Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ports Department, Ministry of Communication celebrated customer appreciation day yesterday at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) Muara as well as the opening of the new Muara Inland Container Depot (ICD).

The guest of honour was Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Baker bin Haji Apong.

Also present were Dato Paduka Haji Yusof bin Haji Abd Hamid, Deputy Minister of Communications, Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Awang Mohd Taha, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications. And Haji Mahmud bin Haji Mohd Daud, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications.

The Muara Inland Container Depot is one of the projects under the National Development Plan, which comprises five units of warehouses with a 3,600 sq ft per unit floor area. Its construction began in May 2006 and the building was handed over in November 2008.

The presentation of Ports Award 20072008 for the categories of best shipping agent for container vessel, best shipping agent for conventional vessel, best shipping agent for cruise vessel, best forwarding agent for conventional cargo, best forwarding agent for containerised cargo, best stevedoring company, best shipping line for containerized cargo and best shipping line for handling transshipment was the highlight of the event. The awards were presented by the guest of honour.

Acting Director of Ports Department, Awang Ang Kian Guan, said that, "Among the primary objectives for the Ports Department's customer appreciation day is to show appreciation to all consumers and ports community for their contributions to developing the port industry in the country as well as give the public a chance to understand more about the functions of the Ports Department.

"Today's customer appreciation day is also joined by the port community that deals with the Ports Department namely, Shipping Association of Brunei Darussalam (SA BD), Brunei Freight Forwarders Association (BRUFA) and Federation of Transportation and Stevedoring of Brunei Darussalam (FTSBD). The three organisations also participated in exhibiting their facilities and services. Also participating in the exhibition were QR Sdn Bhd, lnnatech Sdn Bhd and International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICSTI)," he said.

Meanwhile, several retirees from Ports Department received souvenirs and certificates from the guest of honour.

A static exhibition was also prepared by the Ports Department, Port Service Providers QR Sdn Bhd, Innatech (B) Sdn Bhd and International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI).

Inside Muara Port, the Minister of Communications and the guests viewed a bomb threat exercise conducted by the Royal Brunei Police Force, Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, Internal Security Department, Immigration Department, Royal Customs and Excise, Medical Services Department and Ports Departments. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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