RAJANG PORT AUTHORITY

P.O. BOX 143, 10710 PENANG, MALAYSIA

HARBOUR PILOTS

HARBOUR PILOTS ARE PROVIDED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH NOT COMPULSORY, IT IS ADVISABLE FOR LARGER VESSELS TO HAVE A PILOT ONBOARD WHEN NAVIDATING THE PORT'S APPROACHES. APPLICATION FOR PILOTAGE SHOULD BE MADE 24 HOURS BEFORE A SHIP'S ARRIVAL. SHIPS WHICH REQUIRE A PILOT ENROUTE TO SIBU SHOULD INDICATE WHICH APPROACH CHANNEL THEY WILL BE USING. THEY CAN CONTACT THE PILOT VIA THE 'HAGUE PLAN' AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE SHORE ON BERTHING INFORMATION VIA CHANNEL 18, BOTH ON VHF RADIO.

LABOUR

LABOUR FOR CARGO-HANDLING IN SIBU IS PROVIDED BY RPA. TEN 13-MEN STEVEDORE GANGS ARE AVAILABLE. IN TANJUNG MANIS AND SARIKEI, STEVEDORING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS.

FRESH WATER

AVAILABLE TO VESSELS BERTHED ALONGSIDE AT SIBU, SG. MERAH, SARIKEI AND TANJUNG MANIS.

FIRE FIGHTING SERVICES

PROVIDED BY RPA. THE PORT'S FIRE SERVICE UNIT IS WELL EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCIES AND EVEN ITS SECURITY PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED IN FIRE FIGHTING.

PORT SECURITY

RPA'S SECURITY FORCE OVERSEES THE MOVEMENTS OF GOODS AND PEOPLE IN THE PORT AREA. DOCUMENTS ISSUED BY RPA ARE REQUIRED FOR CARGO CLEARANCE AND A VALID PASS IS NEEDED TO PASS THROUGH THE PORT GATES.

CREDIT FACILITIES

AVAILABLE TO SHIP AGENTS AND CARGO OWNERS WHO ARE REGULAR PORT USERS. A BANK GUARANTEE IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN SUCH A FACILITY FROM RPA.

OTHER SERVICES

COMPUTERIZED BILLING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY RPA SINCE 1991.

INTRODUCTION

THE RAJANG PORT AUTHORITY (RPA) WAS ESTABLISHED ON 1 NOVEMBER 1970 AND COMMENCED OPERATIONS ON 17 MAY 1971. ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO CO-ORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FIVE PORTS PLACED UNDER ITS JURISDICTION : SIBU CENTRE, TANJUNG MANIS CENTRE, SARIKEI CENTRE, BINTANGOR CENTRE AND THE SUNGAI MERAH OIL JETTY. IT MANAGES OPERATIONS IN ALL THE PORTS EXCEPT THE BINTANGOR CENTRE.

THE PALOH RIVER ROUTE, ABOUT 82 KM FROM THE RIVER MOUTH TO SIBU, CAN BE USED BY VESSELS OF UP TO 152 METRES LENGTH AND WITH DRAUGHTS OF 6 METRES (REDUCED TO 5 METRES DURING THE NORTH-EAST MONSOON PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH). THE AVERAGE TIDE VARIANCE ON THE ROUTE IS ABOUT 2.7 METRES.

THE RAJANG RIVER ROUTE, ABOUT 112.6KM FROM THE ESTUARY TO SIBU, ALLOWS LARGER VESSELS WITH A 9 - METRE DRAUGHT TO REACH TANJUNG MANIS. VESSELS INTENDING TO USE THIS ROUTE TO SIBU ARE RESTRICTED TO 61 METRES IN LENGTH AND 7 METRES IN DRAUGHT AS AFTER TANJUNG MANIS PORT, THE RIVER IS WINDING, NARROW AND WITH SOME SHALLOW PACTCHES. VESSELS USING THIS ROUTE ARE ADVISED TO NAVIGATE WITH CAUTION AS TUGS TOWING BARGES AND LOGS OF 100 METRES ARE OFTEN ENCOUNTERED. THE AVERAGE TIDAL VARIANCE AT THE RAJANG ROUTE ENTRANCE IS ABOUT 3.4 METRES.

THERE ARE TWO PRINCIPLE APPROACHES TO THE FIVE CENTERS OF RAJANG PORT AUTHORITY, ie RAJANG ROUTE AND PALOH ROUTE