Temporary measures in place for passengers’ safety — SRB
SIBU: A wooden walkway has been erected across the partially submerged pontoon leading to the departure area at Sibu Express Boat Terminal.
The temporary measure put in place last Sunday is to enable passengers to move between the terminal and the departure point, said Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) Sibu assistant controller ( Region II) Hatta Morshidi.
Other temporary measures included securing the affected pontoon with cables, he added.
“SRB Region II’s preliminary assessment shows there is a crack beneath the pontoon, causing it to take in some water and partially submerge.
“But the actual nature of the problem will only be known once the pontoon is lifted and dry docked,” Hatta told The Borneo Post yesterday.
He, however, said as the affected pontoon is filled with polystyrene, it would not sink.
He pointed out that as the pontoon was not level with other pontoons, the joints were disentangled and pulled out from the sockets.
Safety measures are all in place to safeguard the safety of passengers, including erecting a notice to inform passengers to take precautions, said Hatta.
“SRB Region II has prepared the quotation document for the remedial works and has forwarded it to SRB HQ for approval.”
He revealed that permanent measures would include stabilising the pontoon and making new connections to tie the pontoons together.
There are 13 pontoons altogether and all are polystyrene-filled.