An early morning heavy downpour that soaked the quiet streets of Bandar Seri Begawan failed to dampen the spirit of patriotism, love and loyalty towards the nation as thousands of citizens and residents flooded the capital on February 23, 2017, to celebrate Brunei Darussalam’s 33rd National Day. A total of 76 BGC members marched in unison across the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien’s stretch in a show of patriotism and loyalty, while waving the mini Brunei flags. 2017 marked BGC’s fifth consecutive year in participation. BGC’s acting Managing Director, Koh Hui Ling led the delegation of BGC office staff and seafarers.

Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) recently held a Promotion Ceremony at their main office in Jerudong, to officiate the promotion of the company’s second LNG Captain. The ceremony saw BGC’s Managing Director, Haji Shabudin bin Haji Musa presenting the insignia to Mohd Shahbrin bin Ibrahim, BGC’s second Ship Master. Witnessing this auspicious event were Mohd Shahbrin’s family members and BGC’s management. With this important milestone, BGC as of 2016, now has two local Captains and three Chief Engineers amongst the ranks. BGC’s Cadetship Programme is one of the initiatives of BGC to realise its objective to create opportunities for young Bruneians to pursue their aspiration to be part of the oil and gas industry, especially in the area of LNG transportation. The main objective of the programme is to have an LNG Fleet fully manned by Bruneians by 2020. In line with this mission, BGC strives continuously to set the benchmark for local mariners and engineers who will be the backbone of the Brunei’s marine industry. BGC believes and recognises the importance of skilled talent to deal with the country’s economic product – LNG. With that in mind, BGC continues to invest in educating the youth and to supply high-quality marine officers from all ranks to work on board their vessels. BGC employs 100% Bruneians for its onshore operations and currently BGC’s ships are manned by a fully trained crew, 85% of whom are Bruneians.

A HANDOVER ceremony for items from the previously recycled vessel of Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd (BST), Bilis was held between Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) on behalf of BST and the Brunei Maritime Academy (BMA) yesterday. The ceremony took place at the BGC main office in Jerudong. Signing on behalf of the organisations were Haji Shahbudin bin Haji Musa, BGC’s Managing Director, and Suhaimi bin Haji Abdul Wahab, head of BMA. The items, comprising equipment, were handed over to BMA as part of BGC’s social investment initiative in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 to support educational activities as well as to support the Energy Industry Competency Framework (EICF) for the development of the maritime industry in Brunei. Bilis was one of the seven ‘B’ class vessels under BST delivering liquified natural gas (LNG) to Japan and was recycled in 2014. Built in 1975, the youngest and biggest of all the ‘B’ class vessels has made several achievements over the years starting with being the first of the ‘B’ class vessels to be issued with an Environment Notation Certification from Lloyd’s Register. Bilis was also the first to obtain Lloyd’s Register’s Green Passport Certification. On June 15, 2005, the vessel delivered Brunei LNG’s 5,000th cargo at the Negishi Terminal in Japan and repeated the success by winning the international acclaim for the 6,000th ship delivery from all LNG projects worldwide, that arrived at Sodegaura, Japan in July 2007. Of BST’s seven ‘B’ class vessels, namely Bubuk, Bilis, Bekalang, Bekulan, Belais, Bebatik and Belanak, that were chartered to Brunei LNG, only two – Bebatik and Belanak – are currently operational. Borneo Bulletin