Inai Kiara Sdn Bhd, the fifth largest dredging company in the world, is set to expand its international footprint, particularly in Africa, Europe and South America.
The company is currently negotiating with several potential clients, particularly in Brazil and Argentina, said Inai Kiara general manager for business development, Zulkefli Majid.
“We have to really support and build more vessels to strengthen our capacity in order to penetrate the European, African and South American markets,” he said recently.
Inai Kiara already has a presence in Brunei, India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam. In its five-year plan, the company aims to build a super jumbo trailing suction hopper dredger with 64,000 cubic metre capacity.
It also plans to build a similar capacity dredger as the RM1.2 billion Inai Kenanga, the company’s third vessel that was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week.
Inai Kenanga, which is Asia’s largest and the world’s third biggest dredger, is a type of vessel that has full sailing capacity and is used to maintain navigation channels or deepen silted maritime canals.
The construction of the dredger began in mid-2010 with the keel laying ceremony at Inai Kiara’s shipyard, operated by its unit Selat Melaka Shipbuilding Corp Sdn Bhd, in Pulau Indah, Port Klang.
It has the capacity to carry 33,335 cu m of dredged material in its hopper.
Established in 1997, Inai Kiara is involved in dredging reclamation and marine-related industry and started to build its own dredging vessel in 2010.
In 2004, it was awarded a 15-year concession by the government to manage and maintain all the ports in the country.
The company is currently focusing on the construction of a new 4.7km long breakwater project in Kuantan.
Inai Kiara has an authorised capital of RM250 million, of which RM158 million is paid-up. Bernama
