Tin dredges work by scooping up bucket loads of tin-bearing soil at the front end, which then passes them on through an oscillating drum and a system of jigs and screens to extract the tin, before spewing out the waste material at the rear end through a number of chutes.
Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No.5 or TT5 is a unique relic from Malaysia’s tin mining past. It is like a floating factory sitting on water. TT5 is a bucket-line dredges weighing 4,500 tons and is supported by a pontoon 75 meters long and 35 meters wide and 3 meters in depth. It was built in England in 1938 by F.W.Payne & Son.
This dredge was built for the Southern Malayan Tin Dredging Ltd, a company formed in 1926 which operated a further 5 dredges in the Batu Gajah and Tanjung Tualang area. TT5 was in operation for 44 years until 1982. In 1982, the Malaysian tin industry was in a decline due to a combination of new material like plastics replacing tin, exhausted tin deposits, low world tin prices and high operating costs.
After 1982 the dredge fell on hard times. All the other dredges in the area were dismantled and sold as scrap and this last remaining tin dredge was in danger of being of being sold off for its high scrap metal value until heritage-loving individuals launched a “Save the Dredge” campaign. Fortunately that campaign was successful and the dredge has been preserved and restored.
In 2012, the facility was closed due to water leakage into the pontoon. In January 2015, the area underwent a MYR8.5 million renovation for 2 years which is carried out by Mentri Besar Incorporated. After restoration, this TT5 is finally open to the public and visitors can now take guided historical tours of the last tin dredge. In addition to tours of the dredge, visitors can enjoy Panning Experience and other activities.
This Tin Dredge No 5 Heritage site is open everyday except Monday from 9am to 6pm, lunch break 1pm - 2.30pm.
The Cache
The cache is a small magnetic container located outside the compound of the Tin Dredge site and is available 24/7. You do not need to pay any entrance fees to access this cache.
APPRECIATION
Congratulations to lemaklemak for the FTF
Thanks to Timke48 for the Favourite Points given. Much Appreciated.
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Guided Tin Dredge Tours starts at 10am, 11am, 12 noon, 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
Entrance Fees:
International Visitors
• Adult: RM 20
• Child (ages 8-12): RM 10
• Seniors (65+): RM 20
• Children 7 and below are free.
MyKad Rate
• Adult: RM 10
• Child (ages 8-12): RM 5
• Seniors (65+): RM 5
• Children 7 and below are free.