Muara Naval Base
Naval base and headquarters of the Royal Brunei Navy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Muara Naval Base (Malay: Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara) is a naval base which serves as the headquarters and main operating base for the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN; Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, TLDB).[1] It is situated approximately 4 kilometres (2 miles) from Muara Town, Brunei-Muara District, in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.[2][3] The naval base is located near the mouth of the Brunei River, which flows into the Brunei Bay.[4]
| Muara Naval Base | |
|---|---|
Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara ڤڠكالن تنترا لاوت موارا | |
| Muara, Serasa, Brunei-Muara in Brunei | |
 Muara Naval Base in 2013 | |
  Muara Naval Base | |
| Coordinates | 05°01′56″N 115°04′54″E |
| Type | Naval base and headquarters |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Government of Brunei |
| Operator |  Royal Brunei Navy |
| Controlled by | Ministry of Defence |
| Condition | Operational |
| Website | navy.mindef.gov.bn |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1974 |
| In use | 1974–present |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Capt Mohamad Sarif Pudin (acting) |
| Garrison | Fleet of the Royal Brunei Navy |
During World War II, then occupied Muara was previously used by the Japanese Navy as a naval base until the country was liberated by the Australian 9th Division.[5] The Boat Section of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR), specifically, the administration of First Sea Battalion, was relocated to its current location at Muara in 1974.[6] Among many international visitors to the naval base, the United States Navy (USN) warship USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073) was berthed at Muara Naval Base in 1989.[7] In 1991, Brunei ordered three Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes, which were planned to be based at the naval base.[8] However, due to a contractual dispute with their manufacturer, all three ships of the class were never commissioned into the navy.[9]
In 1997, the base's upgrade project costed B$140 million, in which it included the construction of a new 314 metres (1,030 feet) long quay, shiplift, and renovation of its existing facilities.[2] The project was carried out in order to facilitate the three new Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel.[10] Between 2007 and 2012, ammunition and explosive storage bunkers were constructed not far from the base, at Kampong Kapok.[2][11]
Another B$44.6 million project was started in July 2011, to provide new accommodation facilities for the base's personnel, workshops, technical buildings, and car parks.[2][12] During BRIDEX 2011, the Royal Brunei Navy celebrated its 46th anniversary at the naval base (and jointly at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre),[13] in which twenty-four warships from ten countries were invited to attend.[2][13]
On 29 May 2013, as part of a state visit to Brunei, President of Singapore Tony Tan visited the Muara Naval Base.[14] On 23 February 2014, a 172 metres (564 feet) long roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) car carrier Trans Future 2 collided with KDB Berkat and another Ijtihad-class patrol boat while in port.[15][16] Later in May, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah landed his Sikorsky S-70 at the naval base in which he visited the KDB Afiat and witnessed a naval exercise.[17] Later that year on 11 November, the 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT Brunei 2014) between the United States and Brunei began at the naval base.[18][19]
On 12 November 2018, the 24th annual CARAT began at the naval base, in which it involved several exercises in the South China Sea with USNS Fall River (T-EPF-4).[20] The 25th annual CARAT was once again held at the naval base on 31 October 2019.[21]
Three naval divisions are based in the naval base:
There are several facilities located within the naval base:[23]
- Royal Brunei Navy Primary School
- Royal Brunei Navy Mosque[24]
- Multi National Coordination Centre (MNCC)[25]
- Naval Training Centre (NTC)[26]
- Training Administration Office
- War Training Room
- Fire–Fighting Training Room
- Learning Management Centre (LMC), operated by the Royal Brunei Training Services (RBTS)
- Multi–Purpose Hall
- Vanguard Logistic Store[27]
- Surau Al-Huda[28][29]
- Bolkiah Garrison — main base and headquarters of the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF)
- Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba — main base and headquarters of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF)
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