The Government of Brunei Darussalam

                                              Bahasa Melayu Version     

Brief History

       Formerly, Marine Department was only a section of the Department of

          Royal Custom which in 1948 was known as the Department of 

          Custom and Marine headed by Mr DH Trumble. The main services

          during that time was to provide  transportation of passengers and mail 

          3 times a week to Labuan. During that time, Marine Department 

          operated 8 outboards and 6 vessels as maritime transportation. The 

          types of vessels used were :

 

         1 unit ( 75 ft ) ex-Admiralty MFV, MV Tangier

         1 unit ( 65 ft )  fast twin screw inspection launch

         1 unit ( 45 ft )  twin screw mail and passenger launch

         1 unit ( 35 ft )  single screw river launch

         1 unit ( 65 ft )  single screw barge

         1 unit ( 35 ft )  single screw workboat

 

         In 1957, Marine Department started to handle its own administration 

         in its own headquarters sited at the Custom wharf, Bandar Seri 

         Begawan.

 

         On 5th August 1964 Mr Jack Turner was appointed as the first Marine 

         Officer ( Pegawai Laut Negara ) . He was the longest serving officer 

         holding the Post and  was bestowed the title of " Yang Di Muliakan 

         Pehin Datu Tambang Layaran Laila Di Raja".

 

          Yang Di Muliakan Pehin ended his service on 22nd February 1981 

          and was replaced by Mr.I.G. FRAKER. His appointment was as 

          the Director of Marine and served until 1984. Since his 

          appointment , Marine Department acquired two fast Pilotage 

          launches ( SERI BANDAR AND SERI KUALA ) and one 

         1,600 bhp tug boat ( MT . SUMPIT-SUMPIT ). The aquisitation 

         of  the vessels was meant to upgrade Marine Department's services

         inline with the increase in the number of Merchant vessels coming 

         in Muara deep water port.

 

          25th August 1984 marks together historical event in which the first 

          Bruneian, Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Ibrahim, now Yang Mulia

          DATO PADUKA HAJI AHMAD BIN HAJI IBRAHIM was 

          appointed as the Director of Marine. Under his administration Marine

          Department began to progress into further  development. Mainly the 

          entry of Negara Brunei Darusslam into the International Maritime

          Organisation and be party to 8 of the I.M.O Conventions and its 

          Protocols.From then  on Marine Department began to enforce

          registration of ships and 14 regulations in the Ports Act ( 144) and 

          Merchant  Shipping Act ( 145) . To date about 169 ships with

          approximate weight of  412,000 art has been registered. 

 

          On 11th April 1991 to his appointment has head of the Anti 

          Corruption Bureau. Dato Paduka Haji Ahmad was replaced 

          by Dato Paduka Haji Ismail who served the Marine Department 

          until 15th September 1993 who was then replaced by  AWANG 

          HAJI  OTHMAN BIN HAJI MOMIN.

 

           On 30th November 1993 Marine Department moved to its new

            headquarters in Serasa, Muara to facilitate the administration and 

            operations of the department. As of the 11th January 1999 AWANG 

            HAJI HAMIDON BIN HAJI MD TAHIR was appointed as the

            new Director of Marine Department.

 

          With the rapid development of Negara Brunei Daruusalam towards the

          country's Vision ShuTT 2003, Marine Department has plans to carry 

          out several development projects to upgrade its maritime 

          infrastructure and maritime services. Hence the projects is hoped 

          to encourage more maritime activities as contributions to make 

          Negara Brunei Darussalam as the Service Hub for Trade and 

          Tourism within the region a reality.



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