MUARA, Friday, 09 November 2018 – The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) welcomed the arrival of USNS FALL RIVER (FLR), the fourth Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (T-EPF-4) of the United States Sealift Command (MSC), at Muara Commercial Wharf. She was led by Captain Charles Black, Commanding Officer FLR. Present to receive them was Lieutenant Commander Haji Mohammad Arnold bin Haji Osman, RBN, Commanding Officer KDB BERKAT, representative from RBN.
USNS FALL RIVER is currently in Brunei to participate in Exercise CARAT (Cooperation, Afloat Readiness and Training) which will be held from Monday, the 12th of November 2018 to Friday, the 16th of November 2018. This Exercise will involve personnel and assets from RBN, along with the other units and departments of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the United States Navy (USN). RBN involvement includes the participation of KDB DARULAMAN, KDB BERKAT and Naval Surface Action Group (NAVSAG).
Exercise CARAT 2018 aims to enhance cooperation, build friendship and to strengthen professional skills amongst the Forces, Units and other Agencies involved. This year’s exercise will place emphasis on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in response to the changing security landscape of the international community, changing the focus of navies towards a more constabulary role.
This year’s exercise will comprise of 3 main phases; the harbor phase, sea phase and the post-exercise phase, which kick starts on Monday, 12th November 2018.
