MUARA, Monday, 08 September 2014 – His Royal Highness General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Waddaulah, The Crown Prince, Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and General of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) consented to commission the new Patrol Vessel of DARUSSALAM Class, DARUTTAQWA. The ceremony was held at the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Muara Naval Base.Upon the arrival at Muara Naval Base, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Commander of RBAF, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah and Commander of RBN, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit. His Royal Highness also consented to receive the Royal Salute and inspected the Guard of Honor by the RBN Personnel, led by Major (L) Haji Norariwwin bin Ali.
The event continued with the Commissioning Ceremony of the new Patrol Vessel on the ‘Flight Deck’ of DARUTTAQWA. The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Captain Ariffin bin Amit, Assistant Head of RBAF Religious Department.
Onboard, His Royal Highness was presented with a brief description of new Patrol Vessel DARUTTAQWA by the Ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman. His Royal Highness consented to commission the Patrol Vessel and handed over the Commissioning Pennant to the Commanding Officer of DARUTTAQWA. This ceremony has officially given the title “Kapal Diraja Brunei” (KDB) before the name DARUTTAQWA and operationalised the ship into the service.
His Royal Highness had the opportunity to visit the ship and see the variant of the ship as a platform for operational as well as training ship and joined the officers and crew of KDB DARUTTAQWA for a photo session in conjunction with the Commissioning Ceremony. Before leaving, His Royal Highness consented to sign the Royal Parchment and received a Pesambah presented by the Officers and Crew.
The Patrol Vessel was launched and given the name “DARUTTAQWA” on the 22nd August 2013 by His Royal Highness Lieutenant Prince ‘Abdul Mateen ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Waddaulah at the Fr Luerssen Werft (FLW) shipyard, Bremen, Germany. Prior to the launching and naming ceremony, several significant milestones in building the vessel had taken place namely the Steel Cutting Ceremony on the 25th May 2012 and the Keel Laying Ceremony on the 12th July 2012.
KDB DARUTTAQWA arrived in Muara Naval Base on Saturday, 30th August 2014, after her 46 days Maiden Voyage from Bremen, Germany and made port of calls to various ports namely, Port of Valencia, Spain; Jeddah Islamic Port, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Indira Dock, Port of Mumbai, Republic of India and lastly Changi Naval Base, Republic of Singapore.
The Patrol Vessel measuring 80 meters long and 13 meters wide is the fourth sistership of the DARUSSALAM Class; after KDB DARUSSALAM, KDB DARULEHSAN and KDB DARULAMAN which were commissioned by His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in 2011.
