Royal Brunei Navy Receives KDB Daruttaqwa

GERMAN-(IDB) : The Acceptance Ceremony of the fourth Darussalam Class Patrol Vessel, DARUTTAQWA was held today at Luerssen Wharf in Lemwerder, Federal Republic of Germany. DARUTTAQWA’s construction began in 12 July 2012 and the vessel had successfully carried out harbor trial and sea trial and test earlier this year.

Present at the Acceptance Ceremony were the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah and Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, Permanent Secretary (Administration & Finance). Also in attendance during the ceremony was Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Pehin Datu Penglima Colonel (R) Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil bin Haji Ahmad.

Welcoming the delegation at Luerssen Wharf was the Managing Director of Fr Luerssen Werft (FLW), Mr Peter Luerssen. The Acceptance Ceremony began with a welcoming remark by the Managing Director of FLW and followed by a reciprocal remark by the Permanent Secretary (Administration & Finance).

The ceremony also saw the signing of Ship’s Delivery & Acceptance Certificate between the Managing Director of FLW and Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah bte Haji Umar, Permanent Secretary (Administration & Finance). This was later followed by the handing over of Brunei National flag and RBN ensign by the Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) to the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, who then handed over to the Commanding Officer of DARUTTAQWA.  The delegation then witnessed the flag hoisting ceremony onboard DARUTTAQWA, led by Captain (L) Haji Mohd Arnold bin Haji Osman, Assistant Warfare Officer of DARUTTAQWA.

Concluding the Acceptance Ceremony, recitation of Doa was read by Captain (L) Haji Abd Hafiz Mubarak bin Haji Rusli, Navigating Officer of DARUTTAQWA before embarking onboard DARUTTAQWA for ship’s tour and group photo.

DARUTTAQWA is a Patrol Vessel 80 Variant 2 (PV80-V2) with a length of 80 metres, width of 13 metres and armed with Marine Light Gun 27mm.  The ship is equipped with Scanter Surface & Air Search Radar for surveillance.  As with her sisters, DARUTTAQWA is featured with helicopter landing pad that is operational both by day and night.  Stern launch Rigid Inflatable Craft (RIC) is another feature of this vessel,  that functions for interception of fast target and to carry boarding team for investigation.  The ship is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman.

The ship will begin its maiden voyage in mid-July from Lemwerder, Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany to Muara, Negara Brunei Darussalam.  DARUTTAQWA will sail across the North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean, Straits of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea, through Suez Canal, Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and South China Sea over 46 days.

Source : Mindef