HIS Royal Highness Prince Lieutenant ‘Abdul Mateen on Thursday attended the launch and naming ceremony of Royal Brunei Navy’s new ship, DARUTTAQWA, at the Fr Lürssen Werft (FLW) shipyard, Berne, Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany.

Before the ceremony, HRH was briefed on the construction project of DARUTTAQWA patrol vessel by representatives from FLW shipyard and Royal Brunei Navy at the conference room of Park Hotel in Bremen.

His Royal Highness also attended a luncheon at the Park Hotel after the briefing before leaving for the FLW shipyard for the ceremony.

Upon arrival at the shipyard, HRH was greeted by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat; Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar (Security & Enforcement); Brunei Darussalam Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Pehin Datu Panglima Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil bin Haji Ahmad; Commander of Royal Brunei Navy, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah; and Managing Director of FLW, Peter Luerssen.

HRH was invited to go on board DARUTTAQWA to oversee the development of the ship construction.

DARUTTAQWA ship launching and naming ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by welcoming remarks from the Managing Director of FLW, Peter Lürssen.

HRH later officiated the launching and naming of DARUTTAQWA patrol vessel, which was immediately followed by the call of prayer.

The ceremony ended with a prayer read by the Assistant Head of Religious Department, Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Captain Ariffin bin Amit.

DARUTTAQWA patrol vessel will be commissioned into Royal Brunei Navy as an offshore patrol vessel and will also function as the logistics and training ship for Royal Brunei Navy personnel.

DARUTTAQWA patrol vessel began construction in May 2012 and is expected to be completed in May 2014.

The ship is an 80-metre Darussalam class patrol vessel weighing 1,600 tonnes and equipped with a helicopter landing platform. - Borneo Bulletin (24 August 2013)