Muara Naval Base

The Muara Naval Base (Malay: Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara), is a naval base that serves as the main headquarters for the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), which is located in Muara, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei.[1][2] It can also be noted that the base sits near the mouth of the Brunei River, which flows into the Brunei Bay.[3]

Muara Naval Base
Pangkalan Tentera Laut Muara
Muara, Brunei-Muara District in Brunei
Muara Naval Base
Muara Naval Base is located in Brunei
Muara Naval Base
Muara Naval Base
Coordinates5°01′56″N 115°04′54″E
TypeNaval base
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator Royal Brunei Navy
ConditionOperational
Websitenavy.mindef.gov.bn
Site history
Built1974 (1974)
In use1974–present

History

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.[4] The Royal Brunei Navy's administration of First Sea Battalion was relocated to its current location in 1974.[5] The United States Navy warship USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073) was berthed at the naval base in 1989.[6] Brunei ordered three Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes and were planned to be based at the naval base in 1991.[7] Despite that, all three ships of the class were never commissioned into the navy.[8]

In 1997, the base's upgrade project costed B$140 million, in which it included the construction of a new 314m long quay, shiplift and renovation of its existing facilities.[1] The project was carried out in order to facilitate the three new Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessels.[9] Between 2007 and 2012, ammunition and explosive storage bunkers were constructed not far from the base, at Kampong Kapok.[1][10]

Another B$44.6 million project was carried out in July 2011, to provide new accommodation facilities for the base's personnel.[11][1] During BRIDEX 2011, the navy celebrated its 46th Anniversary at the naval base.[12] In which 24 warships from 10 countries were invited.[12] On February 23, 2014, a ro-ro car carrier Trans Future 2 collided with KDB Berkat (18) and another Ijtihad-class patrol boat while in port.[13][14] Later in May, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah landed his Sikorsky S-70 at the naval base in which he visited the KDB Afiat (20) and witness a naval exercise.[15] Later that year on November 11, the 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) between the United States and Brunei began at the naval base.[16][17]

May 29, 2013, President Tony Tan made visit to the Muara Naval Base.[18] On November 12, 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) and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.[19] The 25th annual CARAT was once again held at the naval base on October 31, 2019.[20]

Units

Three naval divisions are based in the naval base:

  • Operation Division[21]
  • Administrative Division[21]
  • Support Division[21]

References
  1. "Muara Naval Base". Naval Technology. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  2. Brunei-Muara District. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. 1993. p. 18.
  3. Schwarz, Jürgen; Herrmann, Wilfried A.; Seller, Hanns-Frank (2002). Maritime Strategies in Asia. White Lotus Press. p. 452. ISBN 978-974-480-008-4.
  4. Saunders, Graham (2013-11-05). A History of Brunei. Routledge. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-136-87394-2.
  5. "MINDEF - RB Navy History". www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  6. Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office. 1989. p. 20.
  7. Carpenter, William M.; Wiencek, David G. (2005). Asian Security Handbook: Terrorism and the New Security Environment. M.E. Sharpe. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7656-1552-7.
  8. "Ships Monthly - September 2007 News". 2007-12-21. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  9. "page 15 GHD Annual Review 2002/2003" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2008.
  10. Brunei (2007). Brunei Darussalam Long-term Development Plan. Government Print. Department, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam. p. 208.
  11. "News_Test - BND44mil Facility Buildings Handed to RBN..." www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  12. "Royal Brunei Navy Celebrates 46th Anniversary at International Defence Exhibition BRIDEX 2011 | BRIDEX 2011 daily news actualites pictures video | Defense exhibition 2011 daily news category". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  13. "Trans Future 2". Shipwreck Log. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  14. "News & Press Release - Ro-Ro Ship Incident In The Muara Channel". www.mtic.gov.bn. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  15. "Sultanate - News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | Sultan witnesses culmination of Hikmat Bersatu IV". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  16. "CARAT Brunei Kicks Off at Muara Naval Base in Brunei". Naval Today. 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  17. Singh, Daljit (2016-04-29). Southeast Asian Affairs 2015. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc. ISBN 978-981-4620-75-8.
  18. "ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY HEADQUARTERS AT MUARA NAVAL BASE, DURING …". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  19. "CARAT Exercise Kicks Off with US, Brunei Navy". Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  20. "U.S., Royal Brunei Navy ships transit in formation during CARAT Brunei". U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  21. USA, IBP. Brunei Air force Handbook - Strategic Information and Weapon Systems. Lulu.com. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4330-0429-2.
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