KUCHING: Rimbun Prima Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with China Communications Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd, has successfully outbid six competitors to win a RM238 million contract for the deepening of the shipping channel to Miri Port at the Kuala Baram delta.
Cost-Effective Bid Wins the Contract
This joint venture offered the most cost-effective bid, stated Sarawak Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas, during the contract signing ceremony held today.
Project Details and Timeline
Commencing on July 1, this three-year project will also involve constructing training bunds along the river, each stretching 6km on either side, to facilitate increased shipping traffic at Kuala Baram.
Increased Channel Depth for Enhanced Shipping
According to the Miri Port Authority (MPA), these bunds are expected to achieve a channel depth of approximately 25 meters, sufficient for accommodating all types of ships. Currently, the channel’s depth is around 0.7 meters at low tide and 3 meters at high tide, which restricts larger vessels with drafts exceeding 3 meters from accessing Miri Port.
Importance of Actual Chart Datum (ACD)
The Actual Chart Datum (ACD) is the standard reference used for measuring and representing underwater depths on nautical charts, ensuring safe navigation.
Navigational Safety Hazards Addressed
MPA Chairman Paulus Palu Gumbang highlighted that the shallow channel poses “severe navigational safety hazards” in the Kuala Baram delta, with incidents of vessels running aground.
Economic Impact on Miri Port
Gumbang further explained that the depth limitation at Miri Port has led to doubled handling costs due to frequent delays in berthing and departures, which disrupt shipping schedules and increase turnaround times. This issue has also hindered the growth of industries in the nearby Kuala Baram industrial estate.
Future Growth and Capacity Enhancement
“The deepening of the channel will enable Miri Port to achieve its designed handling capacity of 3.5 million tonnes of cargo per annum,” Gumbang added.
Long-Standing Need for Dredging
The Miri Port Authority has regarded this dredging project as essential and has been planning for such work since the port’s inauguration in 1996.