KUCHING: The Sarawak Infrastructure and Port Development Ministry has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the congestion at Senari Terminal due to a computer outage, and is taking several measures to solve this.
Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing said what had occurred was beyond control, and as a service provider, Kuching Port Authority (KPA) was accountable, which was why since March 27, KPA had worked full-time to repair the damage to the software.
“I assure shipping companies that by end of the month, KPA will return to normal and traffic congestion will be solved barring other natural disasters and health pandemic.
“KPA will acquire one new harbour crane using its own internal funding, rectify the damaged computer system, while shipping companies will provide their own ship-to-shore cranes on one berth,” he said today.
As long-term measures, he said, the government would acquire two extra quay cranes to enable three berth operation and four new gantry cranes to replace the current aging ones.
“KPA has been instructed to review its computer system, with backup software so that if there is another computer outage, there will not be any more traffic congestion both on land and on sea. All of these will require huge funding by the government.”
He said in return, the government urged the shipping companies not to issue surcharges to the shippers because it would have a negative effect in which prices of goods would increase, and the public would have to bear the consequences.
“I was assured by the shipping companies present (during a meeting) that they will not issue the surcharge. For that assurance, the government is happy.
“The government will carry its assurance to make KPA a better enabler of the shipping industries.”
Masing, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, had a meeting with KPA, Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several shipping companies on April 26.
The meeting was to solve the congestion problems at Senari Port as a result of a computer outage that occurred on March 27.
The computer malfunction resulted in congestion of containers being processed by KPA, from the normal time of 40 minutes to at least two hours per container.
This in turn resulted in extended long wait for ships at Senari Port before they could empty and reload their goods.
As such, the extra waiting time incurred additional costs not only to the shipping companies but to the hauliers as well.
