This will bring the total number of berths at to eight by early 2004.

 

PTP chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said he was confident of achieving a further 30% year-on-year growth.

 

“The growth in container volumes will come from our existing lines, increase in feedering via PTP and also new service strings that we expect to secure.

 

“We ushered in 2002 with much uncertainty in world markets but despite this, PTP achieved a strong 30% growth performance. PTP's high productivity rising amid high volumes also demonstrates Its excellence in fast gaining status as South East Asia's leading transhipment hub.

 

“The hubbing of Maersk Sealand and Evergreen has also contributed much in terms of spin off growth,” he said.

 

Mohd Sidik said while additional berths were being constructed, PTP’s focus was now to aggressively attract logistics players and investors in its large land bank including the free industrial zone and the distribution park.

 

“The shifting of BMW to PTP for example will also lead towards increasing our competitiveness in attracting other major international players to base their operations and distribution in PTP,” he said.

 

The 2.66mil boxes handled last year surpassed PTP’s own estimation of 2.5mil TEUs and represented a 30% increase from 2.05mil TEUs in the year 2001.

 

Approximately 95% of last year’s volumes were transhipment containers and the balance 5% local exports and imports.

 

The strong 30% growth was the result of port efforts in securing new markets for cargo despite volatile economic conditions.

 

The shift of Evergreen Marine Corp. in late August 2002 also contributed significantly to PTP’s growth levels.

 

PTP also recorded excellent productivity levels throughout the year with an average of 30 to 31 moves per hour per crane, which significantly improved vessel turnaround time.

 

Since its official launch on March 13, 2000, PTP has grown from strength-to-strength in terms of both volume and productivity.

 

The port created waves in the maritime industry when it managed to woo Taiwanese giant Evergreen to relocate as much as a million boxes yearly to PTP from Singapore’s PSA Corp, following its success in enticing Maersk Sealand.

 

Asked about the ‘fight’ between Malaysian and other neighbouring ports to capture transhipment traffic, Mohd Sidik said increasing competition on the transhipment trade would help keep all parties competitive towards their customers.

 

“PTP will continue its drive for excellence and to be the region’s leader.

 

“Our unlimited space for expansion, building of phase two ahead of demand and excellent sea accessibility will keep us ahead in the transhipment race.

 

“Aside from this, our large land bank is an asset, we offer major industrial players an opportunity to relocate to PTP which offers excellent opportunities for growth.

 

“PTP’s connectivity through Maersk Sealand and Evergreen will be a major contributory factor to industrial relocation,” he said.

 

Mohd Sidik added that PTP was in active discussion with main lines – both to start regular calls and to consider PTP as their hub.

 

He however declined to provide details.

 

He said PTP had invited major international players to relocate to the free industrial zone and distripark, and this would fast track the development at these areas.

 

“Aside from this, the connectivity at PTP will also add to its attractiveness for multi-national companies to relocate thus lowering their overall logistics cost.”