PTP goes from strength to strength
Cargonews Asia
Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas has undergone one of the fastest container volume increases in the world outside China, but higher oil prices may see earnings remaining flat this year.
With accolades pouring in from various quarters the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the port’s ambition of becoming Southeast Asia’s “sole hub” looks within reach.
“We cater towards the large hinterland market of Malaysia with rail and road connections: and being strategically located, we are also an attractive transshipment hub of regional connections,” explains Brian Paul who looks after PTP’s business development. Other factors include our ability to expand, being situated in a greenfield site and growth potential.”
Shipping experts agree that PTP has gone from strength to strength. Having begun operations in 2000, PTP has succeeded in getting Maersk Sealand and Evergreen Marine Corp. to shift their hub from nearby Singapore port to PTP within the first two years.
“One of the factors that went in PTP’s favour was its much lower cost of operations and its strategic location within easy reach of Malaysia’s hinterland, Singapore and Indonesia,” said Helmut Ischinger, a German shipping analysts, based near Hamburg, who monitors the Asian shipping sector.
An estimated US$600 million was initially investing the port, earmarked mainly fort the construction of a six-berth terminal with a 110,000 TEU container yard, ancillary facilities, 24 quay and rubber-tyred gantry cranes and a full complement of prime facilities and trailers. “The strategic location of the port amid the world’s busiest confluence of international shipping lanes and a vision and drive to establish PTP as a premier hub in the region were key drivers towards its success,” said Paul.
There are not many ports in the region that can efficiently handle 8,000 TEU+ vessels; PTP was designed to cater to these ships. A strong advantage, as many experts said, is that PTP offers space to grow. “Being a greenfield port, we offer our customers a promise of continuos growth opportunities. The completion of reclamation works for additional berths in the phase two plan offers flexibility where physical construction of these berths can be completed within 12 months,” Paul maintained.