KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has received its first Bay-class patrol vessel from Australia, Malaysian state sources said here the other day.
The boat, ACV Arnhem Bay , is the first of two vessels to be donated by Australia under an AUD1.2 million (USD0.9 million) arrangement established in February 2014. The vessel has been re-christened Kapal Maritim (KM) Perwira .
The second vessel is expected to be delivered by mid-2015.
The Bay-class vessels have been in service with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service since 1999. The Australian government announced in 2010 that it will be replacing the class with eight, larger Cape-class patrol vessels.