The handling figure for the third quarter marks an increase of 19,000 TEUs from a 541,000-TEU throughput figure for the last three months.
PTP chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said despite the present gloomy economic outlook, the company is experiencing growth in cargo handling. This reflects strong user confidence.

 

“With the current economic levels uncertain, PTP is increasing all measures to secure new users to the terminal,” he said in a statement released in Kuala Lumpur.

 

PTP is 30 per cent owned by Maersk Sealand, the largest shipping line in the world. Reports say that the Danish shipping giant paid around RM800 million for the 30 per cent share. The move by the local port to sell a stake to the foreign shipping company has paid off, with the port targeting to handle 2 million TEUs in only the second year of operations. Last year, the port handled 420,000 TEUs.

 

PTP’s acquisition of five super post panamax cranes to be delivered next year, and that the contracts for another five such cranes are in the pipeline.

 

“These are no ordinary cranes, the reach is 22 containers across, designed to handle the very largest vessels in the world, these are the largest cranes in this part of the world,” the source added.

 

PTP currently has 14 cranes operating, which sources say should comfortably handle Maersk Sealand’s cargo. The additional 10 cranes are for companies the port may entice into calling at its terminals.

 

PTP has also signed on a new vessel traffic system to ensure smooth flow of vessels in it’s waters to make sure that there are no collisions in the seas surrounding the port.

 

All these expenditures, including the 10 quay cranes to be purchased, cost PTP in the region of RM2.8 billion and is part of the first phase of expansions. PTP to date has six berths of 360 metres each and a total container handling capacity of 4.5 million TEUs.