Battleship docking at Lumut coast

Rahmat, proudly engraved on this warship

Rahmat Maritime Museum

Do you enjoy movies like the Battleship and dying to experience one? If you are curious about stepping into a real warship, well there is one that docked off Lumut coast. To be exact, KD Rahmat warship is berthing at the coast of Lumut Waterfront Marina Wing. She is now known as Rahmat Maritime Museum and visitors are welcome aboard. It is a real life learning experience but it is nothing like what you see in the Battleship.

View of Lumut Waterfront Marina Wing from the deck

A little background about KD Rahmat F24 quoted from the brochure: She was the first major warship built for Royal Malaysia Navy in  1966. Originally, she was configured as an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate but she was later transformed to a training vessel for the Malaysian Navy in the year 2000. Now, she has retired and is serving as a maritime museum since September 2011.

Malaysian flag, Jalur Gemilang, flying high

First, in order to board this ship, you need to purchase tickets at the booth in front of it. Then, as you step into the warship, you will be greeted by the personnel on duty. This is not a guided tour. The personnel is only there to give some guidance if needed. Every room is labelled and a short description (in Malay and English) is pasted on the door. So, you just need to read it yourself and you will not get lost if you follow the arrow sign on the floor. We explored every nook and corner of the ship with the exception of the engine room. We spent two fruitful hours taking exhaustive shots of the ship interior and exterior. 

Yachts docking near Rahmat

A few interesting pointers: 

• Our first stop in the warship was the washroom as we needed to ease ourselves. It was small and old but clean though we did not expect anything lavish. After all, this is not a cruise. So, this could help you put yourself in the shoes of those navies who had used them before.

The toilets: clean but very small

• The control room has a commanding view. That is where the captain sits and navigates the ship. 

Control room

• The excitement built up as we walked along the narrow long corridor that linked to different rooms like the sick bay, berths, laundry room, supply room, their canteens, switchboard room and we were amused by the complicated look of the switchboard and the numerous and thick wiring on the ceiling and wall.

Thick wiring all over the ship

More and more switches and not to mess with them

• Even the water piping was also on top of our heads. They were all not concealed. The ceiling was not very high at some point. I guess it was not higher than 1.8 metre. 

The narrow corridor in the ship

High-ranking officer's berth: looks more comfortable

• High-ranking officers got to enjoy better facilities like their own berths, cafe and also karaoke room. But the crews slept in bunks, eight to a cabin.

These bunks are for the crews

• Some notable rooms are like the karaoke room, the communication room and the operation room (now, it is called Zain Hall, a conference room). 

The karaoke room (only for high-ranking officers)

Communication room

Operation room: the grandest place to be in

• Enjoy breathtaking view at the deck. 

The deck

Admission Fee (per entrance):

Visitor                                   : RM 24 

Adult (with MyKad)              : RM 12 

Children below 12 years old  : RM 7

Children below five years old : Free of charge

Opening hours:
Wed to Mon (10 a.m. to  6 p.m.)
Closed on Tuesday

They also provide overnight packages and hall rental.

Contact number : 05-6887707 / 7923

Website             : www.warshiptour.com

Lumut's background:

Lumut is a naval town in Perak, Malaysia and it is also famous for its seafood. Pangkor island, the popular island getaway, is just located opposite Lumut coast and one can get to Pangkor island by boarding a ferry at Lumut jetty.