Brunei to buy Research Vessel
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 10
December 2009,
Thursday - The Department of Fisheries has awarded a $2.65 million
contract to Tidewater Marine Engineering Services for the supply,
installation, testing and commissioning of a workboat for the
department.
The deal was sealed yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary
Resources (MIPR) during a signing ceremony between Fisheries Director
Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim and Tidewater Marine Engineering Services proprietor
Pg Hj Iskandar Rizal Pg Hj Damit.
The signing was witnessed by the MIPR Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri
Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar along
with the deputy minister, acting permanent secretary and senior
officials from the ministry.
The 23-metre BV class vessel will take 13 months to build and has the
capacity to support diving work and research, said Pg Hj Iskandar Rizal.
The Fisheries Department will use the boat to carry out surveys of
Brunei's coastal fisheries, research and development programmes of the
marine environment, monitor small-scale fishermen activities as well as
other monitoring work on water quality and marine biodiversity,
according to a statement from the department.
"With this workboat, it is anticipated that the Department of Fisheries
would be able to pursue its main goal in promoting responsible fishing,
the conservation of the marine biodiversity to safeguard its unique
biodiversity and better manages its (the country's) coral reefs, and
also for the management of sustainable fisheries," the statement said.
The Fisheries Director told The Brunei Times that the research vessel
would replace an existing older boat.
"This is no ordinary vessel. All our technical work will be done on this
boat," Hjh Hasnah said.
She also shared that the new vessel would be the department's second
largest boat, after KP Tenggiri, which is 26 metres and is used for
enforcement purposes, off-shore patrolling work and research.
The new boat will have the capacity to withstand four days at sea,
achieve a maximum speed of 30 knots and has sufficient fuel and water
capacity for a voyage of up to 300 nautical miles.
"The workboat is to be fully equipped with various sophisticated
scientific equipment (which will allow the department) to conduct
real-time analysis at sea for the purpose of carrying out fisheries
activities," the statement said.
- Courtesy of
the Brunei Times -
