KUCHING, Aug 10: Port authorities, operators and users have been urged to equip themselves with proper emergency response plan and training to enable quick respond in emergency situation.
Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak director Khirudin Drahman highlighted the importance of such drill in view of the recent incidents in the port industry including the Port of Tianjin’s blast in 2015, the collision of two ships off Pasir Gudang Port in 2017 and most recently, the fire incident at Laem Chambang Port in 2019.
“We Bomba Sarawak has taken up the challenge to oversee this and to revisit the present Emergency Response Plan (ERP). This is also to re-validate it with new and ever changing risks,” he addressed the Emergency Preparedness Programme held at Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad (BPHB) in Bintulu here yesterday.
He praised BPHB’s new management for their proactive and initiative in delivering the best especially when it comes to emergency and safety.
According to a media release today, the two-day event which include a full dry drill was organised by a local consulting company, EPR (Kuching) Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Bomba and Maritime Transport Training (MATRAIN) Marine Department.
The training was conducted with the objective of validating BPHP’s emergency response, business continuity and crisis communications plans and to evaluate the ability of personnel to carry out their assigned roles and responsibilities.
MATRAIN director Dr Julyus Mobilik also commended the initiative taken by BPHB to have the training and drill for its management.
He hopes to see more ports in Malaysia rolled out similar initiatives in the future.
Former Bomba director-general Datuk Dr Soh Chai Hock was also one of the invited speakers.— DayakDaily
