The second Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Scorpene submarine, 'KD Tun Razak', recently built by France's DCNS, reached the Lumut naval base for an official homecoming ceremony on the second of July.
'KD Tun Razak's' voyage between DCNS facilities in the south of France and Malaysia lasted 64 days. Following the navigation plan, the Royal Malaysian Navy sailed the submarine 7283 nautical miles through the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Malacca Straits before reaching home.
During its journey, the submarine stopped in four ports of call: Alexandria (Egypt),
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Salalah (Oman) and Cochin (India). At next stop Teluk Sepanggar in Malaysia, 'KD Tun Razak' will go through scheduled maintenance before comprehensive sea trials in the tropical waters of the region.
The contract between the Malaysian government and DCNS for two Scorpene submarines and associated logistics and training was signed in June 2002. 'KD Tunku Abdul Rahman', the first Malaysian submarine reached home in September 2009.
With a displacement of 1,550 tonnes for a length overall of 67.5 metres, each boat requires a crew of just 31 and offers an endurance of 45 days.
