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

They said the port offered a viable alternative to the current ports in the country and the region.

A major factor that attracted them was that the port is new and, thus, is flexible and willing to discuss with them the problems currently facing freight forwarders.

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 the region's newest transhipment port a success.

Both delegations were also taken to a tour of the newly-completed Berth 1 and 2, the Port Administration Building and the access road as well as the information technology training centre housed in PTP's Parallel Processing Building.

The gates to the port entrance, which comprise seven lanes in and seven out, also impressed both delegations, which remarked that when the 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 views such visits not only for marketing purposes, but also to develop international understanding and cooperation in the confidence that parties can begin a mutually beneficial process.

Among the facilities currently being developed in Phase One of the 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 a dual redundancy approach and an access road of 5.4km linking the port to the Second Link Expressway and a rail link measuring 31.5km 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).