Marine Dept to enhance safety features of new passenger vessels in the state, review licensing
Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi
SIBU: The Marine Department will impose new requirements on designs of passenger express boats in the state to enhance their safety features.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said naval architects of the Marine Department would be tasked to come up with new designs that would incorporate more exits to allow passengers to evacuate in emergencies, luggage area and ample space to accommodate stretchers for sick passengers.
“As it is normal for such boats to transport patients on stretchers, this aspect will also be looked into to accommodate them as, at present, there is none. We will be looking at proper luggage compartments as well.”
Speaking to reporters after attending a briefing for 26 Rajang River express boat operators, here, yesterday, he said the new requirements for the new designs would be implemented in 2015.
“All those attending the briefing had agreed that the safety aspect of passenger boats be given top priority,” he said.
Among those present at the briefing were Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) chairman Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn and chief political secretary to the chief minister Abdullah Saidol.
He added that the department would cooperate with the state government and boat operators to organise safety awareness campaigns at selected locations where there were high volumes of passengers.
“At the same time, we will organise training courses for individuals who wish to obtain the boat skipper certificate issued by the department.
“This is to ensure only those competent will handle the boat,” he said.
He added a committee or secretariat would be set up to monitor and coordinate cooperation between SRB and the Marine Department to solve issues pertaining to boat passengers’ safety.
“We will continue to place warning signs at locations identified to be accident-prone in rivers in the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Saidol said it had been suggested that a special committee be set up to look into all aspects of rivers – ensuring their safety for transportation, their cleanliness, drawing up new and better regulations regarding their usage by all concerned and promoting them as tourist attractions.
He said the committee, to come under the Marine Department, would have representatives from all stakeholders, including the Sarawak Natural Resources Environment Board, the Sarawak Rivers Board, the Department of Environment and boat associations.
He said that though there had always been requests for more rural roads, the state’s rivers would continue to remain important in the transportation system.
“We want to give the people the option of using roads or rivers to move around,” he said.