KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Navy's (RMN) second Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) has completed its first-level painting process, says the shipbuilder, Lumut Naval Shipyard (Lunas).
The process, Lunas said, allows further work to be completed on the ship.
"Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Two has completed the blasting and first level of the painting process, marking a significant milestone in its construction journey.
"It will later transition to further surface preparation and coating applications to ensure all critical areas meet the required standards," Lunas said in a Facebook post on Monday.
Blasting and painting is a process in shipbuilding where steel surfaces are prepared using abrasives before being exposed to the elements.
The process ensures that any contaminants, such as general dirt, grease, rust, calamine, or scale, are removed to prevent interference and obstruction between the paint coating and the steel.
Lunas said these essential procedures ensure the ship's surface is ready as it moves progressively to the next stages of construction.
"Additional layers of coating will be meticulously applied to enhance durability and resilience in demanding maritime conditions.
"This progress brings us closer to the much-anticipated completion of LCS Two," the statement read.
On Nov 14, Lunas announced that the first LCS, KD Maharaja Lela, had successfully completed its upslip process.
The upslip is a critical milestone in the vessel's construction, ensuring the ship's physical readiness.
This phase is essential to guarantee that all onboard systems, structural components, and key functions undergo thorough inspections and refinements to meet construction standards.
With the completion of the upslip process, Acceptance Tests and Harbour Trials are expected to be conducted later by the RMN.
In March, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the first LCS hull was expected to undergo harbour and sea trials in November once construction progress reached 85 per cent.
He said both trials would take approximately two years, with the first LCS expected to be commissioned by 2026.