8 Existing Marine Traffic and Navigation Safety

8.1 Introduction

Marine traffic and navigation safety takes into account all environmental impacts that are related to it. This includes the following: a) Transportation of dredged material to the designated disposal area and transport of sand from the source to the reclamation site. b) The impact posed by the newly reclaimed area on the navigational safety of the users of the North Channel. c) Recommending appropriate mitigating measures to help to reduce impact on naviga- tional safety, both during dredging and reclamation activities. d) Recommending appropriate mitigating measures to reduce the impact on navigational and marine traffic safety during arrival and departure, loading, dredging of spoil and discharge of sand. e) Recommending appropriate marine traffic and safety management in the EMP when the project is completed and operational.

8.2 Methodology

The methodologies used to carry out the study were both quantitative and qualitative. The ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), area of study extends seawards of the coastline of the reclaimed area at . The eastern seawards limit is at the buoyed channel, while the northwards and southwards is from the midpoint of the reclaimed land at Tanjung Tokong for up to 5 km (2.7 nautical miles).

Interviews were conducted with the relevant officers of the statutory authorities, private companies and members of the public likely to be affected by the proposed reclamation pro- ject. Site visits were made to obtain information and to collect data.

8.3 STP1 Reclamation

The completed STP1 reclamation ( Figure 8.1 ) is situated along the coast from Tanjung Tokong along the bay in a southerly direction for a distance of about 2 km (1.1 nautical miles), and extends seaward of up to 0.6 nautical miles.

DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

8-1 Source: SPOT5, 2012 Figure 8.1 STP1 Reclamation

8.4 Navigation Channel

The newly reclaimed land is located at the northwest of the Penang Straits. The Straits sepa- rate from Peninsular ’s mainland. The distance to the mainland is about 8.5 km. The length of Penang Straits is about 2.5 km with its narrowest point of 2.7 km located at the centre part of the Straits. The location of the North Channel within the Penang Straits is given in Figures 8.2 and 8.3 .

The natural depth of the North Channel in the project area varies from to 9.8 to 23 m. How- ever, it is dredged to maintain a depth of 11.5 m. The deepest water is found at the southern end of the channel. Shallow areas are found on the mudflats on the east and west coasts in- cluding part of the area where the newly reclaimed land is located (see Figure 8.4 ). The channel is suitable for use of vessels with drafts up to about 12 m. Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety

8-2 Source: SPOT5, 2012 Figure 8.2 Location of North Channel ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), Penang

Source: SPOT5, 2012 Figure 8.3 Location of the North Channel within the Penang Straits DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

8-3 STP1

1 8 M

Seri Tanjung Pinang Phase II (STP2)

North Butterworth PENANG ISLAND Container Terminal

Source: Admiralty Chart 3732 (1987) Figure 8.4 STP2 Overlain on Bathymetry Map 3732

Figures 8.5(a) to (c) show the position of the proposed reclaim land with perspective to the navigation channel. The three figures show the view of Tanjung Tokong as observed from northwest, north and south. All three figures show that the newly reclaimed land is located within the shallow water area outside the main channel. A buffer of 30 m is provided from the outermost land to the tip of the channel. Thus, the newly reclaimed land would not jeop- ardize traffic plying the channel and the future dredging work which is required to maintain the channel.

Figures 8.6(a) and (b) show the cross-sectional view of the reclaimed land with perspective to the North Channel. These cross-sections further show that some buffer zone is provided for between the newly reclaimed land and the North Channel. Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety

8-4 Figure 8.5(a) 3D View of Tanjung Tokong (Direction: Northwest)

Figure 8.5(b) 3D View of Tanjung Tokong (Direction: North) ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), Penang

Figure 8.5(c) 3D View of Tanjung Tokong (Direction: South) DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

8-5 Figure 8.6(a) Cross-section West to East of Tanjung Tokong Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety

8-6 ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), Penang

Figure 8.6(b) Cross-section North to South of Tanjung Tokong DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

8-7 Photos 8.1 , 8.2 and 8.3 show the shipping activities at the North Channel overlooking the Penang Harbour.

Photo 8.1 shows the shipping activities at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) with the view facing the mainland. Photos 8.2 and 8.3 show the Georgetown Ferry Terminal and Seberang . The ferry service to the mainland is at about half hourly inter- vals indicating its importance in transporting passengers from the island to the mainland and vice versa.

