MIRI: The completion of the 200m-long crew change terminal at Pulau Melayu is timely as it ensures the orderly operations of offshore crew boats in and out of Sungai Miri.
Sarawak Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin visited the facility, which began construction in 2019, on Tuesday (Oct 26).
“The rapid growth in the oil and gas sector has resulted in the ballooning numbers of offshore crew boats and other types of offshore support vessels,” he pointed out.
“The ministry is also in the process of looking into ways to ensure navigational safety and efficiency on Sungai Miri. Among others, the ministry, through the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), is looking into establishing a laid-up anchorage area in Kuala Baram for non-operational vessels, the setting-up of additional Aids to Navigation (AtONS) as well as Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS).”
Presently, there are about 186 licensed boats servicing the oil and gas sector, and most of them operate in Bintulu and Miri.
Lee said the Sarawak government’s strong support for the oil and gas sector, and the recent announcement of the relocation of Shell Malaysia headquarters to Miri, would increase maritime and riverine growth here.
He added that such efforts were taken to boost investor confidence and attract new investments into Miri.
