Port of Tanjung Pelepas set to clinch world ranking status
Shipping News Headline
Having effectively thwarted Singapore’s ambition to dislodge Hong Kong as the world’s premier container port, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor is now looking to climb into the big league.
Billed as the world’s fastest-growing port, PTP was ranked 108th world container port in 2000 but dramatically shot up to claim 22nd place last year, overtaking several established ports worldwide along the way.
PTP, which grabbed Taiwanese-owned Evergreen Marine Corporation’s business from Singapore last month, is ready break into the top 20 ranking, according to a report by portsworld.com.
PTP could handled close to five million TEU next year, putting it well ahead of Port Klang which last year retained its world ranking at 12.
PTP, which last year handled about 2.05 million TEU, expects to handle about 2.5 million TEU from Danish line Maersk Sealand and a further 500,000 TEU from the Evergreen group of lines.
With prospects of PTP securing at least one more line before the end of this year, its performance for 2003 is expected to put it ahead of ports such as New York, Tokyo and Dubai and closer in ranking to Antwerp and Hamburg.