Photo 8.1 Shipping Activities at NBCT Facing the Mainland

Photo 8.2(a) Photo 8.2(b) Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal (Georgetown) Local Inshore Fishing Boats

Photo 8.3 Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal () Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety

8-8 8.5 Marine Traffic within STP2 Reclamation Area

The proposed STP2 reclamation project will essentially be a seaward extension of the com- pleted STP1 project. The extremities of the new reclamation would be situated within 30 meters of the North Channel.

The waters surrounding STP2 reclamation area are currently used by local inshore fishing boats as shown in Photo 8.2. It is also used by shallow draft marine crafts which are able to transit outside of the dredged Penang North Channel.

8.6 Marine Facilities

The Port of Penang is regulated by the Penang Port Commission (PPC), whilst the commer- cial operations are under the control of Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. (PPSB). In the study area, there are several marine facilities, apart from the buoyed channel which constitutes the North (main) Channel for vessels arriving at and departing from the Port of Penang.

Figure 8.7 shows marine facilities of the Port of Penang nearest to the project which in- clude: a) On the island: i) The City Marina (yachts); ii) (passenger vessels); iii) Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda (ferry terminal); and iv) Fishing boats (about 40 boats) are based at Tanjung Tokong, behind the detached breakwater constructed immediately north of the STP1 reclamation site. b) On the mainland: i) North Butterworth Container Terminal (currently being extended northwards); ii) Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (ferry terminal); iii) Butterworth Wharves (general cargo); iv) Butterworth Wharfs Container Terminal; v) ‘Vegetable Oil Tanker Pier’, Shell and Esso Oil Terminal Jetties; and ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), Penang vi) Fishing boats are based at various sites along the mainland coast, such as Bagan Luar (about 20 boats), Pantai Berseh (about 25 boats), Bagan Ajam (about 20 boats), and several other places further north beyond the study area.

Further south on the mainland, are the Prai Wharf and the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal.

The northern extremity of the project will lie about 1.3 km (0.7 nautical miles) from the nearest marine facility, which is the pair of navigational buoys off Tanjung Tokong. These buoys mark that part of Penang North Channel.

The southern extremity of the proposed reclamation will be at a distance of approximately 1.66 km (0.9 nautical miles) from the northern end of the new Swettenham Pier Passenger Terminal and about 1.3 km (0.7 nautical miles) from the centre of the North Channel.

DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

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Area Source: SPOT5, 2012 SPOT5, Source: 8.7(a)Figure Location Near theFacilities ofthe Marine Project Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety

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Area ng (Phase DevelopmentII) (STP2), Penang Source: SPOT5, 2012 SPOT5, Source: 8.7(b)Figure Location Near theFacilities ofthe Marine Project DEIA thefor Proposed Reclamation of Seri Tanjung Pina

8-11 The North Channel is the main channel for all deep draft vessels entering and leaving Penang Port. The marine traffic arriving and departing from the various marine facilities will, when using the North Channel, pass the proposed reclamation area.

All the marine facilities require periodic maintenance dredging, however the newly devel- oped Penang Passenger Terminal (Swettenham Pier) is not expected to require any mainte- nance dredging as the jetty head will be sited in natural deep water further from the coast- line. The City Marina requires the dredging of approximately 60,000 m 3 of material per an- num. The Penang North Channel is dredged at three-year intervals at certain parts; and the volume dredged is about 8 million m 3. The various wharves and jetties require some mainte- nance dredging from time to time.

For the minor maintenance dredging of wharves at Butterworth, the dredged material is dumped at the Split Head dumping ground. Dredged material from the channel is usually dumped north of Muka Head ( Figure 8.8 ).

Coordinates Point Latitude Longitude A 5o 37.0’ N 99 o 58.0’ E B 5o 37.0’ N 100 o 0’ E A B C 5o 35.0’ N 100 o 0’ E D 5o 35.0’ N 99 o 58.0’ E D C

Source: SPOT5, 2012 Figure 8.8 Disposal Ground

8.7 Marine Traffic Statistics

The Penang North Channel accommodates 10,000 marine traffic movements per year. Ves- sels utilising the North Channel include, Container Vessels, (both mainline and feeder ves- sels), Oil and chemical Tankers, Bulk Carriers, General Cargo Vessels, Passenger Ships, Dredgers, Ferries, Barter Trade Vessels, Naval Ships, Government Craft and Recreational

Chapter 8: Existing Marine Traffic & Navigation Safety Craft.

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