In the statement released in Kuala Lumpur, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP) said these members, each representing their respective companies, were eagerly waiting for the port to begin operations in January next year.

They said Tanjung Pelepas offered a viable alternative to the current ports in the country and the region. A major factor that attracted them was the fact that the port is new and thus, is flexible.

Also present was PTP executive chairman and executive director, Datuk Mohd Taufik Abdullah who gave a detailed briefing on Tanjung Pelepas Port's development plans and facilities to both delegations.

A discussion was held after both visits where members stated various issues relevant to the industry and how they are willing to work with the port in making it a success.

Both delegations were also taken on a tour of a newly completed Berth 1 and 2, the port administration building and the access road as well as the information technology training center housed in PTP's Parallel Processing Building.

The gates to the port entrance, which compromise seven lanes in and seven lanes out, also impressed both delegations. They remarked that when Tanjung Pelepas Port's access road is ready in early August, it would certainly be worth making a return progress visit.

Tanjung Pelepas Port, as it nears its operations date, is engaging all sectors within the port and shipping industry to ensure that valuable feedback in their current usage of ports is taken into account in developing the port as a transhipment hub.

This would also establish effective smart partnerships between PTP and various companies in these sectors. The port operator view such visits not only for marketing purposes, but also to develop international understanding and co-operation so that the parties can begin a mutually beneficial process.

Among the facilities currently being developed in Phase One of Tanjung Pelepas Port's development are six linear berths totalling 2.16km in length, a total area of 1.2 million sq m reserved for container handling and storage activities, port administration building and government agencies complex, a purpose-designed IT network system using dual redundancy approach, an access road of 5.4km linking the port to the Second Link Expressway and a rail link measuring 31.5 km to the National Rail grid.

With these key facilities Phase One, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2001, will be able to handle an annual throughput of 3.8 million TEUs (20 foot equivalent units).