Inai Kiara buying more ships for RM1b
INAI Kiara Sdn Bhd, which is involved in the dredging reclamation and marine-related industry, will buy two or three
more ships costing about RM1bil to cater to domestic demand.
Executive chairman Capt Gulzar Mohamad said the new ships
would be more advanced and help the company acquire more
contracts and strengthen its leadership position in the
dredging industry.
“We plan to order new trailing suction hopper dredgers to add
to the existing two units that we have,” he told reporters
after the handover ceremony of a newly acquired ship witnessed
by Deputy Transport Minister I, Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas in
Putrajaya yesterday.
He said the availability depended on the Holland-based ship
manufacturer and the company hoped to place the order by the
end of this year. The company would buy the ships via internal
funds and bank borrowings.
Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas (centre) witnessing the exchanging of
documents between Capt Gulzar Mohamad (left) and Van Oord
director Otto Verkerke in Putrajaya - Bernamapic
Gulzar said Inai Kiara had just acquired a new heavy duty
cutter suction dredger, Inai Dahlia, for RM150mil with the aim
of further enhancing its capabilities in the industry.
Inai Dahlia, which has a total installed diesel power of 8,277
kilowatts, is equipped with a high-pressure dredge pump,
electrically powered cutter head and inboard dredge pump.
Gulzar said Inai Kiara had received enquiries from overseas
companies interested in using its services, but for now It
could not cope as the local demand was rising.
“Malaysian ports are fast becoming major international hubs
for all types of vessels of large capacity and it is fitting
that our ports and harbours are upgraded and deepened to meet
the requirements of such vessels,” he said.
Last year, Inai Kiara was awarded a 15-year concession
contract from the Government to manage and maintain all the
ports in the country.
“Currently, there are seven main ports and 40 mini-ports in
the country. Our job includes deepening the ports, breakwater
construction and beach nourishment,” said Gulzar, who declined
to disclose the contract value.
However, he said the government concession contributed about
50% to the company’s turnover, which amounted to RM500mil in
the financial year ended Dec 31, 2004.
Inai Kiara also has four projects for breakwater construction,
reclamation, dredging and marine construction works in
Bintulu, Kuching and Miri in Sarawak, and Kuala Terengganu in
Terengganu.
On another note, Inai Kiara will invest RM400mil in building
its own home base in Port Klang.
Gulzar said the company had bought a piece of land in Port
Klang and construction work was expected to start in two
months for completion in 1½ years.
He said the home basewould be used to store high-technology
equipment and for operations.
Established as a private limited company in 1994, Inai Kiara
has grown from a small dredging concern into a major player in
the dredging, reclamation and marine related construction
industry.
Among its completed projects is the phase two development of
Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas for the construction, completion and
maintenance of dredging and reclamation works.
Source: The Star Online