freighter purchased by the Royal Malaysian Navy and converted into an auxiliary ship. Launched in Malaysia on 2008, BM5 was the second ship owned by the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC) to be deployed to the Gulf of Aden following its launch on 8 August at the Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd shipyard in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

Construction and acquisition

BM5 was built at Malaysian Marine and Heavy Engineering in Pasir Gudang, Johore together with her sister, Bunga Mas Enam (BM6). She was launched in year 1997, and was purchased by the Malaysian Government when the MISC Bhd, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Navy and the National Security Council converted the MT Bunga Mas Lima to escort and protect its ships sailing through the pirate-infested gulf off the coast of Somalia.^[1] BM5 was conversion including modification 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 it 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 immposible 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 NGPV`s had themselves equipped for helicopter operation, with an enclosed hangar and a landing pad capable of receiving an Agusta Westland Super Lynx or an Eurocopter AS-555 Fennec helicopter.

Operational history

• In January 2011 the navy foiled a hijacking attempt against the Malaysian-flagged MT Bunga Laurel chemical tanker carrying lubricating oil and ethylene dichloride. The navy ship BM5 responded after receiving a distress signal from the ship. A Fennec attack helicopter was used to pinned down the pirate mothership as commandos boarded the tanker. The commandos injured three pirates in the battle to retaking the ship. 23 crews were rescued and seven Somali pirates were detained.^[3]
• On 5 February 2011, BM5 vessel on duty in the Gulf of Aden sailed to the Port of Adabiya, about two and a half hours' journey from the south of Cairo, to ferry the 500 Malaysian students out of Egypt during the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Besides the RMN BM5, the Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Hercules, Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia also made special flights to Cairo to bring the 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. 
3. ↑ "Paskal commandos foil hijack attempt in Gulf of Aden". The MalayMail. 2 February 2011. 
4. ↑ "Govt to bring M'sian students out of Egypt - Najib". The Star. 22 January 2011. 

External links

• Bunga Mas Lima container-carrier

Ships of the Royal Malaysian Navy
Submarines	Perdana Menteri class KD Tunku Abdul Rahman KD Tun Abdul Razak
Frigates	Gowind class TBA Lekiu class KD Jebat KD Lekiu
Corvette	Kasturi class KD Kasturi KD Lekir Laksamana class KD Laksamana Hang Nadim KD Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil KD Laksamana Muhammad Amin KD Laksamana Tun Pusmah
Mine countermeasures vessels	Mahamiru class KD Mahamiru KD Jerai KD Ledang KD Kinabalu
Offshore patrol vessels	Kedah class KD Kedah KD Pahang KD Perak KD Terengganu KD Kelantan KD Selangor
Hydrographic survey vessels	Perantau class KD Perantau KD Mutiara
Fast attack vessels	Perdana class KD Perdana KD Serang KD Ganas KD Ganyang Handalan class KD Handalan KD Perkasa KD Pendekar KD Gempita Jerung class KD Jerung KD Todak KD Paus KD Yu KD Baung KD Pari Sri Tiga class KD Sri Tiga KD Sri Gaya
Auxiliary vessels	Others TLDM Bunga Mas Lima TLDM Bunga Mas Enam
Miscellaneous vessels	Combat support ship KD Sri Indera Sakti KD Mahawangsa Training ship KD Hang Tuah KLD Tunas Samudera MV Fajar Samudera MV STS Puteri Mahsuri KD Gagah Samudera KD Teguh Samudera Tugboat KTD Penyu KTD Sotong KTD Kepah