MPA now operates terminal facility at Logistik Serimas
MIRI: The Mi r i Por t Authority ( MPA) is now operating of fshore crew/ supplies terminal facility at Logistik Serimas Sdn Bhd at Krokop 3.
MPA has been providing the logistical base support services to oil and gas since 2000 at its dedicated terminal in Kuala Baram but since 2007, the handling of crew boats at MPA’s wharf at Kuala Baram began to decline very significantly due to the optimisation strategy by oil and gas companies to achieve a more cost effective operation by deploying bigger vessels with deeper draf t ( exceeding 3 metres).
“MPA through its facilities at Kuala Baram has not been able to provide these facilities on a 24-hour service during low tide, as the access channel at Kuala Baram is barely 1 meter depth.
“Due to this situation and shallow access channel at Kuala Baram, MPA could not fully fulfil its obligations in providing such services result ing in oil and gas companies to move their crew/ supplies boats operations to jetties along Miri river which has a depth of more than 3 metres,” said MPA chairman Palu @ Paulus Gumbang during the recent soft opening ceremony of Logistik Serimas Sdn Bhd Terminal Facility.
Among others and to start with, MPA as the faci lity operator had successful ly col laborated with Logistik Ser imas Sdn Bhd ( the facility owner) in providing these faci lities to handle crew and supplies vessels offshore.
“The provision of the service is in line with our mission as a catalyst for economic development especial ly in Miri and it is our pride and dream to serve the oil and gas industry, alongside the other industries as well, similar to the services been provided by the full- f ledged supply base in the region.
“The maritime activities along Miri river are subject to the purviews and approval of the respective government agencies and MPA together with other related agencies and some private jetties operators with related licences have agreed to provide such facilities as an interim measures before MPA could have its own facilities, which is in the final stage of planning now,” he explained.
Palu, who is also Batu Danau assemblyman, added that MPA has been operating at Serimas from June 15, 2017 and he believed the facility would be able to meet the operational requi rement for fur ther development and growth of its clients.
“This faci lity shall also resolve or minimize some logistic problems faced by crew/supplies boats operations and on top of that, MPA would be able to fulfil its legal obligation as enshrined in the Ordinance by providing such berthing and logistics services to the shipping communities,” he said.
Also present during the soft launching were Logistik Serimas Sdn Bhd managing directcor Dato’ Sri Ling Ti ing Lik, Mini s t ry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Sarawak permanent secretary Datu Safri Zainuddin and MPA general manager Serawa Budol.