HER Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands was able to learn about the daily lives and the routines of offshore staff from Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) during Her Majesty’s visit to BSP Head Office in Panaga, Seria yesterday.

The official visit saw Her Majesty engage in a poster presentation by Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) companies and a live video link up with the Champion 7 platform.

Accompanying Her Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Maxima of the Netherlands with the company of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah.

Following the presentation about the BSJV companies was the live video link up to Champion 7, which saw three BSP employees; Salawati Kassim, Champion Operations Installation Manager; Hazlami Hamzah, South Production Operator; and Hafiz Abdul Rahim, North Production Operator; talk about their daily operations and how they carry on with their daily lives having to work at the offshore platform for weeks.

Her Majesty expressed her fascination with the responses given by the employees, and shared several light moments with the employees before bidding them farewell.

Her Majesty has also shown keen interest in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative, an effort which saw the HoB declaration signed in 2007 to ensure the effective management and protection of forest resources within the central forested parts of Borneo.

BSP Managing Director Ken Marnoch was also present during the event, who guided Her Majesty Queen Beatrix throughout the visit.

Prior to leaving BSP Head Office, Her Majesty Queen Beatrix and the royal entourage were given an aerial tour of the Heart of Borneo initiative areas.

Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, currently on a three-day State Visit to Brunei Darussalam since January21, is scheduled to leave the country today. - Borneo Bulletin (23 January 2013)