The Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the maritime field focusing on the Ballast Water Management Convention. The signing ceremony was held at the Seri Kerna Hall, MPABD Headquarters in Muara.
The event was witnessed by the Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and Chairman of MPABD.
The MoU was signed by Yang Mulia Captain (Ret.) Zil Husam bin Haji Abdul Rahman Chief Executive of MPABD, and Yang Mulia Dr. Hazri bin Haji Kifle, Vice-Chancellor of UBD. Also signing as witnesses were Yang Mulia Captain Basza Alexzandar bin Haji Basri, Acting Port Master of MPABD and Yang Mulia Dr. Haji Abdul Hanif bin Dato Paduka Haji Mahadi, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Sustainability) of UBD.
The MoU outlines a framework for cooperation with the objective of fostering collaboration in maritime research, education, and operations. This collaboration will establish robust Ballast Water Management Convention testing capabilities at UBD’s laboratory, a crucial step in ensuring Brunei’s adherence to the international convention. It also lays the groundwork for advancing applied research and monitoring within Brunei water. Furthermore, the collaboration creates opportunities for hands-on placements and postgraduate projects, directly benefiting students by providing practical experience and research avenues. Lastly, it focuses on strengthening laboratory capacity and quality assurance to enhance UBD’s research infrastructure and support ongoing and future scientific endeavors.
The MoU enables a wide range of collaborative efforts to advance maritime capabilities. It facilitates collaborative research and promotes institutional engagement. The MoU also creates valuable training opportunities and supports the establishment of a joint laboratory facility at UBD to enhance research infrastructure. Beyond these initiatives, the agreement encourages the development of new academic programs and allows for collaboration in other areas, ensuring a flexible and comprehensive collaboration.
The collaboration also supports Brunei Darussalam’s pathway to ratifying the IMO’s Ballast Water Management Convention. This is achieved by aligning standards and certification processes with the convention’s requirements. The initiative is instrumental in building our testing capacity with UBD, creating the necessary infrastructure for effective ballast water management. Ultimately, this ensures the readiness of stakeholders by providing them with the proper guidance and support needed to comply with international regulations.
The MoU represents a key step towards implementing international maritime conventions and promotion sustainable maritime development in Brunei Darussalam.
Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), along with senior officials from government agencies and UBD.