Media Personnel Learn About Life At Sea Onboard KD Kasturi

By Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri LANGKAWI (Kedah, Malaysia), July 2 (Bernama) -- Life on a ship may not be something that most Malaysians are willing to put themselves through, especially since it means being away from the loved ones for long periods of time. Sometimes the sea assignments could take up to a month or even up to a year at a time. Such is the life of the crew of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) onboard KD Kasturi who spend more time at sea than on land in protecting the country's waters and sovereignty from threats. Recently, 35 media personnel from local and international media experienced first-hand the joys and pains of life at sea when they spent a day onboard KD Kasturi. The KD Kasturi based at RMN's third regional headquarters in Bukit Malut, Langkawi (in northern Kedah state) was on a three-day (May 27-29) search and rescue (SAR) operation for Rohingya refugees off Malaysia's waters in the north. COMBAT BOAT EXPERIENCE The group was instructed to register at the operations centre to join the SAR operation as soon as they arrived at the navy headquarters at 8.30am (May 28, 2015). They were then each provided a special RMN pass and safety jacket bearing their name before being given a briefing by Lt Commander Karimah Awi on the mission. Shortly after, they boarded a combat boat the CB90 that could cruise up to 45 knots to get to KD Kasturi which was out in the open sea conducting the SAR. The 30 minute ride was challenging, to say the least, as the group braved powerful ocean waves and erratic weather. The turbulence proved to be too much for some and left them dizzy and nauseous, a clear indication of sea sickness. POWERFUL As they reached the vessel, the media group could not help but gawk at the sheer size and sophistication of KD Kasturi. The ship, which is part of the navy's 22nd Corvette Squadron, stood tall and magnificent at sea. Built by Blohm Voss (HWD) Shipyard in Kiel, Germany, the KD Kasturi commissioned on Aug 15, 1984 was the most modern and capable ship in the navy then. The vessel has been actively involved in patrols, especially in detecting submarine activities in the Spratly Islands at South China Sea that is at the centre of a territorial dispute involving several countries. The vessel's name was derived from Hang Kasturi, a heroic figure from the Malay 15th-century epic narrative Hikayat Hang Tuah. RMN also boasts for another three vessels named after Hang Kasturi's contemporaries - KD Lekir, KD Hang Tuah and KD Lekiu. PATROL During the SAR mission the ship's long range radar detected two boats believed to be ferrying illegal immigrants, which had encroached on Malaysia's territorial waters at the Malaysia-Thailand sea border. Both boats were found in Sector F, north of Langkawi Straits namely the Chinchin Straits. However, the boats turned away to Thai waters after they became aware on the presence of the ship. The media personnel got excited when KD Kasturi commanding officer Captain Shahrum Shaim shared this information with them. They were then taken into the ship's bridge and given a briefing on RMN's long range radar that has the capability of detecting objects at night using infra-red sensors and provide three-dimensional graphics. The challenges faced by navy personnel while carrying out the mission is not the same as their counterparts on land as the sea is so vast and there is always the risk of trespassing neighbouring waters. LIMITED ACTIVITY OUTDOORS Though the group was only onboard for a day, boredom began to sink in after being disconnected from the outside world. Use of electronic gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets were limited due to the poor telecommunication signal, making it difficult to send and receive data. The view was monotonous, miles and miles of open sea under the hot scorching sun, except for small islands that appear on and off along the route. The experience reminded the writer how priceless the sacrifice of navy personnel was in protecting the country's waters. Their dedication and commitment to the country pushes the crew of KD Kasturi to get on with their task. There is nothing much the 97 metre long vessel could offer them besides entertainment through VCDs, karaoke and conversations with colleagues. When carrying out patrols or exercises at sea, the ship's crew miss out on current events around the world because television broadcasts and news sources are hard to come by. Under the SAR operation themed 'Ops Sekat', the vessel had patrolled 1,959.75 nautical miles off the waters of Langkawi and north of the Straits of Melaka. The SAR mission involved 17 officers and 107 crew, as well as the KD Ledang and KD Lekir vessels. -- BERNAMA