Long Jetty. Miri

(This write up will be edited from time to time when new facts are found.)

It is not known when exactly the Long Jetty of Miri was built. We only know its existed until the 2000. Even its exact spot cannot be ascertain now as so many changes have been made to the Miri-Lutong sea coast.

It was built from the tip of the Miri Peninsula and stretched out into the sea for about a mile. Known at one time as the longest jetty in Borneo, it was built to help transfer offshore workers, cargo and equipment to Miri port when the sea conditions were not favourable. Big ships could not enter the Miri river due to the shallow seas and shifting sand banks.

In the 50's and even until the 60's passengers and goods were off loaded from the ships onto small boats in the sea outside Miri, and then transferred to the wharf sheltered by the peninsula. Many Mirians remember today only too well how they were lowered in baskets to the waiting boat even during very bad weather.

Ships and boats had to be timed to avoid low tide or rough seas.

In 1971, a complete rebuild and a replacement from the original was carried out after the discovery of offshore oil. 

Initially, the jetty had a rail system which had a hand-pumped trolley or cart for the transportation of heavy equipment to both ends for loading and unloading. But in the 1980's when regular helicopters could transport those heavy equipment, the rails were removed.

 It was also used by Shell for crew change operations, where crew disembark the boats and walk the full length back to the peninsular, crossing by ferry on foot to the Shell materials storage complex (now Center Point Phase I). Hence, maintenance and repair work on the jetty was done by Sarawak Shell until the late nineties.

By the very late 1990's , the Miri river mouth was deepened to allow larger boats and only a quarter of the jetty was open to the public.

For about a decade it was a popular spot for Mirians and foreign visitors who enjoyed the challenge to walk out to the end of the jetty. The clear water offered a lot of delights to the visitors. Often sting rays could be seen swimming and a few other big fish were also sighted. Sea birds flew about when fish came nearer the shore. Fishermen and fishing enthusiasts found the Long Jetty a delightful fishing place. Young and old enjoyed an occasional picnic, one mile out in the sea!!

But unfortunately, due to lack of maintenance, years of rough seas and corrosion, the Long Jetty looked forlorn and tattered. It became structurally unsound and was made off limits to the public.

In 2000 the jetty was finally dismantled and a land reclamation project was initiated. The reclaimed land is now known as Miri Marina.

Source : https://www.miriresortcity.com/content/miri-long-jetty