BRUNEI WATERS, Sunday, 1 May 2022 – The USS ASHLAND of the United States Navy (USN) successfully conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with KDB DARUTTAQWA of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) as she transited through Brunei from 29th to 30th April 2022. Both ships took the opportunity to contribute to the longstanding bilateral ties between USN and RBN, where they conducted a series of communications and manoeuvring exercises which concluded with a sail pass.
The PASSEX also provided an opportunity for all officers and crews from both navies to practice, enhance their drills and interoperability between RBN and USN whilst performing the serials. Both captains expressed gratitude and fulfilment with the exercises and look forward to more opportunities to further strengthen their naval ties in the future.
All PASSEX planning and coordination meetings were held virtually, with no physical interaction between the two ships, in accordance with COVID-19 rules from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Health.
According to the Embassy of the United States of America in Brunei Darussalam, this collaboration at sea between both navies represents the deep and enduring security partnership between the United States and Brunei Darussalam. Despite logistical complications due to COVID-19, Brunei Darussalam and the United States have continued their military exercises and engagements virtually to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the region during the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) in August 2021 and the 27th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) in November 2021, which reflects the United States’ ongoing security commitment to the region.
RBN remains committed to strengthen the longstanding bilateral relations between RBN and USN, enhancing the level of interoperability and capacity-building opportunities for cooperation at sea and wishes the USS ASHLAND a smooth journey to the next port.
USS ASHLAND DARI TENTERA LAUT AMERIKA SYARIKAT MELAKSANAKAN PASSAGE EXERCISE BERSAMA KDB DARUTTAQWA
PERAIRAN BRUNEI, Ahad, 1 Mei 2022 – USS ASHLAND dari Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (TLAS) telah berjaya melaksanakan
Passage Exercise (PASSEX) bersama KDB DARUTTAQWA dari Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) semasa merentasi Perairan Brunei dari 29 hingga 30 April 2022. Kedua-dua kapal telahpun mengambil kesempatan untuk menyumbang kepada hubungan dua hala di antara TLAS dan TLDB yang telah lama ditubuhkan melalui latihan komunikasi dan latihan
manoeuvre yang diakhiri dengan
Sail Pass.
PASSEX memberi peluang kepada semua pegawai-pegawai dan anak kapal dari kedua-dua tentera laut untuk berlatih, meningkatkan keupayaan dan tahap
interoperability diantara TLDB dan TLAS semasa melakukan siri latihan. Kedua-dua kapten menzahirkan rasa syukur dan berpuas hati dengan latihan tersebut dan mengharapkan lebih banyak peluang untuk mengeratkan lagi hubungan tentera laut di masa hadapan.
Semua mesyuarat perancangan dan penyelarasan bagi PASSEX telah dijalankan secara dalam talian manakala perlaksanaan PASSEX telah pun dikendalikan tanpa interaksi fizikal di antara kedua-dua kapal selaras dengan garus pandu COVID-19 daripada Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan Kementerian Kesihatan.
Menurut Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat di Brunei Darussalam, lawatan kapal ini melambangkan perkongsian keselamatan yang mendalam dan berkekalan antara Amerika Syarikat dan Negara Brunei Darussalam. Walaupun terdapat komplikasi logistik akibat COVID-19, Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Amerika Syarikat telah meneruskan latihan dan penglibatan ketenteraan mereka secara dalam talian bagi meningkatkan
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) di rantau ini semasa
Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) pada Ogos 2021 dan
Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) pada November 2021 yang turut melambangkan komitmen keselamatan Amerika terhadap rantau ini.
TLDB kekal komited dalam mengukuhkan hubungan dua hala di antara TLDB dan TLAS, meningkatkan tahap interoperabiliti dan peluang membina kapasiti ke arah matlamat kerjasama di laut serta mendoakan perjalanan yang lancar bagi USS ASHLAND ke pelabuhan seterusnya.