PTP expansion continuing

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has completed two new berths and the land reclamation projects for the construction of a further six, under its phase 2 development programme. The new berths (Nos 7 and 8) are expected to raise annual handling capacity from 4.5 mill TEU to 6.0 mill TEU. They increase overall quay length by 720m to 2.88 km and will be able to handle the next generation of container vessel, which are expected to have an LOA in excess of 400m. Depth alongside the new berths is 19m and the quay has a crane loading strength of 100 tonnes per metre of rail, an increase of 25 per cent. 

PTP has also introduced a new wharf design in the second phase of development, which incorporates provisions to accommodate wider quay crane rail spacings of 45m, compared to its current 30.5m span. The increase is in anticipation of new crane designs that will be used to conduct operations on the next generation vessels as well as accommodating twin lifts. 

“With the new berths operational,” said CEO Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, “we have new capacity that will enable us to market the port more aggressively to the shipping lines. At the same time, the new designs will ensure that our facilities will remain viable well into the future.” PTP reports it has recorded its highest first half year throughput ever – a rise of 25 per cent to 2,010,620 TEU, of which transshipment accounted for 1,834,407 TEU, an increase of 24.6 per cent. Local cargo volumes saw a significant 22 per cent growth, from 63,526 TEU handled in the first six months of 2003 to 77,756 TEU.

 The first half of 2004 saw 1584 vessels calling at the port, a 5.3 per cent increase from the previous year, which amounts to around three extra calls a week. In May PTP handled its 10th million TEU (after less than five years of operation) and it also claims to have set a new world productivity record with 340 gross berth moves per hour during an operation on the Maersk Sealand containership, A P Moller.