MIRI: The Kuala Baram Delta Miri Access Channel Dredging and Deepening project is progressing at five per cent completion and is now expected to finish by the end of 2026—earlier than its original March 2027 deadline.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said that the RM208.9 million project includes dredging and the construction of two six-kilometre-long dikes, each with a depth exceeding 25 metres.
“The project is on track, and we are already at 5 per cent. The joint venture contractors, Rimbun Prima Sdn Bhd (RPSB) and China Communications Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd (CCC), are actively involved in dredging and building the dikes to improve water flow efficiently,” he said during a working visit to the project site yesterday (Mar 14).
The goal, he said, is to transform Kuala Baram into a key location for a future deep-sea port.
Lee also stressed the need to enhance navigation safety, particularly in the Tanjong Lobang and Kuala Baram Lighthouse areas.
He pointed out that the Tanjong Lobang Lighthouse required urgent repairs to maintain its operational integrity and comply with international navigation standards, on top of upgrading its navigation system to support the access channel, with further discussions planned with Miri Port.
He noted that Miri’s offshore waters, one of the busiest shipping lanes in Sarawak, are crucial for oil and gas operations.
As such, the Senadin assemblyman stressed that ensuring the safety of ships entering Miri Port and operating offshore is vital.
“With the planned upgrade of Miri Port to a deep-sea port, this is the right time to assess the need for navigation system upgrades, as well as the importance of complying with the International Association of Maritime Aids to Navigation and Lighthouses (IALA) standards and ensuring that Aids to Navigation (ATONs) meet global safety requirements over time,” he added.
