![]("..\/..\/newsphoto\/dot-2006\/1.jpg")
\nThe newly constructed Menara Kidurong<\/i><\/font>
<\/i>
In
\nconjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Bintulu Port, T.Y.T. Tun
\nDatuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin, Yang Di-Pertua Negeri
\nSarawak, officially opened the Bintulu Port Authority\u2019s (BPA) new
\nbuilding \u2018Menara Kidurong\u2019 on 19 September 2006. <\/p>\n
Accompanying
\nthe Honourable Tun was Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajah Norkiah, Y.B.
\nDatuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Alfred Jabu Anak Numpang, Deputy Chief
\nMinister (II) of Sarawak, Minister of Infrastructure Development and
\nCommunication and Minister of Rural Development and Y.Bhg. Dato\u2019
\nJamilah Mohd. Jan, Deputy Secretary General (Operation) of the Ministry
\nof Transport Malaysia whom was representing Y.B. Dato\u2019 Sri Chan Kong
\nChoy, the Minister of Transport.<\/p>\n
The construction of Menara
\nKidurong began on 18 September 2001 and was completed on 30 November
\n2005, reaching a total cost of RM 80 million. Upon its completion,
\nMenara Kidurong became the BPA\u2019s new Corporate Headquarters Building,
\nmarking the importance of the BPA as a major player in the Malaysian
\nport industry since its establishment on 15 August 1981 under the
\nBintulu Port Authority Act 1981. It will serve as a centre for
\nfacilitating business transactions within the port by hosting several
\ngovernment agencies and key figures in the port community.<\/p>\n
The
\nbuilding has a fully-equipped control tower for overall port
\nsurveillance as well as more than 9,000 square metres of office space
\navailable for rent, a shipping hall, auditorium, cafeteria, exhibition
\nhall, function rooms and basement parking amongst other facilities.<\/p>\n
Notably,
\nthe Bintulu Port is the only export gateway for liquefied natural gas
\n(LNG) that is being produced from the Central Luconia field (located
\noff the Bintulu coast). Apart from LNG being the main commodity being
\nhandled at this port, a variety of liquid, dry and break-bulk cargo as
\nwell as containerised cargoes are also handled there. <\/p>\n
When the
\nport first became operational, the main cargo was 1.38 millions tons of
\nLNG which was handled through only one jetty. Recently, the port
\nexperienced a increase in the total amount of cargo tonnage that was
\nhandled there, with the liquid, dry and other cargo increasing by
\n6.74%, 4.8% and 82.78% respectively for the years of 2004\/2005.<\/p>\n
Apart
\nfrom this substantial growth of cargo handling, the number of ship
\ncalls has increased from 1,095 ship calls in 1983 to 5,789 ship calls
\nin 2005. Such development has led the Bintulu Port to become the single
\nlargest LNG export terminal in the world, with a capacity to handle 23
\nmillion tons annually.<\/p>\n
In recognition of the BPA\u2019s commitment to
\nkeeping high standards of quality, the Independent European
\nCertification (IEC) accredited it with the certification of MS ISO9001:
\n1994 in 2001 for regulating the operation and handling of LNG at the
\nBintulu Port. <\/p>\n
This certification was upgraded to the ISO9001:
\n2000 version on 22 December 2003. The BPA was also certified to be
\ncompliant with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code,
\nwhich came into effect on 1 Jul 2004.
Subsequently, this has
\nplaced the BPA on an international level in relation towards foreign
\nvessels having confidence in their security measures.<\/p>\n
As future
\nchallenges lay ahead, the BPA\u2019s role as the governing body of the
\nBintulu Port will undoubtedly continue to strengthen with the existence
\nof Menara Kidurong. <\/p>\n
![]("..\/..\/newsphoto\/dot-2006\/2.jpg") <\/font><\/td>\n | ![]("..\/..\/newsphoto\/dot-2006\/3.jpg") <\/font><\/td>\n<\/tr>\nT.Y.T. Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Muhammad Salahuddin officiating the opening of Menara Kidurong<\/font><\/i><\/td>\n | An LNG ship approaching the Bintulu Port<\/font><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/font><\/div>\n Click to rate this post!<\/div> <\/div> |