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KUCHING, 23rd June 2025 – An engagement session on the on the hydrographic solution with Teledyne CARIS was held at 2.00 p.m. in the Meeting Room, Level 3, Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) Headquarters.
The session was chaired by Lt. Col. Ding Tiew Wong (Retired), the Controller of the Sarawak Rivers Board, and attended by Mr. Leo Nanang, Assistant Controller (Riverine Safety), Mr. Sam Budi, Assistant Controller (Technical Services), Puan Lee Siik Ha (Quantity Surveyor); Mr. Nichol Agoi (Enforcement Officer), Puan Phlomina Chura (Marine Officer); Cik Sarah Laong (Engineer), Mr. Bartholomew Vetro (Engineer), Mr. Danny Pui (Electrical Engineer), Mr. Petew Law (Assistant Engineer), and Mr. Melvin Vana (Assistant Marine Officer). Teledyne CARIS was represented by Mr. Dan Morash, a specialist in hydrographic solutions, along with Mr. Allan Goh and Mr. Lai Hock Nam from SARA-CHEM.
A brief introduction to hydrographic software solutions was delivered by Mr. Dan Morash. Teledyne CARIS is a global leader in hydrographic software solutions based in Canada, specialising in the development of software for the marine Geographic Information System (GIS) community, including mapping for safe navigation, survey data processing, and cartography. The company offers leading tools such as the Hydrographic Product Database (HPD), Hydrographic Information Processing System (HIPS), Sonar Image Processing System (SIPS), Bathy DataBASE, and BASE Editor. These high-precision tools support the processing of bathymetric data, sonar imagery, and the production of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), and are compatible with multi-beam and single-beam echo sounders, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and side scan sonar, especially suitable for shallow river with a lot of sand and silt. The products also integrate seamlessly with sonar systems, enabling seamless operations from data collection to chart production.
The discussion covered challenges in the rivers in Sarawak, particularly in upstream areas that are navigable by merchant ships but lack proper hydrographic charts, leading mariners and river users to rely on local knowledge for navigation. Therefore, the Management is making proactive efforts to obtain sufficient funding to implement hydrographic surveys for uncharted rivers, particularly in upstream areas. The objective is to ensure that these rivers are properly surveyed and charted, thereby providing adequate guidance and information to mariners and river users to enhance the safety of navigation, and to ensure that the river transport sector continues to provide more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective services. In turn, products such as navigation charts can serve as a potential source of revenue for the Sarawak Rivers Board.
The matters on scouring at the Sungai Sarawak Barrage were also discussed to obtain constructive comments and advice for an effective solution to ensure the structural integrity and long-term functionality of the barrage. Hence, the Management continues its efforts through stakeholder engagement to obtain technical expertise, which effectively cultivates knowledge transfer among the officers and technical personnel of the Sarawak Rivers Board.
The engagement session was adjourned at 3:30 PM with a vote of thanks and appreciation from the Controller of the Sarawak Rivers Board for the presence and active participation of all parties involved.
