The Miri Port Authority (MPA) as established on 1Feb. 1981 and commenced operations on 1 Mar. 1983. Before the establishment of MPA, the port was managed by the Royal Customs & Excise Department. The Public Works Department was responsible for the maintenance of buildings and wharves while the Marine Department allocated berths to vessels and collected whart rent.

In 1998, Miri Port moved to its new location within the Kuala Baram Industrial Estate. Located 30km from the perious port site, the relocation is a giant step taken by MPA to position Miri for its role as the gateway to northern Sarawak.The new Miri Port offers:

• A strategic location witthin the Kuala Baram Industrial Estate
• Deeper approach channel
• Multi-purpose-built berths and support facilities for all types of cargo
• Good support facilities for port-relevant activities
• Lower freight cost
• Good accessibility by road

The New Miri Port complex, which lies within the Kuala Baram Industrial Estate has been designed to meet long term demand of 2.5 million tonnes by the year 2010 and beyond. The designwas based on the Maritime Industrial Development Area(MIDA) concept which in the long term will facilitate the consolidation of industrial and maritime related industries in Kuala Baram.

The complex itself provides comprehensive facilities to enable it to function beyond its traditional role as a provider of cargo handling facilities and into the role of a one stop centre for various maritime related activities.

Miri Port together with the Kuala Baram Industrial Estate will play an important role in the facilitation of trade and the industrial and socio-economic development of Kuala Baram in particular and the Miri Division in general.

The on-going construction of the Miri-Brunei bridge across the Batang BaramRiver is expected to be completed by the year 2004. The construction of the bridge coincides with the MPA master plan as it provided the linkage with the Pan-Borneo Highland to enable the integration of the logistics flow for specific markets both within and beyond its immediate hinterland.

MIRI PORT AUTHORITY

JALAN MIRI PORT

KUALA BARAM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE KUALA BARAM, 98000 MIRI, SARAWAK

TEL : (6085) 609009

FAX : (6085) 604841

click to go for quick-view :

• MIRI-BRUNEI BRIDGE
• FABRICATION PLANTS
• PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES
• SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIRS

There is a great potential for oil and gas logistics and other downstream activities to be established there as Miri is rich in these natural resources.

Timber-based activities together with shipbuilding and other light and medium industries are concentrated at Kuala Baram and will form an integrated industrial complex in the area.

A preliminary study has been done on the need to establish a free zone within the Kuala Baram Industrial area. The study indicates that there is interests among investors to operate in the free zone. The creation of free zone will accelerate private sector and other direct foreigh investment in the Kuala Baram Industrial Estate.

The potential activities in the free zone will include :

• Wood-based downstream activities
• Assembly, reconditioning and refurbishment of heavy machinery
• Oil and gas downstream activities
• Value-adding activities, storage and distribution

Investors have indicated their interest to set up fabrication plants in Kuala Baram to cater to the oil and gas and other maritime related industries. Miri Port has incorporated these requests into its master plan.

With a deeper channel of at least six metres draft, Miri Port has the potential to handle high-speed passenger ferry services with a seating capacity of between 150 to 200 passengers. These services will connect Miri to the southern Philippines and Sulawesi via ferry terminals in Brunei, Labuan and Kota Kinabalu. Such a service will be in accordance with the BIMP-EAGA's objective of promoting cross-border trade and tourism.

The development of shipbuilding and ship repair activities in the Kuala Baram industrial area will be a catalyst for further economic development in the hinterland. This will not only generate employment but also spin-off activities like the construction and provision of basic infrastructure facilities and amenities in the aea.