Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	PRINCE HALL, NAGASAKI PRINCE HOTEL, 
			JAPAN
Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	PRINCE HALL, NAGASAKI PRINCE HOTEL, 
			JAPAN
Tarikh/Date	:	22-05-2002
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE LUNCHEON IN COMMEMORATION OF 	
			THE NAMING CEREMONY OF PUTERI 
			INTAN SATU
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM 
		    


     I  am  honoured to be given the opportunity to say  a
   few  words at this luncheon held on the occasion of the
   naming  of  Puteri  Intan Satu, the latest  LNG  tanker
   purchased    by    Malaysia   International    Shipping
   Corporation Berhad (MISC).
   
   2.     Today's  ceremony to commemorate the  naming  of
   Puteri  Intan Satu indeed marks an important  milestone
   in  the  growth  of  MISC's shipping  business.   MISC,
   which is now a subsidiary of PETRONAS, has come a  long
   way  since  its  delivery  of  the  first  shipment  of
   liquefied  natural  gas  from  Bintulu  to  Tokyo  Gas'
   Sodegaura  Terminal in February 1983.  From an  initial
   fleet  of  only  five vessels under the Tenaga  series,
   MISC  has now expanded its LNG tanker fleet to 13  with
   a  gross capacity of 1.36 million cubic metres,  making
   it  the single largest LNG fleet owner and operator  in
   the  world.  This represents about 10 per cent  of  the
   total world capacity.
   
     3.    The  coming into service of Puteri Intan  Satu,
   the  first  of six additional new LNG  tankers  ordered
   by  MISC,  will  further consolidate the  Corporation's
   leading  position in the global LNG shipping  business,
   a status which all Malaysians could take pride in.
   
   4.     As  a country aspiring to a greater role in  the
   shipping industry in the world, Malaysia needs to  have
   a  substantial  indigenous  merchant  fleet  owned  and
   fully  operated  by its own nationals, in  addition  to
   efficient   port  and  marine  infrastructure,   modern
   shipbuilding and repair facilities, a sound network  of
   inland    transportation   and   up-to-date    training
   facilities  for  a  competent maritime  human  resource
   base.
   
   5.      In  this  regard, I would like to commend  MISC
   for   the   successful  implementation  of  its   Cadet
   Training  Programme  which  has  produced  a  pool   of
   skilled  Malaysian  personnel  to  ensure  the  smooth,
   efficient and safe operation of its ships.  I am  happy
   to  note  that Puteri Intan Satu will be the  first  of
   the  Puteri  and Puteri Satu class LNG  tankers  to  be
   fully  manned by Malaysians.  It is my hope that  other
   Malaysian  ship owners and operators will  emulate  and
   build   on  MISC's  efforts  in  developing  the  local
   capabilities  and expertise required  by  the  shipping
   industry  in Malaysia.  MISC will continue  to  play  a
   leading  role in the development of the national  fleet
   to  meet  the  goals and aspirations  embodied  in  the
   country's vision to become a fully developed nation  by
   the year 2020.
   
   6.      It  is  gratifying to note that some Malaysian-
   made  materials  have been used in the construction  of
   Puteri  Intan Satu.  I understand that a company  under
   the  part  supervision of Mitsubishi  Heavy  Industries
   Ltd  has been set up in Malaysia to specially undertake
   the  production  of the vessel's cargo tank  insulation
   boxes  which  are a critical and specialised  component
   of  the  LNG tanks, using Malaysian plywood.   Although
   this  constitutes  a  small  percentage  of  the  total
   content of the tanker, the experience gained from  this
   project  will  bring  about far reaching  benefits  for
   Malaysia,  especially in spurring  the  development  of
   local  capabilities which will in turn help  promote  a
   higher   percentage  of  Malaysian   content   in   the
   remaining   Puteri   Satu  class  tankers   now   being
   constructed as well as other vessels in the future.
   
   7.      I  would  like  to  take  this  opportunity  to
   congratulate    Mitsubishi   Heavy    Industries    for
   successfully   securing   the   contracts    for    the
   construction  of  three  of  the  Puteri   Satu   class
   vessels.  The  high quality of workmanship demonstrated
   in  the construction of the first tanker, Puteri  Intan
   Satu,  reflects  the  capability  of  Mitsubishi  Heavy
   Industries Shipyard and the efficiency of the  Japanese
   shipbuilding  industry, which has  come  to  be  widely
   recognised  and  appreciated for its  good  quality  of
   work and high standards of construction.
   
   8.      I  would also like to extend my congratulations
   to  members  of the MISC project team who  have  worked
   closely   and   diligently   with   Mitsubishi    Heavy
   Industries on a job well done.  Being involved  in  the
   shipbuilding project from the pre-contract stage  right
   up  to  post  delivery  will no doubt  enable  MISC  to
   better  manage and operate its vessels in  its  mission
   to   provide  excellent,  world-class  service  to  its
   customers worldwide.
   
   9.      Finally, I would like to once again  thank  the
   Board  of  MISC  for  their  kind  invitation  and  for
   according  me the honour of naming Puteri  Intan  Satu.
   May   I  also  express  my  sincere  gratitude  to  the
   Chairman  of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for  the  warm
   hospitality extended to us here today.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
    




    
    

             
 


 









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