The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (schedules), Malaysia's fastest-growing gateway, is adding three super post-panamax quayside cranes and 15 rubber-tired gantry yard cranes as part of its Phase 2 development.

The quayside cranes will be the largest at PTP, with 40-foot twin lifts and maximum capacity of 80 tons. Due for delivery late next year, they will complement 24 now in use.

Delivery of the 15 RTGs is expected in the second quarter of 2005. They have load capacity of 40 tons each, and will join 57 now deployed, which have been retrofitted with satellite guidance systems.

Mohamad Sidik Shaik Osman, chief executive of PTP's operating company, said Pelepas should reach its target of 4.2 million to 4.5 million TEUs this year. Last year, it moved 3.6 million TEUs.

"This year has been a very good year for all ports. PTP's cargo throughput in the first six months increased by 25 percent against the same period last year," he said.

He denied recent local media reports of a possible sale of shares to arch-rival PSA Corp. Ltd., the largest terminal operator in neighboring Singapore. The Malaysian hub began its sharp growth by wooing Maersk Sealand and Evergreen Marine Corp. away from Singapore.

Mohamad Sidik said PTP did talk with PSA officials recently, but about container security, piracy and navigational channels. "There have been no such talks between PTP and [PSA parent] Temasek Holdings Pte. on the latter's intention to purchase shares in PTP," he told Malaysia's Business Times.