Cruise tourists unable to disembark in Miri due to rough seas

MIRI (Dec 29): A total of 81 tourists and 36 crew members, on a cruise across Asean countries from Australia, safely anchored off the Miri Port Authority Crew Change Terminal (MPACCT) on Monday morning.

However, the tourists were unable to disembark via water taxis due to rough sea conditions, which made the transfer unsafe.

Travel Hub Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd managing director Adam Tan said the group had been scheduled to spend a day in the city after spending the weekend in Brunei.

“Although the vessel managed to anchor safely, sea conditions remained unfavourable with choppy waves. By about 9am, a decision was made to cancel the disembarkation as many of the passengers are elderly, aged between 60 and 70,” he told reporters at a welcoming reception held at the MPACCT on Monday.

Tan said the cruise would now proceed to Kuching and is expected to arrive there on Tuesday.

He added that although the tourists were unable to visit Miri on this occasion, there are plans to bring more cruise ships into Sarawak next year.

Also present were Councillor Kelvin Chia, representing Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, and Miri Port Authority general manager Serawa Budol.