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.
