Passengers disembark from an express boat.

SIBU: Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) here recorded a big jump in passenger load on Friday with 3,048 people passing through Sibu Express Boat Terminal in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

SRB Sibu assistant controller (Region II) Hatta Morshidi said arrivals accounted
for the bulk at 1,938 with 1,110 of passengers leaving Sibu. On Thursday, the terminal handled 2,381 passengers comprising 1,404 arrivals and 977 departures. SRB is carrying out a two-phase operation using its own resources. The first phase entered its second day yesterday and ends today (Dec 24). The next phase is from Dec 30, 2017 to Jan 1, 2018. As usual, the busiest routes are Sibu/Song and Sibu/Kapit.

Hatta also mentioned that river blocks were being carried out with daily river patrols to ensure compliance with safety measures. He reminded operators to comply with the conditions stipulated in the River Transport Permit (RTP).

“Operators must have valid RTP and not carry excess passengers as stipulated in the RTP.” The festive mood was in the air yesterday at the busy terminal with porters busily carrying goods including electrical items onto express boats.