S'PORE NAVY TRANSFERS EX-PATROL VESSELS TO BRUNEI

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S'PORE NAVY TRANSFERS EX-PATROL VESSELS TO BRUNEI
15 Mar 2023 | MILESTONES

S'PORE NAVY TRANSFERS EX-PATROL VESSELS TO BRUNEI

//Story by Benita Teo //Photos by LCP Lionel Lee

An ex-Fearless-class PV (centre) sailing off from Changi Naval Base for the last time, as she makes her way to her new home with the RBN. She is the first of two PVs that will be taken over by the RBN.

Two decommissioned Patrol Vessels (PVs) from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will be getting a new lease of life when they join the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN). On 15 Mar, the first of these former Fearless-class PVs were transferred to the RBN, in a handover ceremony held at Changi Naval Base.

The ceremony was officiated by Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong and Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces Major General (MG) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan.

LG Ong (left) presenting the symbol of transfer, a miniature of the PV, to MG Dato Haszaimi.
(From left) LG Ong and MG Dato Haszaimi signing the certificate of transfer.

"The ceremony today marks another significant milestone in the close friendship between Singapore and Brunei… The Fearless-class PVs have protected the Singapore Strait for more than two decades.

"I hope that these vessels will serve the RBN well, and that it will enhance the maritime defence of Brunei for the coming years," said LG Ong.

LG Ong highlighted the close friendship between the Singapore and Bruneian forces in his speech at the handover ceremony.

In his speech, MG Dato Haszaimi thanked the RSN for the support and training it rendered to the new crew: "This hands-on experience allowed the Royal Brunei Navy personnel (to) not only gain valuable knowledge and competency in operating the Patrol Vessel…(it also helped in) enhancing the relationship that was forged during the training."

The PV has taken on the new name AS-SIDDIQ, meaning "truthful".

RBN crew raising the Bruneian flag on the PV, which will take on the new name AS-SIDDIQ, meaning "truthful".
LG Ong and MG Dato Haszaimi (first row, fifth and sixth from left) with the Commanding Officer of AS-SIDDIQ, Lieutenant Commander Haji Mohammad Arnold bin Haji Osman (first row, far right) and crew (standing).

Two decades of service

The first major ships to be designed and built locally in Singapore, the PVs have served the SAF and RSN faithfully since the first ship, RSS Fearless, was launched on 18 Feb 1995. She was commissioned on 5 Oct 1996 together with two sister ships.

RSS Fearless being deployed to rescue crew who had fallen overboard in the collision between dredger JBB DE RONG 19 and tanker KARTIKA SEGARA back in 2017. [Photo: Chai Sian Liang]

Over the years, the PV fleet has participated in various maritime security missions, safeguarding Singapore's waters and deterring piracy and sea robbery, as well as search-and-rescue efforts.

Sailors standing at attention during the decommissioning parade of RSS Independence on 8 Mar 2017. [Photo: Chua Soon Lye]

New beginnings

The aging fleet of PVs were gradually decommissioned as they made way for the Littoral Mission Vessels. The first to retire was RSS Independence, in a sunset ceremony on 8 Mar 2017.

Four PVs have been refurbished as Sentinel-class Maritime Security and Response Vessels under the Maritime Security and Response Flotilla, to provide the RSN with more calibrated options against a range of threats.

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