Tanjung Pelepas (meaning “departure bay” in English) is located on the southwest tip of Peninsular Malaysia at the mouth of the Pulai River. The river Pulai is one of the few areas in this region that offers a natural deep draft for international shipping. PTP’s strategic location at the crossroads of the world’s international shipping lanes guarantees vast opportunities from heavy traffic.

 

PTP’s natural location presents a significant geographical advantage a sheltered bay with deep water of 15 metres. The approach channel measures 12.6km in length and 250 metres in width. PTP also has a turning basin of 600 metres, allowing vessels to turn with ease. With these features, PTP is able to ensure immediate berthing for vessels, thus significantly reducing waiting time.

 

Situated on 1,935 acres of prime greedfield site, PTP was officially launched on March 13, 2000 by the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The project began with the signing of a privatization agreement with the Government of Malaysia. This agreement set in motion the development of PTP on March 24, 1995. Early project objectives set were always in focus to provide for a high efficiency common-user terminal that would be recognized as Southeast Asia’s premier transshipment hub.

 

PTP currently offer six berths of 360 metres in length each thereby offering 2.16km of linear wharf length. Directly behind the berths is the port’s container yard, which is one of the largest container storage facilities in the region with 110,000 TEUs storage capacity.

 

The terminal is currently equipped with 14 super post panamax quayside cranes, which have an 18-box outreach catering to the world’s largest container vessels. An additional 10 quay cranes, which will have a 22-box outreach catering for the next generation of super post panamax vessels will be delivered in year 2002.

 

Phase One handling capacity is 4.5 million TEUs per annum.

 

The operations are backed by a state-of-the-art IT system with links to all port users. By synergising all of the port’s operations and communication centers, the IT network system facilitates a free-flow of real-time information and provides near paperless transactions between shipping lines, forwarders, shipping agents and the port, ensuring high productivity.

 

Local cargo movement to major industrial estates is easily achieved with PTP’s 5.4km access road linked to the second Malaysia-Singapore expressway and the north-south highway ensuring linkage that runs all the way to the Thai border. Adding to the port’s land sea and air infrastructure support, the 31.5km rail track to PTP is directly linked to the national rail grid at Kempas. With this rail connection to southern Thailand and northern states of Peninsular Malaysia, PTP’s plans of providing an effective distribution network are well looked after.

 

PTP’s free zone status and its 400 acres of land reserved for distribution, logistics, and warehousing activities promises a Distripark with activities ideal for consolidation, international procurement center operations, regional distribution centers, and distribution services. Current warehouses with PTP Distripark are Pelepas Logistics, Kenwood’s global distribution center, and several more under construction include Tiong Nam, MIEL, JB Cocoa and a common-user warehouse.

 

With line establishing their hubs at PTP, and with the goal of providing a fast-start at the Distripark, PTP offers flexibility to users by providing built-up warehouses for lease or bare land for sublease. An additional 600 acres of land have also been reserved for industrial activities.

 

PTP handled 418,218 TEUs in year 2000. Throughput from January – November, 2001 was 1.85 million TEUs. Year 2001 total throughput is expected to be two million TEUs