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| KDB DARULAMAN docked in Darwin with Thai & Indonesian ships |
By Zulyamin Noor, RBN
Muara, Monday 24 September 2012 – Kapal Diraja Brunei (KDB) DARULAMAN arrive at home port, Muara Naval Base this morning after a comprehensive naval exercise codenamed KAKADU in Darwin Australia held from 29 August to 14 September 2012. Welcoming the arrival of KDB DARULAMAN was First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy.
Exercise KAKADU which has been in existence for the last 22 years, is an annual multi-lateral naval exercise hosted by the Australian Navy. Royal Brunei Navy first operational participation at exercise KAKADU this year marked another significant milestone for Royal Brunei Navy to being a regional player in ensuring security and prosperity of our maritime domain.
The main focus of Exercise KAKADU this year was interopearability in a multi lateral maritime warfare operations. This has in many ways gave opportunities to warships from participating navies and KDB DARULAMAN officers and men to institutionalise greater need for a common operational doctrine. Some 15 navy ships including submarines, 14 aircrafts and 2000 men from eight navies including Australia, France, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei took part in what has been one of the biggest multi-lateral naval exercise in Australia and in the region.
KDB DARULAMAN under the command of 408 Lt Col (L) Pg Mohammad bin Pg Haji Damit made their 8 days voyage to Darwin, Australia on Sunday, 20 August 2012. Their sailing route include passage through Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Strait of Makassar, Java Sea, Lombok Strait and Timor Sea. Their intense sea phase exercise in North Coast, Australia began on the 2 September for a duration of 11 days at sea. KDB DARULAMAN return voyage has recorded some 2,415 nautical miles of valuables high sea navigation training and ships husbandary for the officers and men onboard.
Also present at the welcoming ceremony in the Muara Naval Base today were senior officers, officers, personnel of RBN and families members of KDB DARULAMAN.