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The buoy, one of the navigational aids
used by the Marine Department |
"Ahoy there…” is the friendly call seamen or sailors hail to
each other when they’re out at sea. This nautical greeting basically represent
what little knowledge I have about vessels, shipping regulations or maritime related
procedures and activities. But spending a few hours at the Sarawak Marine Dept
significantly expanded my range of nautical terms.
Interestingly enough, Sarawak has a long history with the coming and goings at
sea that dated back more than 150 years ago. That history began with the
establishment of the “Shipping Office” during the Brooke era. The Shipping Office
was administered by the Shipping Master or Harbour Master, who was responsible
for undertaking the affairs of all government vessels. The Office was also partially
responsible for trading vessels. However, the scenario began to change with a
rule passed in 1872 that required all vessels to obtain permits to enter Sarawak
waters and be subjected to searches. In 1874, the Shipping Office was relocated
to the Public Office Building at Pengkalan Batu (this building was later turned
into the High Court Building until 2003 when it became the Tourism Complex of
today).
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A tow boat belonging to the department
idling at the jeti |
A year after the relocation, the Sarawak Steamship Company was formed, and the
power of authority of the Harbour Master was increased to include the safety of
local vessels, small boats, taxi boats and the welfare of local sailors. More
rules and regulations came into effect with the passage of time and in 1920, the
“Rule of 1920” was introduced. With this new rule, a Certificate of Approval from
both the Shipping Office and Trade & Customs Department was required before a
vessel is allowed to enter or depart from any port in Sarawak. At that time, the
Certificate was written in Jawi as most of the seamen consisted of locals. Trading
was mostly done via sea routes during those early years, and to monitor the trading
routes, a new order was issued in 1922 where the Shipping Office cooperated with
the Trade & Customs Department in this area. The same directive also recognized
the Shipping Office as the Marine Department of Sarawak.
The Marine Department experienced several more relocations during its one and
half century in operations: after the Public Office Building at Pengkalan Batu,
it was moved to Godown No. 6 on Main Bazaar (where jetties for government vessels
were situated), later the Customs House also on Main Bazaar, followed by the Kuching
Port Authority Building at Pending, and finally to its own building complex at
Tanah Puteh in 1995.
The name “Marine Department of Sarawak” was officially used after the end of World
War II, and the position of Marine Director of Sarawak or Pengarah Laut Sarawak,
was created to head the organization. The Marine Director is responsible for vessels
and anything maritime related except those concerning fishing boats which, in
1988, came under the care of the Fisheries Department of Sarawak. Due to the vast
expanse of Sarawak’s waters (about 800 sq km in length), some of the responsibilities
for managing vessels leaving and departing from small ports throughout Sarawak
were delegated to the Resident or Customs Office.
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The speedboat, Serapi, lies waiting
for action from the department |
When Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963, the name
“Marine Department of Sarawak” was changed to “Jabatan Laut Sarawak” and placed
under federal administration under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia. Today,
the Marine Department of Sarawak has evolved from just a small shipping office
in the 1850s to an MS ISO 9001 and MS ISO 9002 certified federal agency. Besides
providing quality services to the seafarers, the department is also on the bandwagon
of the information superhighway through constant development of computer-based
systems to better serve and inform the people. The current staff in the Marine
Department numbers more than 550, a far cry from the 10 employees it had in 1873.
The Marine Department of Sarawak can be contacted at Lot 683, Section 66, Jalan
Utama, Tanah Puteh, 93619 Kuching, Tel: 082-484018 or 082-484159 and Fax: 082-331778.
Services Provided By The Marine Department of Sarawak
1. Search & Rescue
Available to public 24 hours a day. Contact Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC)
at Tel: 082-333205/082-337716, Fax: 082-331349 or E-mail: mrsckuc@jls.gov.my
2. Navigational Aids
Navigational aids available for seafarers, e.g., lighthouses, beacons & buoys.
3. Ship Survey - Boat Licensing
Application can be made at any branches or regional offices.
4. Ship Survey - Ship Registration
a. Application can be made at any branches or regional offices for ships plying
in Malaysian waters.
b. Application can be made at any ports of registry in Malaysia (Penang, Port
Klang, Labuan and Kuching) for ships plying beyond Malaysian waters.
5. Port Departure
Application can be made at any branches or regional offices.
6. Seamen Services
Provision of Seaman Certificate can be referred to at any branches or regional
offices
7. Schedule of Fees
Schedule of Fees available for Registration of Ships, Registration of Seafarers
and Miscellaneous Fees.
8. Deck & Engine Proficiency Examination
Apply to the Marine Director, Head Office of the Marine Department of Sarawak,
Kuching.
9. Hydrographic Survey
Apply to the Director, Marine Department of Sarawak, Kuching. Payment is according
to the location and duration.
10. Hydrographic Products
Products available are Nautical Charts, Sarawak Tide Tables and Notices to Mariner.
11. Enforcement/ Prosecution
a. Common Offences b. Compound System
12. Plan Approval, Ship Survey & Certification
Applications can be made at any branches or regional offices for:
- Plan Approval (Survey 1)
- Ship Survey (Survey 2)
- Authorization of Classification Societies (Survey 3)
- Application for Exemption (Survey 4).
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