359
May 2006

Rajang River Express Boats

Early morning at the Sibu Express boat terminal.

The little port city of Sibu, Sarawak about 80 miles (130 kilometers) up from the South China Sea on the Rajang River of Malaysian Borneo, was built on the wealth of the timber industry. Now that segment is in decline and the town is earning a global reputation as a quality builder of tugs and off shore supply vessels. It is also here that a variety of fast river ferries is built. While some of these are built for export, others are used to take passengers up river from Sibu to the smaller towns, logging operations and longhouse villages that have no road access.

At Kapit the ferry terminal is the place to see and be seen.

Two of Capt. Ting Heng Sing's vessels, the Sri Jaya and Asian Vision, operate daily between Sibu and the up river towns of Song and Kapit. Along with about ten other vessels they depart on a scheduled basis from a city ferry dock that is built so as to provide shelter to the boarding passengers. Each boat makes one round trip daily with the first departure at 5:45 AM. The 90 miles up river to Kapit takes three hours going up river with a brief stop at Song about half way. The trips back down river with the current takes about a half hour less.

Capt. Ting Sr. at the helm of the Sri Jaya.

The Sir Jaya has seating for 90 passengers with 32 in first class and balance in economy. The brightly painted white, yellow and red, 113 by 9-foot 8-inch hull is reminiscent of a Boeing 737 minus the wings and tail. An 18-inch deck extends out from the hull. The little pilot cabin with its streamline windows is bare of electronics except for a compact radar set and a pair of DVD players (for showing movies to the passengers). The key to navigating a fast flowing muddy river, with no navigation buoys but full of driftwood, is a good local knowledge and keen eyes. Having spent their lives on the Rajang, Capt. Ting and his son Capt. Ting Kee Wong, who skippers the 103-passenger Asian Vision, have both. Power for both the Sri Jaya and the Asian Vision is a single 1200 hp Cummins KTA38 M2 mounted well aft in each of the two all aluminum vessels' hulls. An extension of the hull's bottom plating allows the engine to be further aft and provides additional lift.

Passengers boarding in First Class compartment while Jackie Chan
movie plays on the monitor.

These boats are not only fast, but also highly maneuverable so as to avoid the heavy driftwood in the Rajang River.

In addition to passengers, the express boats carry general cargos of fresh vegetables, cans of paint, sacks of cement and anything that might be need up river. Most cargo is stowed on the rounded cabin top, tucked in behind a windbreak and lashed to rails provided for that purpose. Plastic cages of live ducks and chickens go onto the small aft deck behind the engine room.

Passengers leaving the First class compartment at Kapit.

Passengers wanting to go further up the Rajang River from Kapit board slightly smaller 500 hp Cummins KTA19 M powered express boats. These boats will, except in the dry season, take them another four or five hours upriver to Belaga. The narrowing river above Kapit, flows through a number of tricky spots including the notorious Pelagus Rapids.  While the East Malaysian road network continues to expand; it seems likely that there will be a role for these great boats for some time to come.

Landing at Kapit, 90 miles up river from Sibu.

For further information contact:

Wong Siong Choung
Marine Sales Manager
Scott & English (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
100, Lanang Road.
P.O. Box 1549, 96008 Sibu, Sarawak
Phone: 084-311807
Mobile: 601 9856 6737
Email: wsc@sne.com.my

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