MUARA NAVAL BASE, Tuesday, 2 May 2023 – JS URAGA and JS AWAJI of the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) have arrived at Muara Commercial Port for a goodwill visit to Brunei Darussalam from 30 April to 02 May 2023 led by Captain Nakai Eiichi, Commander of Minesweeper Division 1, JMSDF.
JS URAGA and JS AWAJI are en route to return to Japan from participating in the International Maritime Exercise/ CUTLASS EXPRESS 2023 (IMX/CE23) in the surrounding seas of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The ships were welcomed in Brunei Darussalam with a ceremony organised by the Royal Brunei Navy led by Commander Shahairil bin Hj Mohd Shahlan, Assistant Chief of Staff Capability Development. Also present were Mr. Atsushi Suda, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, Commander Ishikawa Kyoshi, Defence Attaché of Japan Accredited to Brunei Darussalam, and staff of the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam. Upon receiving both ships, the welcoming party were invited onboard JS URAGA for a ship tour and a luncheon for attending officers.
The JMSDF delegation consisting of Captain Nakai Eiichi, Commander of Minesweeper Division 1, Commander Matsunaga Akihito, Commanding Officer of JS URAGA, and Commander Takuma Taguchi, Commanding Officer of JS AWAJI, paid a courtesy call to Commander Nor Ariwwin bin Mohd Ali, Acting Fleet Commander RBN.
This Goodwill Visit featured a beach cleaning campaign and a cultural visit around Brunei Darussalam to Brunei Energy Hub and Brunei Arts and Handicraft Centre.
Upon completing the Goodwill Visit, JS URAGA and JS AWAJI departed on 2 May 2023. Their departure was accompanied by a farewell ceremony organised by the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) led by Commander Malek Fadillah bin Pehin Dato Haji Kefli, RBN, Acting Fleet Chief of Staff.
This series of interactions represents the cordial defence and security relations between RBN and JMSDF established through years of sea engagement and multilateral events. The RBN reaffirms its commitment to strengthening its bilateral ties with JMSDF, enhancing interoperability towards the goal of cooperation at sea and wishes both JS URAGA and JS AWAJI a smooth journey to her next port of call.
LAWATAN MUHIBAH JS URAGA DAN JS AWAJI, ANGKATAN PERTAHANAN DIRI MARITIM JEPUN KE NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
PANGKALAN MUARA, Selasa, 2 Mei 2023 – Kapal-kapal Angkatan Pertahanan Diri Maritim Jepun (APDMJ), JS URAGA dan JS AWAJI telah tiba di Perlabuhan Komersial Muara bagi Lawatan Muhibah ke Brunei Darussalam bermula 30 April hingga 02 Mei 2023 yang diketuai oleh Kepten Nakai Eiichi, Commander of Minesweeper Division 1, APDMJ.
Kapal-kapal tersebut berada di Brunei Darussalam selepas menghadiri latihan pelbagai hala International Maritime Exercise/CUTLASS EXPRESS 2023 (IMX/CE23) yang dikendalikan di perairan Bahrain. Ketibaan kapal-kapal APDMJ disambut dengan acara dikendalikan oleh Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) di Pelabuhan Komersial Muara yang diketuai oleh Komander Shahairil bin Hj Mohd Shahlan, Penolong Ketua Staf Perkembangan Keupayaan TLDB. Turut hadir ialah Atsushi Suda, Deputy Chief of Mission, Kedutaan Jepun di Negara Brunei Darussalam, Komander Ishikawa Kyoshi, Atase Pertahanan Jepun yang diakreditasi ke Brunei Darussalam dan kakitangan kedutaan Jepun di Negara Brunei Darussalam. Pegawai-pegawai dan lain-lain peringkat yang hadir bagi majlis ketibaan tersebut juga dijemput menaiki JS URAGA untuk lawatan kapal dan makan tengahari.
Rombongan APDMJ yang terdiri daripada Kepten Nakai Eiichi, Commander of Minesweeper Division 1, Komander Matsunaga Akihito, Pegawai Pemerintah JS URAGA, dan Komander Takuma Taguchi, Pegawai Pemerintah JS AWAJI, telah membuat kunjungan hormat kepada Komander Nor Ariwwin bin Mohd Ali, Pemangku Pemerintah Armada TLDB.
Antara program lawatan muhibah tersebut termasuk kempen membersihkan pantai dan membuat lawatan kebudayaan di Negara Brunei Darussalam ke Hab Tenaga Brunei dan Pusat Kesenian dan Pertukangan Tangan Brunei.
JS URAGA dan JS AWAJI dari Angkatan Pertahanan Maritim Jepun (APDMJ) telah berlepas dari Pelabuhan Komersial Muara selepas mengadakan lawatan muhibah ke Negara Brunei Darussalam pada 2 Mei 2023. Perlepasan kapal-kapal tersebut diiringi dengan majlis perlepasan yang dikendalikan oleh Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) yang diketuai oleh Komander Malek Fadillah bin Pehin Dato Haji Kefli, TLDB, Pemangku Ketua Staf Armada.
Siri interaksi ini mencerminkan hubungan keselamatan dan pertahanan yang mesra di antara TLDB dan APDMJ melalui kerjasama di laut dan juga di acara-acara pelbagai hala yang telah lama wujud. TLDB turut menegaskan komitmen dalam mengukuhkan hubungan dua-hala dengan APDMJ, meningkatkan tahap penyelarasan dengan matlamat kerjasama di laut serta mengharapkan perjalanan yang lancar bagi JS URAGA dan JS AWAJI ke pelabuhan yang seterusnya.