BGC’s A-Class vessel, AMADI, was honoured to receive a visit from PetroChina Dalian Company headed by General Manager, Mr Liu Zhi. During the visit, the delegation were treated to a guided tour and were given an insight into the daily operations of the vessel. Thank you for visiting AMADI and we look forward to welcoming you onboard again in the future!

Last year in September 2019, as part of the company’s Social Investment Initiative, BGC collaborated with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to support their ‘No Drugs At All (NDA)’ nationwide campaign and International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. As part of the collaboration, customised calendars were commissioned containing messages aimed at raising awareness on drugs and the consequences of its misuse. Handing over the calendars to NCB on behalf of BGC was Captain Mohd Shahbrin Haji Ibrahim, QHSSE Manager and Designated Person Ashore (DPA). BGC is a strong supporter of the NDA campaign and looks forward to working with NCB on future initiatives and programmes for the nation, country and future generation.  

INTERNATIONAL Day of the Seafarer highlights the contributions made by seafarers around the world to international trade, the global economy and civil society.

To mark International Day of the Seafarer 2019, Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) shared an exclusive look into the important role that ratings play towards the successful running of a ship, with a particular focus on Deck Department ratings for this year’s occasion.

A ship’s officers’ and crew work around the clock in shifts to ensure the continuous safe voyage of a vessel. The role of deck ratings, as with all others in the system, is a critical one.

Deck ratings start out as Junior Ordinary Seamen (JOS) and then progress to Ordinary Seamen (OS), before becoming an Able Bodied Seamen (AB). The highest-ranking rating of the Deck Department is the Bosun or Chief Petty Officer.

Deck ratings’ responsibilities include a wide range of essential duties on a ship, such as cosmetic maintenance and cleaning work that helps keep the ship in safe and pristine condition. In addition, deck ratings are crucial for entering and exiting ports.



Among the specific tasks they carry out are mooring operations, working aloft, maintaining and preparing equipment, chipping & painting, greasing wires etc.

Experienced deck ratings also carry out the duty of watchkeeper, which is to assist officers in four-hour shifts to keep navigational watch for traffic and potential hazards at sea.

One man who has risen through the ranks of ratings in the Deck Department is BGC Chief Petty Officer Effendy bin Haji Dollah, also known as Bosun Effendy, who has 18 years’ experience and worked his way up after starting out as a JOS. As Bosun, he is responsible for supervising all ratings in the Deck Department.

“Every morning I wake up early. I check all the doors are ready in case of an emergency,” he said. “Every morning we have a briefing at 7.30am for every department of the ship, regardless of what ship it is.”

“Before we go out for work, we recite a Doa.That’s the first thing we do. Then we give a briefing about the tasks, and then it’s about safety,” he said, noting that prior to carrying out their various tasks, they check to ensure the safety and integrity of all the equipment they need to use.

It was shared that, following the morning briefing, on a typical day, deck ratings carry out their work from 8am to 5pm, with breaks. Overtime work is also regularly carried out.

Effendy highlighted that in addition to the Deck Department, all other departments, such as the Galley, Engine and Cargo, are vital towards the successful running of the ship.

Elaborating on the Deck Department, he said, “Without the Deck Department, the ship would age quickly, it would look bad and would be messy.”

“The most important thing about the deck side is that people see it. Before we enter Japan, we clean the ship, we paint it, we give it a cosmetic upgrade and we look after it. Without maintenance, ships would go bad and rust quickly.”

“When it comes to cleaning, it’s the Deck Department. They dispose of rubbish, do painting, greasing, etc.” he continued. “Without the Deck Department, a ship would become a mess.”

He highlighted that the whole time they carry out their various duties, they have to be mindful of and practice strict safety measures.

Concluding, Effendy shared a message for International Day of the Seafarer 2019.

“I have 18 years’ experience, working up from the bottom, struggling in the beginning and then thriving. We don’t necessarily have to start at the top. From the bottom, ranks climb from JOS to OS and then AB, and after that become Bosun. We have to be patient, follow the regulations, and Insya Allah we will achieve what we want to.”

“On behalf of BGC, I would like to say Happy International Day of the Seafarer to all Bruneians.”

“For all seafarers, no work on a ship is easy. It is a great challenge. Seafarers have a strong mindset. They can control themselves,” he added. “So, endure and be motivated so we can move towards Brunei’s Vision 2035.”

BGC was established in 1998 and since its establishment, the company has been a vital force in committing itself in delivering LNG cargoes to Brunei Darussalam’s international clients.

The Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) has been hosting Iftar for a week and presented 16 cartons of soft drinks to Jerudong Fire Station personnel of the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) Operation ‘F’ Branch.

