31 March
An offshore fixed pilot station, located 20 nautical miles from Yangon, was opened yesterday.
The opening and handing over ceremony was held at the Sule Shangri-La Hotel in Yangon on 30 March. The ceremony was attended by the Union Minister for Transport and Communications and deputy ministers, the Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar, Yangon Regional government ministers, officials from related departments, the general manager and staff of the Myanma Port Authority, and the vice chairman and officials from the China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd.
U Thant Sin Maung, the Union Minister for Transport and Communications, delivered the opening speech. He said, among other things, that the newly constructed offshore fixed pilot station is included in the national level buildings, which can contribute to the nation’s development. Additionally, he said he is proud of the country’s construction of the offshore fixed pilot station, which meets international standards.
Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang, and Myanma Port Authority Managing Director Ni Aung, along with China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd vice-chairman Pan Qingjian, also made speeches.
“The successful opening of the offshore fixed pilot station will enable 18 to 40 pilots to be assigned day and night, instead of 11 pilots on boats. At the same time, the station can handle the incoming and outgoing traffic of over 600 boats per month,” said Captain U Nyunt Win.
The offshore fixed pilot station was built to enable pilots to steer international and local vessels. Previously, MPA kept one pilot vessels stationed in the sea to serve as pilot stations.
The offshore fixed pilot station was begun in 2017 and completed in February, 2019. The offshore station includes a three-storey building, a jetty to moor a GRT 1500- sized ship, a generator, water treatment system, navigation equipment, radar and three pilot boats. The estimated cost of the project is US$ 20.9 million.—Myint Maung Soe (Translated by Hay Mar)
