Kuching Port Authority plans major infrastructure projects to boost capacity by 2028

KUCHING (Feb 4): The Kuching Port Authority (KPA) will undertake several major infrastructure projects between 2026 and 2028 as part of efforts to boost capacity and accommodate larger vessels, said its chairman Azizul Annuar Adenan.

Among the planned projects is a 220-metre wharf extension with a 30-metre mooring dolphin at Senari Terminal, Azizul said in a statement issued by KPA.

“This is to cater for tall vessels with an air draught exceeding 26 metres that will no longer be able to call at Pending Terminal during and after the completion of the Samarahan–Sejingkat Bridge, which will have an under-bridge clearance of 26 metres,” he said.

Azizul added that another project slated for 2026 is the construction of a new container yard at Senari Terminal with a handling capacity of 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum.

On operational performance, he said KPA handled 10.42 million tonnes of cargo last year, alongside a record 325,000 TEUs, representing an increase of 6.6 per cent compared with 2024.

He expressed appreciation to the Sarawak government, particularly the Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development (MIPD) and the Sarawak Public Works Department, for the completion of a new vehicle yard at Senari Terminal with a capacity of 2,500 vehicles last year.

He added that construction of an additional yard with capacity for 1,000 vehicles is currently under way and expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Azizul disclosed this at KPA’s appreciation cum certificate presentation ceremony for 2025, held at the Port Operation Building at Pending Terminal here.

The event saw 19 long-serving employees who retired last year receiving Excellent Service Awards, and also the presentation of certificates of completion for various training programmes undertaken by its staff.

Touching on human capital development, Azizul noted that KPA conducted a total of 441 training programmes last year, comprising 242 internal and 199 external courses, seminars, webinars, talks and workshops.

Present were MIPD principal assistant secretary Jennifer Lundai who represented ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Chiew Chee Yau; KPA general manager Robert Lau Hong Thiam; as well as KPA board members Dato Ir Janang Bungsu, Asem Linkin, Lim Ah Ted, and Goh Tze Hui.