The contribution was part of BGC’s effort in showing appreciation to the firefighters after they have successfully managed to extinguish forest fires during the dry season in March and April.

The handover of the 16 cartons of soft drinks was presented by Manager of Human Resources of BGC Mizan Adiliah binti Haji Mohamad Deli. The drinks were received by the Jerudong Fire Station Commander Assistant Superintendent Haji Hassan bin Jamudin.

FRD thanked BGC for their contributions.


  Borneo Bulletin

The Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) issued a statement yesterday thanking the Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd for contributing 20 boxes of mineral water to the personnel of the Jerudong Fire Station.

“On behalf of the Fire and Rescue Department, the Commanding Officer of the Operation Branch ‘F’ conveys his gratitude and thanks to Brunei Gas Carriers Managing Director John Douglas Cook, as well as his staff, for the contribution,” said the statement.

Firefighters from the Operation Branch ‘F’ at the Jerudong and Pengkalan Batu fire stations have been handling 57 reports of forest and bush fires since early March, as Brunei Darussalam enters the second phase of the northeast monsoon season with very limited rainfall.

Apart from renewed warnings on open burning, leaving campfires unattended and tossing lit cigarette butts, the FRD also reminds members of the public to slow down when driving by areas that are affected by forest fire, as the smoke can reduce visibility.

To report cases of open burning, contact 995 or 123. To report vandalism or theft of fire hydrants, contact 993.

A LARGE crowd attended the Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC) 4^th Family Festival in conjunction with BGC’s 21^st anniversary celebrated every March 9, at the Jerudong Park Colonnade yesterday.

The event also saw several non-government organisations (NGOs) including ABLE and the Children’s Cancer Foundation (YASKA) participating.

The family festival was a platform to show appreciation to employees as well as to provide a fun day for them to get together with their family members.

In addition, it also aimed to foster unity among staff members and support local vendors.

The event was also enlivened with various activities and games, including spreading awareness among the public on the importance of wearing safety belts. Attendees were also treated to classic movies.

  Borneo Bulletin

  200 contracts with the government, government-linked companies (GLCs) and statutory bodies will be set aside for young local entrepreneurs through the i-Usahawan initiative, according to the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI).

MEMI’s Permanent Secretary (Manpower) Hj Zolkiflee Hj Abdul Karim said the 200 contracts – many of them covering existing scopes of work – would be ‘ring-fenced’ specifically for i-Usahawan participants. 100 of these contracts will be in the oil and gas industry, while another 100 are targeted outside the oil and gas industry.

“We have started engaging several government agencies such as the Ministry of Development and Ministry of Finance and Economy and 18 companies under Darussalam Assets (companies owned by the government),” said Hj Zolkiflee at the first i-Usahawan contract signing ceremony held at the Design and Technology building in Anggerek Desa earlier today.

“The i-Usahawan programme is created with the intention for our youth entrepreneurs to start their own businesses by giving them opportunity to participate in low-risk contracts, where they can secure their first contract on a competitive basis.”

Within the oil and gas industry, the i-Usahawan contracts will be under the Basic and Development quadrants, lasting at least two years. Source: BSP LBD Brunei Shell Petroleum’s (BSP) Managing Director Dr. Ceri Powell said the successful execution of i-Usawan contracts would be essential in ensuring there are a pool of developing local companies that will be ready to take on technically challenging and bigger contracts.

The i-Usahawan initiative was officiated by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam last year at the 13th National Youth Day as part of a wider entrepreneurship ecosystem to encourage Bruneian youth to start and grow their own businesses.

The initiative is open to aspiring and existing Bruneian business owners between 18 and 40-years-old who have yet to earn a contract with the government or GLCs. Participants are put through a training business development programme before being invited to a competitive tender exercise. They are also required to incorporate as a private limited company (Sendirian Berhand) upon winning a contract.

The first 30 contracts under i-Usahawan’s first phase are within the oil and gas industry. Three contracts were awarded earlier today by Brunei Gas Carriers (BGC) and BSP – each lasting three years with potential extensions – but their value was not publicly disclosed.



Syarikat Amira Barakah were awarded a contract to provide canteen and vending machine services at BSP’s headquarters, while BGC awarded the provision of cleaning, manpower and related services to Munch Brunch Canteen and event management to Mortar Events. BSP are planning to award five more i-Usahawan contracts this April.

Brunei Gas Carriers’ (BGC) all-Bruneian crew onboard the A-Class vessel, MV Amani showing their patriotism thousands of miles out at sea in celebration of Brunei Darussalam’s 35th National Day.

Borneo Bulletin