Brunei Joins FAL Convention, Reinforces Commitment to Maritime Cooperation
London, The Gulf Observer: In a significant step toward strengthening international maritime collaboration, Brunei Darussalam has formally acceded to the Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), marking a key milestone in the nation’s maritime development efforts.
The Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD), Captain (Rtd) Zil Husam bin Haji Abdul Rahman, presented the instrument of accession on behalf of the Brunei Government to International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez at the IMO headquarters in the United Kingdom.
During the presentation, Captain (Rtd) Zil Husam reaffirmed Brunei’s strong commitment to international maritime cooperation, emphasizing that the accession signifies Brunei’s dedication to collective action under the stewardship of the IMO.
“This submission marks a national milestone and a demonstration of Brunei’s resolve to contribute meaningfully to global maritime governance,” he said.
As a newly acceded member of the FAL Convention, Brunei pledged to play an active and engaged role in supporting the Convention’s objectives—facilitating maritime trade, ensuring maritime safety, and protecting the marine environment. These efforts align with the IMO’s strategic priorities, including security, environmental sustainability, and digitalisation.
Captain (Rtd) Zil Husam also highlighted MPABD’s ambitious digital transformation agenda, noting that the authority is on track to fully digitise all services—including licensing, vessel registration, and maritime surveys—by 2026. This initiative aims to streamline operations, increase transparency, and enhance regulatory compliance in the maritime sector.
The event was also attended by Brunei Darussalam’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, First Admiral (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad, who expressed support for the accession and praised the IMO for fostering greater global cooperation in maritime affairs.
Brunei’s accession to the FAL Convention reinforces its position as a proactive maritime nation committed to sustainable development and international collaboration in the shipping industry.
