SINGAPORE - Singapore and Brunei have agreed to share resources and expertise in air and marine accident investigations, as part of plans to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

The deal was sealed in a memorandum of understanding inked between Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) and Brunei's Ministry of Communications (MOC) on Tuesday (Oct 10).

Both sides will work together to share investigation facilities, equipment, resources, experience and training opportunities relating to aircraft and marine accident and incident investigations, MOT said.

The agreement was signed in Singapore on the sidelines of the 44th Senior Transport Officials Meeting by Mr Loh Ngai Seng, MOT's permanent secretary and his Bruneian counterpart Haji Azhar Haji Ahmad.

Mr Loh said that the agreement signifies "our close cooperation with Brunei Darussalam in enhancing the capabilities and professionalism of our air and marine safety investigators. Singapore will continue to work with our friends in the region to expand training opportunities and exchanges in this area".

On the Singapore side, the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, under the MOT, is responsible for conducting independent safety investigations into air and marine accidents and incidents and making recommendations to enhance the safety of air and sea transport.

The Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Investigation Division under Brunei's MOC, is responsible for the conduct of safety investigations into air, marine and road occurrences for the enhancement of transportation safety.