Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) joins Seagull Exercise

Photo - Mindef Brunei

The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) will be participating in an exercise code-named SEAGULL.
This year’s exercise will be the sixth series and hosted by the Philippine Navy (PN) in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Island, Republic of Philippine.This exercise is scheduled to commence on the 10th until 15th November 2014. RBN vessels that will partake in the biennial exercise this year are Patrol Vessel KDB DARUTTAQWA and Fast Patrol Boat KDB SYAFAAT.

The vessels are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman and Major (L) Pg Mohd Fahmy bin Pg Haji Mohd Sallehuddin respectively, with a total complement of 95 personnel, including officers, crew, one section of the Naval Surface Action Group (NSAG) and attachments. Also joining the deployment is the Sub-Lieutenant course, consisting of 10 course participants and three instructors.This is a significant achievement for RBN as this will be the first time an RBN vessel invites course participants to join them onboard for deployment. In hopes of gaining professional knowledge, the Sub-Lieutenant course participants will cover mostly on Coastal and Astro Navigation.Among those in attendance during the departure ceremony were First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Commander of RBN. Also present were Colonel (L) Pg Norazmi bin Pg Haji Muhammad, Deputy Commander of RBN, Lieutenant Colonel (L) Yusuf bin Masron, Fleet Commander, RBN senior officers, officers and men, as well as family members of the deployed personnel.

To bless the farewell ceremony, a Doa Selamat was recited by LCpl Mohd Norhadi bin Harun from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Religious Department. With the participation of RBN in Exercise SEAGULL 06/14 it provides an opportunity for both navies to strengthen its relationship and enhance mutual co-operation on common security concerns. This exercise will also set a historical milestone for KDB DARUTTAQWA as this will be her first bilateral exercise as well as deployment eversince her commissioning on 8th September 2014.