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Muara Naval Base

Coordinates: 05°01′56″N 115°04′54″E / 5.03222°N 115.08167°E / 5.03222; 115.08167
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Muara Naval Base
Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara
ڤڠكالن تنترا لاوت موارا
Muara, Serasa, Brunei-Muara in Brunei
Muara Naval Base
Muara Naval Base in 2013
Muara Naval Base is located in Brunei
Muara Naval Base
Muara Naval Base
Coordinates05°01′56″N 115°04′54″E / 5.03222°N 115.08167°E / 5.03222; 115.08167
TypeNaval base and headquarters
Site information
OwnerGovernment of Brunei
Operator Royal Brunei Navy
Controlled byMinistry of Defence
ConditionOperational
Websitenavy.mindef.gov.bn
Site history
Built1974; 50 years ago (1974)
In use1974–present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Capt Mohamad Sarif Pudin (acting)
GarrisonFleet of the Royal Brunei Navy

Muara Naval Base (Malay: Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara) is a naval base which serves as the headquarters and main operating base for the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN; Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, TLDB).[1] It is situated approximately 4 kilometres (2 miles) from Muara Town, Brunei-Muara District, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.[2][3] The naval base is located near the mouth of the Brunei River, which flows into the Brunei Bay.[4]

History

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During World War II, then occupied Muara was previously used by the Japanese Navy as a naval base until the country was liberated by the Australian 9th Division.[5] The Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR), specifically, the administration of First Sea Battalion, was relocated to its current location at Muara in 1974.[6] Among many international visitors to the naval base, the United States Navy (USN) warship USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073) was berthed at Muara Naval Base in 1989.[7] In 1991, Brunei ordered three Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes, which were planned to be based at the naval base.[8] However, due to a contractual dispute with their manufacturer, all three ships of the class were never commissioned into the navy.[9]

In 1997, the base's upgrade project costed B$140 million, in which it included the construction of a new 314 metres (1,030 feet) long quay, shiplift, and renovation of its existing facilities.[2] The project was carried out in order to facilitate the three new Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel.[10] Between 2007 and 2012, ammunition and explosive storage bunkers were constructed not far from the base, at Kampong Kapok.[2][11]

Another B$44.6 million project was started in July 2011, to provide new accommodation facilities for the base's personnel, workshops, technical buildings, and car parks.[2][12] During BRIDEX 2011, the Royal Brunei Navy celebrated its 46th anniversary at the naval base (and jointly at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre),[13] in which twenty-four warships from ten countries were invited to attend.[2][13]

On 29 May 2013, as part of a state visit to Brunei, President of Singapore Tony Tan visited the Muara Naval Base.[14] On 23 February 2014, a 172 metres (564 feet) long roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) car carrier Trans Future 2 collided with KDB Berkat and another Ijtihad-class patrol boat while in port.[15][16] Later in May, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah landed his Sikorsky S-70 at the naval base in which he visited the KDB Afiat and witnessed a naval exercise.[17] Later that year on 11 November, the 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT Brunei 2014) between the United States and Brunei began at the naval base.[18][19]

On 12 November 2018, the 24th annual CARAT began at the naval base, in which it involved several exercises in the South China Sea with USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4).[20] The 25th annual CARAT was once again held at the naval base on 31 October 2019.[21]

Units

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Three naval divisions are based in the naval base:

  • Operation Division[22]
  • Administrative Division[22]
  • Support Division[22]

Facilities

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There are several facilities located within the naval base:[23]

