by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 21: A solar-supplemented electric-powered boat (E-Boat) will be deployed at the Batang Ai reservoir to support dam safety inspections, environmental monitoring, personnel transportation and visits to the floating solar farm.
According to a press statement, the initiative marks another step towards greener and more sustainable water transportation in Sarawak, with the E-Boat’s operations at Batang Ai providing an opportunity to assess the feasibility of deploying electric-powered vessels in other suitable applications across the State.
Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the initiative demonstrates how clean energy and new technologies could be applied practically in the State’s water transportation sector.
“While much attention has been given to green mobility on land, we must also explore opportunities to introduce cleaner and more sustainable technologies in our water transportation sector,” he said at the official handover ceremony for the Boat Licence and River Transport Permit (RTP) for Sarawak Energy Bhd’s (SEB) E-Boat at Pangkalan Sapi today.
Developed by SEB, the 10-metre fibreglass E-Boat is equipped with twin 40 kW electric outboard motors, a 92 kWh battery system and 3.6 kWp rooftop solar panels.
It has an estimated operating range of 40 to 50 kilometres, an operating duration of approximately three to four hours, a maximum speed of 25 km/h and a registered passenger capacity of 12. The E-Boat was reportedly built and assembled in Sibu, with SEB responsible for integrating its electric propulsion system and related electrical components.
Lee said the initiative builds on experience gained from the earlier E-Penambang project, while providing an opportunity to further evaluate the suitability of electric-powered vessels for Sarawak’s waterways.
“Projects such as this allow us to gain valuable experience in vessel performance, operational reliability, charging requirements and maintenance. These are important considerations before electric vessels can be introduced on a wider scale,” he said.
However, he emphasised that factors such as operating range, charging infrastructure, river conditions, passenger safety and cost-effectiveness would need to be carefully evaluated before wider adoption.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Transport Sarawak, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep; SEB chief executive officer Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili; Jabatan Laut Malaysia Wilayah Sarawak director, Tuan Bianus bin Muyou; Sarawak Rivers Board chairman, Dr Haji Safiee Haji Ahmad; Controller of the Sarawak Rivers Board Lt Col (Rtd) Ding Tiew Wong; and head of the Maritime and Riverine Transport Division, Ministry of Transport Sarawak, Constantine Gerald David Jonas. – DayakDaily
