Al1-Bruneian Crew On The Horizon
By Sonia K

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd and Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd last night held a joint convocation ceremony for the Marine Cadet Officers Class of 2003 at the Royal Berkshire Hall, Jerudong Park and Country Club.

The guest of honour at the ceremony was Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Haji Ismail, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, who is a member of the Board of Directors of Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd and Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd. He presented the certificates to the 14 new Marine Officers.

Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar said the increasing number of Bruneians pursuing the challenges of a seafaring profession clearly illustrates the effectiveness and continued success of the programme to fill the positions onboard Brunei LNG vessels with properly qualified Bruneians.

"To date, the total number of Bruneian marine officers and crew members has reached 263 persons. Achievements have been `above plan' with all Third Officer and Fourth Engineer positions onboard already filled by Bruneians," he said.

"It is expected that three of the eight vessels will be fully manned by Bruneian Third Officers, Fourth Engineers and crew by the end of this year, whilst the remaining five vessels will also achieve this milestone by next year.

"In this regard, the recruitment efforts of Brunei Shell Tankers and Brunei Gas Carriers assist the nation as a whole in providing much-needed expertise to our pool of skilled professionals. The joint efforts of BST and BGC, the Petroleum Unit, the Marine Department, the Bruneisation Working Group and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited should not go unmentioned.

"Their efforts have continued to contribute to the success and growth of the Bruneisation Programme. With this symbiotic partnership, we have built a solid foundation upon which future prospective Brunei ship management companies

can further develop and prosper, symbolising the nation's ability to establish an internationally competitive marine industry," he emphasised.

Among those present were senior officials from the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, members of the Board of Directors of both Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd and Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd, representatives from the oil and gas companies, local maritime training establishment as well as parents of the Marine, Cadet Officers.

The ceremony was held to acknowledge the achievements of 14 more new Marine Officers - eight Marine Officers and six Marine Engineers - who have undergone successful academic and vocational training in the United Kingdom.

"These Marine Cadet Officers shall, in due time, join the ranks of Officers to assume duties onboard the Brunei LNG vessels, namely, Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd's seven B-Class vessels and Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd's Abadi," said Acting Managing Director of Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd, Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Mohd Yassin, who is also the Chairman of Organising Committee for the convocation ceremony.

He said that in pursuit of BST and BGC's long term aims and in line with the Government of His Majesty's national aspiration, the Bruneisation Programme that began in 1999 with the main aim to man the tankers with Bruneians has been met with continued success, and the goal of establishing an internationally competitive Brunei ship management company will soon be realised.

"It is pleasing to note that the rigorous efforts for the sustenance and development of Brunei nationals in the seafaring career have proved to be a remarkable success and progressing steadily against planned targets, dispelling assumptions that a career in the marine industry is unable to compete with other professions and that it being a last option to consider.

"The success achieved can be regarded as a credit to those involved in implementing the programme; that is the shareholders of BST and BGC, the management and staff of BST and BGC - past and present - and the Bruneisation Working Group under their guidance of the Petroleum Unit, for their dedication and commitment which made all of this possible," he said.

A representative of Marine Cadet Officers Class of 2003, Mazran bin Haji Mohd Salleh also delivered a speech. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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