THE state government has been urged to deepen
the shallow access channel at the Kuala Baram river mouth as an urgent
priority in order to restore Miri Port as a premier deep sea port.
Datuk Sebastian Ting (BN-Piasau) also called for the restoration of Kuala Baram Industrial Estate into a successful and vibrant industrial area, more importantly to serve hinterlands like Limbang and Lawas.
According to him, in 1988, Miri Port was relocated to Kuala Baram Industrial Estate with a vision to make Miri a leading deep sea port.
However, Miri Port Authority has not been able to realise its full potential. Severe siltation at the Kuala Baram river mouth has been the main challenge. The channel depth is now only less than three metres during high tide and only about one metre during low tide, Ting said.
“This hinders the vessels from plying through the channel and consequently results in major hindrance to Miri Port cargo handling capacity and potentials,” he said when debating on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s address during the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
In view of this, Ting said Miri people were currently paying extra and higher costs for goods they consume, because these goods are transported by containers from Bintulu.
“Big vessels sail to Bintulu with the cargo in containers and thereafter these containers are transported to Miri with extra transport costs. Miri people have been paying these extra costs.
“Goods and things are generally more expensive in Miri than other places. Miri people must not be made to pay this extra cost for an indefinite period of time. This is totally unfair to the people of Miri.”
Ting said there were 11 shipyards and supporting services operating in Kuala Baram, adding that this industry has a total investment of more than RM3 billion and employs more than 8,000 people at its peak.
“The sizes of ships being built are also limited to those which can meet the shallow draft of the river mouth. This has adversely affected the growth of the shipping industry. Indeed, the big few shipping shipyards build big vessels for sale overseas in the oil and gas industry.”
Presently, he said oil and gas logistic base support services worth millions are diverted to Labuan and Bintulu.
“This has negatively affected the oil and gas economy in Miri. A logistic base can be located in Kuala Baram when the channel is deepened.
Ting said presently, the crude palm oil from oil palm plantations is being transported to Bintulu for export overseas, thus incurring extra transport cost.
“Companies will save this cost, in the millions, if Kuala Baram becomes an alternative choice other than Bintulu.”
With the business activities, he said the volume of cargo handled by Miri Port would increase tremendously and accordingly the profit of Miri Port would also increase.
“More importantly, Miri Port Authority will be able to serve Miri, Limbang and Lawas Divisions.
“The potential growth is tremendous and the people of these three divisions will benefit.”
The Link: http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/05/16/deepen-access-channel-at-kuala-baram-river-mouth-urgently-appeals-ting/
The Borneo Post Copy Right Reserved.
Datuk Sebastian Ting (BN-Piasau) also called for the restoration of Kuala Baram Industrial Estate into a successful and vibrant industrial area, more importantly to serve hinterlands like Limbang and Lawas.
According to him, in 1988, Miri Port was relocated to Kuala Baram Industrial Estate with a vision to make Miri a leading deep sea port.
However, Miri Port Authority has not been able to realise its full potential. Severe siltation at the Kuala Baram river mouth has been the main challenge. The channel depth is now only less than three metres during high tide and only about one metre during low tide, Ting said.
“This hinders the vessels from plying through the channel and consequently results in major hindrance to Miri Port cargo handling capacity and potentials,” he said when debating on the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s address during the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
In view of this, Ting said Miri people were currently paying extra and higher costs for goods they consume, because these goods are transported by containers from Bintulu.
“Big vessels sail to Bintulu with the cargo in containers and thereafter these containers are transported to Miri with extra transport costs. Miri people have been paying these extra costs.
“Goods and things are generally more expensive in Miri than other places. Miri people must not be made to pay this extra cost for an indefinite period of time. This is totally unfair to the people of Miri.”
Ting said there were 11 shipyards and supporting services operating in Kuala Baram, adding that this industry has a total investment of more than RM3 billion and employs more than 8,000 people at its peak.
“The sizes of ships being built are also limited to those which can meet the shallow draft of the river mouth. This has adversely affected the growth of the shipping industry. Indeed, the big few shipping shipyards build big vessels for sale overseas in the oil and gas industry.”
Presently, he said oil and gas logistic base support services worth millions are diverted to Labuan and Bintulu.
“This has negatively affected the oil and gas economy in Miri. A logistic base can be located in Kuala Baram when the channel is deepened.
Ting said presently, the crude palm oil from oil palm plantations is being transported to Bintulu for export overseas, thus incurring extra transport cost.
“Companies will save this cost, in the millions, if Kuala Baram becomes an alternative choice other than Bintulu.”
With the business activities, he said the volume of cargo handled by Miri Port would increase tremendously and accordingly the profit of Miri Port would also increase.
“More importantly, Miri Port Authority will be able to serve Miri, Limbang and Lawas Divisions.
“The potential growth is tremendous and the people of these three divisions will benefit.”
The Link: http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/05/16/deepen-access-channel-at-kuala-baram-river-mouth-urgently-appeals-ting/
The Borneo Post Copy Right Reserved.
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