MUARA, Monday 24 October 2022 – The Marine Police, Royal Brunei Police Force (POLMAR, RBPF) and the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) have commenced their four (4) days bilateral exercise today. The exercise, code-named SEMBILANG, is the 16th in its series of exercises.
The objectives of the exercise are to enhance force interoperability between both national maritime security agencies as well as to foster good working relationships through sharing and building a common operating picture between the two agencies. Exercise SEMBILANG, over the years, has aimed to enhance mutual understanding and improve the implementation of agreed procedures as well as to establish a sense of camaraderie between both units at a very high level. The concept of this year’s Exercise SEMBILANG is to focus on maritime security in joint operations in tackling Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported Fishing (IUU).
Participation in this year’s exercise includes KDB SYAFAAT and the Naval Surface Action Group (NAVSAG) from RBN and the Special Operations Unit from POLMAR, RBPF. Exercise SEMBILANG 16/22 will be conducted in 3 phases: harbour phase, sea phase and final phase. The harbour phase will be carried out for two days consisting of PLOTTEX, information sharing, ops discussion, as well as theoretical and practical boarding workshop coordinated by NAVSAG. Additionally, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Fisheries Department and the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam have also participated in the information sharing this year.
The opening ceremony of Exercise SEMBILANG 16/22 was officiated by Senior Superintendent Matusin bin Haji Jumat, Acting Director of the Operations Department of RBPF which took place at Tenang Room at POLMAR, RBPF Headquarters in Muara. Also present during the ceremony was Captain Khairil Haji Abdul Rahman, the Fleet Commander of RBN, Deputy Superintendent Police, Kasnol bin Haji Mohammad Kincho, the Acting Commanding Officer of POLMAR, RBPF, Lieutenant Commander Nazurah binti Haji Mahaleh, the Commanding Officer of KDB SYAFAAT and officers from RBN and POLMAR, RBPF.
