The replica would not have engines and moving parts (the bucket-scoop system would be static), just the shell of a dredge. People are not going to see a dredge in action so a replica shell should suffice to ease their curiosity.

Building a new replica would probably be cheaper than dismantling, transporting and rebuilding the existing dredge. The replica would be very much lighter without the engines and moving parts, making it easier to float on water or placed on land.

I case it is to be preserved, 1st urgent step is to raise the hull, if not it will rot away and sink permanently.

I don’t know the century people, so would you please pass the message that they need to close the covers (plus any other openings) if they ever hope to raise the hull.

2nd step is for the state government to allocate a piece of land right in front of the dredge, for example as a petrol station. Let Century manage and earn from the petrol station. The petrol station will make motorists stop and draw them towards visiting the dredge. Both the earnings from the petrol station and the tickets sold can be used to maintain and if we’re lucky, to preserve the dredge.

Have you noted the poll with a large percentage in favour of saving the dredge (albeit a small sample). Does that mean they are in favour of our government spending the money?

One thing that saddens me is that we have not had more comments on this problem. To me that does not show enthusiasm to save or scrap the dredge, just very little interest.

I recently paid a visit to the dredge. I note a pump of recent vintage which I presume is used to arrest the sinking.

I also note a number of entryways to get belowdeck. These were on the unsubmerged port side. I believe the entryways were replicated on the submerged starboard side as well. Near the waterline n the submerged side, at least 2 hatches were freely lying on the deck.

Question:

1. When the pumping started, were the hatches over the submerged entryways closed and dogged tightly?

2. Were there any other openings on the submerged deck?

Clue: A watertight hull is critical if one is to attempt to raise the hull.

Engineering is my field but that, Commander, is something beyond my comment.

If the dredge is to be scrapped, at least save the boom and the buckets and mount them, say at Perak Museum.

I do hope that others are reading this, not just the three of us as this is an important part of Perak’s heritage and I wonder why we have not heard from any of the heritage experts, or indeed Century Mission.

But we are still back to the question, “Who pays?”. A few baskets of fruit cannot cover that sort of costs unless someone can repeat the miracle of seven loaves and seven fishes.

Ian, no one single person can give an accurate cost for the above without proper survey.

I’m an engineering guy & understand engineeirng stuff. I am able to carry out inspection works on the dredge and to recommend for repairs/upgrade/renovation as necessary to upgrade it to tourist standard.

But these kind of inspection works cannot be carried out in 1 day but in multiple visits or daily over several weeks, if this job is to be thorough & well done. A site container may even be necessary to act as an office/store/accomodation.

To inspect a derelict (if I may use this word) is highly risky work. Many areas in a dredge can be properly classified as hazardous confined space and thus safety regulations need to be adhered to. We’re talking helmets/boots/harnesses/rescue gear here. This cannot be done by 1 person by but a small team equipped with proper safety gear.

Inspection of hull, and urgent correction of list
Inspection of boom, winches, hoists and rigging and where needed propose to repair or replace
Inspection and proposal for sandblasting for all areas affected by corrosion and repaint
Inspection and proposal for correction of structural defects.
Inspection and proposal for delineation of safety areas for public access.
Inpection and proposal for air supply and exhaust systems if & where needed.
Inspection and prosal for upgrading of electrical work & installation of additional lighting and electrical, water utilities, where needed
Inspection and proposal for installation of safety devices such as fire alarms/sprinklers/smkoe ejectors/handrails/personal floatation devices/floats/emergency lighting/signage etc.
Etc. (Have I missed out anything?)

A lot of work has to be done and each piece of work (especially safety and structural works) has to be supported by engineering drawings stamped by a Professional Engineer. (Which reminds me, can the current owner/maintainer supply the original technical drawing for the dredge?). These sorta things unfortunately does not come free, as much as I would like it to.

As an experienced engineering guy, just the consultancy works above will run into tens of thousands of ringgit, if not over. And this is just costs for the consultancy only with little or no profit.

I mean, engineers and draftsmen have to be paid. Travelling and time has to be accounted for. The PE’s time and costs have to be reimbursed, Then there is the printing of drawings and miscellaneous, which will add up. I would expect proper work for the consultancy only will take up to 4 – 8 weeks, maybe more, non-stop, assuming there are no major glitches. We’re talking tens of thousands at bare minimum, assuming original drawings still exist and assuming everything else goes smoothly and all is hunky dory.

The result from all these work?

A thick report with a fixed quotation (or best estimate) with a fixed and limited validity, backed by PE endorsed drawings/ diagrams as well as photos for the repair and upgrading work to tourist safety standard. Anything less and it would not be proper.

Assuming funds are immediately found and flowing, only THEN, the real work begins for the repair and upgrading. Any delay, and the quotation will no longer be valid due to volatile market forces.

So THERE is the summary of how costs for the repair works are derived from. A lotta work. Makes me sweat just thinking about it.

The report also says that to maintain the dredge only costs RM5,000 a month, a mere pittance, but unfortunately for us talkers there is no cost given for repair and renovation to tourist safety levels.

RM5,000 per month at RM5 per head entrance fee again makes the sums easy – 1000 tourists in 40 seat buses equals only 6 to 7 buses a week. So once the dredge is repaired and made safe all could be well, prawns or no prawns, but the question remains. Who will bear the cost of the remedial work?