  • Royal Brunei Navy Primary School
  • Royal Brunei Navy Mosque[24]
  • Multi National Coordination Centre (MNCC)[25]
  • Naval Training Centre (NTC)[26]
  • Training Administration Office
  • War Training Room
  • Fire–Fighting Training Room
  • Learning Management Centre (LMC), operated by the Royal Brunei Training Services (RBTS)
  • Multi–Purpose Hall
  • Vanguard Logistic Store[27]
  • Surau Al-Huda[28][29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RB Navy organisation". MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy, Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Muara Naval Base – Muara Naval Base is the main headquarters of the Royal Brunei Navy, part of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). It is located in Pekan Muara". Naval-Technology.com. Naval Technology, Verdict Media Limited. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  3. ^ Mohamed Deli bin Ahmad (1993). Brunei-Muara District. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. p. 18 – via Google Books.[failed verification]
  4. ^ Schwarz, Jürgen; Herrmann, Wilfried A.; Seller, Hanns-Frank (2002). Maritime Strategies in Asia. White Lotus Press. p. 452. ISBN 978-974-480-008-4. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Saunders, Graham (5 November 2013). A History of Brunei. Routledge. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-136-87394-2. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Royal Brunei Navy history". MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison: Royal Brunei Navy, Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  7. ^ Brunei Darussalam newsletter. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. 1989. p. 20 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Carpenter, William M.; Wiencek, David G., eds. (2005). Asian Security Handbook: terrorism and the new security environment (3rd ed.). M.E. Sharpe. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7656-1552-7. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "Ships Monthly - September 2007 news". ShipsMonthly.com. Ships Monthly, IPC Media Ltd. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  10. ^ "GHD Annual Review 2002 / 2003" (PDF). GHD.com.au. GHD Pty Ltd. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2008.
  11. ^ Brunei Darussalam long-term development plan. Government Print. Department, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam. 2007. p. 208 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ "BND44mil facility buildings handed to RBN". MinDef.gov.bn. Muara: Royal Brunei Air Force, Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Royal Brunei Navy celebrates 46th anniversary at International Defence Exhibition BRIDEX 2011". ArmyRecognition.com. Army Recognition. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Visit to Royal Brunei Navy headquarters at Muara Naval Base". NAS.gov.sg. Ministry of Communications and Information Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  15. ^ Hancock, Paul (23 February 2014). "Trans Future 2 – car carrier vs navy". ShipwreckLog.com. Shipwreck Log. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Ro-Ro ship incident in the Muara Channel". MTIC.gov.bn. Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications. Retrieved 19 May 2022.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ Waleed PD Mahdini (4 May 2012). "Sultan witnesses culmination of Hikmat Bersatu IV". Sultanate.com. Sultanate. Borneo Bulletin. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  18. ^ "CARAT Brunei kicks off at Muara Naval Base in Brunei". NavalToday.com. Naval Today, Navingo. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  19. ^ Singh, Daljit, ed. (April 2015). Southeast Asian Affairs 2015. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 978-981-4620-75-8. Retrieved 5 January 2024 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ Lt. Clyde Shavers (12 November 2018). "CARAT exercise kicks off with US, Brunei Navy". C7F.Navy.mil. Muara, Brunei: Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  21. ^ "U.S., Royal Brunei Navy ships transit in formation during CARAT Brunei". Pacom.mil. Muara, Brunei: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b c Brunei Air Force handbook - strategic information and weapon systems. Washington DC, USA: International Business Publications, USA / Lulu.com. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4330-0429-2. OCLC 946747582 – via Google Books.[unreliable source]
  23. ^ "HIS MAJESTY's VISIT TO ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY, MUARA NAVAL BASE" (PDF). navy.mindef.gov.bn. pp. 4–7. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  24. ^ "RB Navy Organisation". www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  25. ^ "HANDOVER CEREMONY OF THE MULTINATIONAL COORDINATION CENTER (MNCC) BUILDING BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE". www.mindef.gov.bn. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  26. ^ "HANDING OVER CEREMONY FOR NEWLY ACTING COMMANDANT NAVAL TRAINING, NAVAL TRAINING CENTRE, ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY". navy.mindef.gov.bn. 14 February 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  27. ^ Wan Mohamad Sahran Wan Ahmadi; Saerah Haji Abdul Ghani (30 September 2019). "Tinjau perkembangan TLDB" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). p. 3. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  28. ^ "MINDEF AND RBAF SURAUS GET OFFICIAL NAMES" (PDF). www.mindef.gov.bn. 12 December 2016. p. 35. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  29. ^ "OPENING CEREMONY OF TERAWIH PRAYERS DAN TEDARUS AL-QURAN IN THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADHAN 1442H". navy.mindef.gov.bn. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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