A technical panel has finished testing the Chinese-made engine that is being proposed as the replacement for a German engine that was supposed to power the S26T Yuan-class submarine the navy is in the process of buying, Royal Thai Navy spokesman Pokkrong Monthatphalin said on Thursday.
The findings have been submitted to the navy's chief of staff, Adm Thaloengsak Sirisawat, for further consideration by the submarine procurement committee, Vice Adm Pokkrong said.
The improved version of the CHD620 engine was recommended by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) to replace the German-made MTU396 diesel engine that the government had stipulated it wanted to power the submarine.
However, a source in the navy said engineers at the Naval Dockyard disagreed with the recommendation, saying the engine has never been fitted on Chinese submarines.
"The dockyard fears it will be held responsible if the procurement committee decides to accept the recommendation and problems arise later on," the source said.
An initial assessment by the dockyard's technical committee failed to reach a conclusion as the engine cannot be tested at sea, so it could not determine whether the engine could be fitted on the submarine which the navy is in the process of buying, the source said.
All eyes are now on navy chief Adm Somprasong Nilsamai, as he will retire on Sept 30. It remains to be seen how his successor, Adm Choengchai Chomchoengpaet, will deal with the matter, the source said.
Previously, Adm Thaloengsak had stressed that any alternative must match the agreed specifications, saying if the engine passes the tests, there will be no need to amend the contract.
Under the contract, CSOC is permitted to make changes to any parts of the submarine as long as their replacements are of at least equal quality, he said.
But if the parts fail the tests, the contract must be terminated, and the two sides will have to hold talks to discuss compensation or a refund, he said.
