THE Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) collected RM15.8mil in riverine fees, including from passengers and cargo boats, in 2020 and 2021.
Minister for Transport, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin stated that the collection of various types of riverine fees, including Riverine Transport Fees for the usage of rivers and facilities, were being used for upgrading and management of riverine facilities.
He noted that his ministry through SRB was responsible for the safety of navigation, riverine cleanliness, barrage, and shiplock management as stipulated under the Sarawak Rivers Ordinance 1993 and its regulations.
“Currently, there are 35 gazetted rivers with a total length of 5,000km, of which 3,500km or 70 per cent is navigable. In 2021, approximately 460,043 passengers and 24,101 tonnes of cargo moved through passenger terminals and wharves along these gazetted rivers.
“My ministry will continue to improve these terminals and facilities for the safety and security of users,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech on Tuesday (May 24).
Meanwhile, Lee disclosed that SRB had installed 312 Aids to Navigation in the rivers and five units of Yellow Marker Buoys for the purpose to demarcate a ‘No Entry’ zone in the specified water bodies.
“Specifically, (installation) in Batang Ai and Bakun hydroelectric power dams for the safety of local communities and in Tasik Biru, Bau on March 1 this year for the safety of visitors. This initiative will continue to be carried out in other specified water bodies.”
He disclosed that his ministry through SRB had salvaged and removed a total of 193 shipwrecks in rivers since 2001.
For shipwrecks that could not be removed, he said his ministry had installed hazard markers to notify riverine users.
“Moreover, to enhance safety in our rivers, my ministry has gazetted 20 Anchorage Areas for different types of vessels for the purpose of anchoring or midstream bunkering or loading and unloading cargoes.”
On how the Kuching Barrage and Shiplock was an important infrastructure for flood mitigation, Lee pointed out that his ministry through SRB would carry out improvement work to ensure the structural integrity of the barrage and shiplock is maintained.
“One of the main components of the barrage and shiplock is the rainfall and water level telemetry stations. These stations sited along two tributaries of Sungai Sarawak are connected to the control centre at the barrage building to monitor the real-time water level for efficient operation of flood control.
“This year, my ministry through SRB will upgrade the existing 24 telemetry stations to improve the efficiency of the operation.”
As for the performance of buoys and light boards, he shared that there were currently 165 Aids to Navigation under the management of the Buoys and Light Board throughout Sarawak comprising seven Lighthouses, 50 Beacons, 25 Transits, and 83 Marker Buoys.
He explained that the core function of the Board was to ensure safe movement of ships into Sarawak waters, conduct hydrographic surveys, provide grants for seamen training, provide and maintain Aids to Navigation and lighthouses in compliance with International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) Standard.
