The new cranes pushes the capacity of the Malaysia’s showpiece port closer to 4.5 million TEUs, the full capacity of which will be achieved later this year with the delivery of the remaining landside RTGs and shoreside super post-panamax gantry cranes.

The chief operating officer of PTP, Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said that the latest delivery of the RTGs increases the port’s yard planning and terminal efficiency.

“It also increases the port's handling capacity which for Phase One, will eventually be around 4.5 - 5 million TEUs per annum benefiting both current and future potential customers,” he added. The five units of the RTGs are the second batch of the 15 cranes ordered by PTP from Noell Crane Systems of Italy.

PTP received the first batch of five units of RTG cranes from Noell in January this year along with two units of the Super Post Panamax quayside cranes. The RTGs have a capacity of one over five high, with a width of seven containers across.

With this delivery and commissioning, PTP will have 52 RTGs operational for its yard. The final batch of five RTGs from Noell will be delivered by end of second quarter of 2002.

Another 15 units of RTGs will be acquired by end 2002 to make to the total number of RTGs for PTP's Phase 1 operation to 72 units.

Meanwhile, as part of the growing efficiencies at the port, PTP has developed and implemented an electronic and paperless Vessel Clearance System (VCS) for the purpose of obtaining port clearance for vessels calling at PTP.

The system, allows shipping agents to submit an application on-line and all the respective authorities will receive the necessary information pertaining to their area of responsibility simultaneously.