South Shields based Solar Solve Marine have recently dispatched their first order for SOLASOLV world class marine screens to the Malaysian Navy. It was won by their World Wide distributor based in Malaysia against stiff competition. The marine screens will be installed at all of the wheelhouse windows on the KD LEKIR.
One of two German-built Kasturi class frigates that were delivered in the early 1980s, KD LEKIR was chosen for the Malaysian Navy Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), which is aimed at extending the life of some vessels in the fleet by 10 years. As well as the new marine screens for the navigation bridge windows, that will reject glare, heat and uv light, the vessel will also receive other significant items of equipment including radar and fire control upgrades.
Solar Solve’s Managing Director, Julie Lightfoot commented, “After several years of searching we have managed to find an active company in Malaysia that is committed to Solar Solve and its products and has the necessary attitude, ability and determination to win. The Malaysian Navy has been a very difficult customer to win over but now that we have we are confident that we stand an excellent chance of becoming a main supplier thanks to the efforts of our partner representative in the country.”
The U.S. and Royal Malaysian Navy vessels KD Lekir (F26, leading), guided-missile frigate USS Ford and KD Sri Inderapura sail in formation on 14 July 2008 during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises involving the United States and several Southeast Asian nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness.
