The Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, through the National Maritime Coordination Centre (NMCC), Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), secured a contract agreement with General Dynamics Mission System Canada for the delivery of the Sultanate’s first National Coastal Surveillance System (NCSS) – a coastal maritime network surveillance system overlooking the entire Brunei’s coastline, Brunei Bay and Brunei River.
The core delivery of NCSS will allow real time monitoring activities in Brunei’s coastal maritime area. This is made possible with the installation of several sensor sites collecting data and information thus creating a maritime picture to support operational or strategic decision making and response.
The signing took place at the Prime Minister’s Office East I, East Wing Conference Hall yesterday.
Signing on behalf of His Majesty’s Government was Permanent Secretary (Security, Enforcement and Law) at the PMO Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Muhamad Sazali bin Pengiran Haji Yakob and witnessed by Canadian High Commisioner to Brunei Darussalam Jeanette Stovel.
Chargé d’Affaires at the United States (US) Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Emily M Fleckner, members of NCSS Project Steering Committee and NCSS Project Team were also present.
The contract was earlier signed by Vice President of General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada David Ibbetson on December 15 in Ottawa, Canada. It was witnessed by High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Canada Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad.
The NCSS project is an important milestone in a holistic national security strategy, allowing whole-of-government approach in handling maritime activities or incidents. The initiative is a continuous commitment by His Majesty’s Government to ensure the well-being and interest of the public is being looked after. Timely well informed domain awareness is necessary for security agencies to anticipate, analyse and understand the threat situation.
When fully operational, the NCSS will provide continuous monitoring of Brunei’s coastline, Brunei Bay and Brunei River. NCSS will provide a tactical picture of the immediate area allowing related agencies to prepare and conduct operations such as environmental protection, detection of illicit activities, maintain navigation safety and security, maritime border protection and, search and rescue missions.
General Dynamics Mission Systems is an American global aerospace and defence company that operates in over 70 nations. The project implementation will include the company’s technical and managerial knowledge transfer to its Bruneian counterpart.
The project aspires to achieve the maximum level of Bruneian participation to support the in-country activities and services both in the implementation and operational phase.