MT Bunga Mas Lima

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. 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. 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.
 * 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.