HIS Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), commissioned the new DARUSSALAM class patrol vessel, DARUTTAQWA in a special ceremony yesterday.

At the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Muara Naval Base, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Deputy Minister of Defence Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, the Commander of the RBAF Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, and the Commander of the RBN First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit.

His Royal Highness received the royal salute and inspected a guard of honour by RBN personnel led by Major (L) Haji Norariwwin bin Ali.

The commissioning ceremony began on board the new vessel with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Captain Ariffin bin Amit, the Assistant Head of the RBAF Religious Department.

His Royal Highness heard a brief description of the new vessel from the ship’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman.

His Royal Highness then commissioned the patrol vessel and handed over the Commissioning Pennant to Lieutenant Colonel (L) Khairil. The ship was given the official title “Kapal Diraja Brunei” (KDB), which will come before the vessel’s name.

The Commissioning Pennant was hoisted, accompanied by the national anthem, before Captain (L) Haji Abd Hafiz Mubarak bin Hj Rusli sounded out the Azan. The Assistant Head of the RBAF Religious Department then read a Special Doa.

His Royal Highness toured the vessel, beginning with a display that featured the ship’s trip from Germany to Brunei Darussalam.

His Royal Highness then toured the ship’s bridge, combat information centre, sick bay, training and briefing room and the Rigid Inflatable Craft (RIC) deck. His Royal Highness boarded the Rigid Inflatable for a demonstration of its capabilities.

Continuing the tour, His Royal Highness signed a plaque and a poster of the ship’s maiden voyage before returning to the flight deck to sign a royal parchment and receive a pesambah.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Royal Highness joined a group photo session at the jetty. - Borneo Bulletin (9 September 2014)