SUNDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER 2014, PUERTO PRINCESA – The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the Philippines Navy (PN) have concluded the bineal Bilateral Exercise codenamed Exercise SEAGULL 06/14. RBN ships KDB DARUTTAQWA and KDB SYAFAAT had arrived at Port of Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Republic of Philippines after completing two days journey from Muara Naval Base on Saturday, 8th November 2014.This year’s Exercise SEAGULL 06/14 was hosted by the PN and aims to enhance the interoperability between the two navies in combined naval operations as well as to provide participating personnel the experience of working together and developing camaraderie. Participating ships from the PN were BRP GREGORIO DEL PILAR and BRP APOLINARIO MABINI.
Exercise SEAGULL 06/14 was conducted in three phases namely Harbour Phase, At-Sea Phase and Post-Sea Phase. The Harbour Phase consisted of several professional exchange programs and interactions that included Operations & Communications Conferences, Subject Matter Expertise Exchange (SMEE) and Night Encounter Exercise (NEX) planning and briefing.
A courtesy call by both RBN Commanding Officers Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil Haji Abdul Rahman and Major (L) Pengiran Mohammad Fahmy Pengiran Haji Sallehuddin was made to Vice Admiral Alexander S Lopez, Commander of the Western Command (COMWESCOM) and Commodore Manuel Natalio A Abinuman, Commander of Naval Forces West (CNFW) at the Headquarters of the Western Command (HWESCOM).All ships from both the RBN and PN sail-off for the At-Sea Phase on Thursday, 13th of November 2014 and due back on Friday, 14th of November 2014. Exercises conducted at sea included transiting through Minefield, Tactical Ship Maneuvers, Gun Firing, NEX and Maritime Interdiction Operations which ended by Vessel Board Search & Seizure.
The safe and successful execution of the sea phase had proven that the understanding and interoperability of both navies in conducting combined operations.Upon completion of the At-Sea Phase, both participating navies convened for After Action Review session where all the lessons learnt were shared and reviewed for the benefit of future exercise. Sports interaction such as soccer, volleyball and tug-of-war was also organised between combined team of RBN and PN to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between both navies.
On the same day the Closing Ceremony and the deactivation of Task Group 41.1 was conducted by CNFW at Multi-Purpose Hall, Naval Station Apalinario Jalandoon. Also present during the event was the Fleet Commander (FC) of RBN, Lieutenant Colonel (L) Haji Yusuf bin Masron who was also the Guest of Honour. In the evening, FC RBN hosted a Cocktail Reception onboard KDB DARUTTAQWA for all participating personnel. KDB DARUTTAQWA and KDB SYAFAAT leave Port of Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Sunday the 16th of November 2014 and due to arrived Muara Naval Base on Tuesday the 18th November 2014.
