KUCHING, July 17 (Bernama) -- Brooke Dockyard and Engineering Works Corp, reputedly the country's oldest shipyard, Monday launched the 42-metre double- ended ferry, "Primrose II", for Liew Fap Nien Sdn Bhd at Sejingkat here.

The ferry, which would serve as a new link in Batang Sadong for the hinderland of Samarahan division, would ease transportation woes to the city and other urban centres and would benefit the agriculture sector and medium and light industry in the area.

Officiating at the launch, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, said production of the palm oil industry would also increase significantly as the time to transport the nearest mill in Gedong could be reduced.

"The ferry is able to accommodate 32 vehicles, or the equivalent of four units of 40-foot containers along with 200 passengers per trip.

"The construction of the ferry was 95 percent done by the Brooke Dockyard's in-house resources comprising about 91 percent Bumiputera workforce and was completed within the seven-month schedule, he said.

Jabu, who is also State Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister, said Brooke Dockyard had continued to achieve good safety record, with no Loss Time Injury recorded through 408,276 manhours expended for the project so far.

Brooke Dockyard's niche businesses are shiprepair, shipbuilding and fabrication of oil and gas offshore modules. It was established in 1912 and is a wholly-owned government statutory body.