Push for better sea, air links in BIMP-Eaga
KOTA KINABALU: Better sea and air linkages among member countries of BIMP-Eaga were the issues highlighted during the BIMP-Eaga Seventh Transport Cluster Meeting held in Davao City, Mindanao recently.
The first day of the three-day meeting was the Private Sector meeting which chaired by BIMPEaga Business Council (BEBC) Malaysia chairman Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed with the sea, air, and land transport linkages top on its agenda.
For air transportation, it was announced that the Philippines Airlines may soon launch its Kota Kinabalu-Zamboanga flight while AirAsia Indonesia and Garuda Air Indonesia announced the Davao-Manado link.
Meanwhile for the Kota Kinabalu-Manado sector by Batik Air, Ricky Silalahi of Garuda Indonesia reported that the airspace sector request was pending approval from the Malaysian authorities.
For the sea transportation, the Philippine-based shipping company, Aleson Shipping Lines Inc, was on the main agenda following an announcement by its Vice President Attorney Nelson Tan of the temporary suspension of MV Antonia 1 operation for the SandakanZamboanga sector that has been in operation for the past 25 years or since the inception of BIMPEaga.
Aleson Shipping has appealed to the Malaysian Transport Ministry, which was supported by BEBC.
The Malaysian Ministry of Transport had officially announced there would be no compromise on safety and sovereignty, however, BEBC has requested an appeal so that MV Antonia 1 may continue to sail thereby sustaining trade activities between the ports in 2021.
BEBC and Aleson also announced a fresh commitment which is an understanding for Alesoncn to comply with the Safety at Sea certificates requirement.
This was in conforming to the highest international standards and to provide in due course approved plans of a new ship design specifically to comply with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) class specifications.
BEBC agreed with their timeline to set sail by mid or end of 2021 and this arrangement has been submitted to the BIMPEaga-TCM.
BEBC is now expected to submit its written submission backed with specifics and historical events to all member countries of BIMP-Eaga.
Following the suspension of MV Antonia 1, Aleson Shipping Lines Inc announced the deployment of a cargo-onlycarrying vessel immediately to Sandakan, an initiative to overcome the slow trading activity at both Sandakan and Zamboanga ports.
The other highlight was the long-awaited Kudat-Buliluyan, Palawan ferry linkage.
Rextor C. Tupas representing the company that would be operating the ferry service, Archipelago Ferries Line (Php) informed the Private Sector meeting that they were now in the process of complying with the IMO standards set by the Malaysian Ministry of Transport.
The roll-on-roll-off jetty at Kudat Port had been reported to have been completed since 2017 but until today it remained idle pending approval of the vessel's specifications by the Malaysian. authorities.
Tupas admitted that their vessel had been commissioned strictly to satisfy the regulations of the Philippine waters from which the IMO class is not available.
On another note, BEBC Sabah chairman Carl Moosom briefed the meeting that a new replacement vessel would be deployed to ensure sea connectivity between Labuan and Brunei.
Speaking on behalf of Jaya Coastal Group (Sibu) as its representative could not attend the meeting, Moosom said the MV Goodwill will be replaced by MV Joystar and expected to resume service by December 2019.
The upgraded vessel has a better passenger carrying capacity of 253 pax and faster travelling time.
The proposed passenger and cargo Indonesian flag carrier plying between Lahad Datu Port and Sulawesi, Indonesia (port to be announced soon), is expected to start operation by middle quarter of next year.
This initiative would be on the top agenda of the coming BIMPEaga Transport Ministerial Meeting to be held in December in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, POIC Lahad Datu Port Sabah made its debut in BIMP-Eaga with a full-scale presentation.
POIC was part of the BEBC Malaysia private sector delegation together with 20 others from various sectors related to the transport industry.
It was represented by Rose Pun, the Head of Sales Marketing, who came with Northport Berhad as part of a joint collaborator to their recently opened POIC Lahad Datu Port.
The Sea Working Group meeting chaired by the Assistant Secretary Maritime Department of Transport Philippines, Loni H. Dabi adopted the proposal to include Lahad Datu POIC port in the EAGA sea connectivity pending its full compliance of the requirements from the relevant authorities.
The meeting from Sept 24 to 27 was attended by representatives from the private sector numbering 20 corporate individuals and industry players from shipping companies, port operators and traders led by their respective BEBC.
This year Malaysia took over the BIMP-Eaga Transport Cluster Chairmanship from Indonesia, which was then presided by Sarawak Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary Buckland Bangik.
BEBC Malaysia was headed by Roselan and Moosom who is also the BEBC Sabah Chairman and BOD member of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council.
Among the Malaysian private sector that participated in the meeting were Standard Marine Sdn Bhd (Sdk), Priority Agency Sdn Bhd (KK), POIC Lahad Datu Sabah, Northport Berhad (KL), Jaya Coastal Group (Sibu), Borneo Fort Trading Sdn Bhd (Kudat) and RG Chartering Sdn Bhd (KL).