Sarawak ID | Register
Polls
Announcements

News

The Implementation of the “Channel Maintenance Fee”
Posted on : 13 Jun 2016
 

On 9/6/2016, Kuching Port Authority organised a briefing session at Theatre Hall, POB building on implementation of the “Channel Maintenance Fee”.  Mr. Robert Lau, Assistant General Manager (Finance) briefed the shipping community in Kuching that the Sarawak River will become a river super highway for ships after the capital dredging to be completed over 2016 and 2019. The project of RM360 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan was announced by the Federal Minister of Transport, Dato Sri LiowTiong Lai on 27/2/2016 at Senari Terminal.

In order to maintain the navigational channel, there will be a new port tariff of “Channel Maintenance Fee” at RM1.00 per tonne of cargo or RM1.00 per passenger within the port limit of Kuching Port Authority. It only applies to movement of cargo or passengers in or out of Sarawak. It does not apply to local cargo or local passenger within Sarawak. The new tariff takes effect from 1/6/2016 under the Kuching Port Authority (Dues, Rates and Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.

The expected benefits from the deeper navigational channel of 9 meters below chart datum (with tidal water up to 12 meters draught) and over 23.4 km are: bigger cargo and cruise ships will be able to call on Kuching direct from West Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, or Korea, no need to wait for high tide to sail the Sarawak River, cost and time savings as a result of relief from the restriction of the shallow draught at the mouth of the Sarawak River, and most importantly safety in navigation (prevention of maritime accident and loss of life).

Photo: The shipping community in Kuching was briefed on the new channel maintenance fee by the senior
management of Kuching Port Authority at Pending Terminal, Kuching.