THE Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) will transport cargo via rail following its collaboration with Nilai Inland Port and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd.

 

The rail link to the port currently only stretches to Pasir Gudang, some 80km from PTP requiring the use of road transport from the other port in Johor.

 

Sources said that by February next year the rail link will be fully operational, easing the flow of cargo to the PTP.

 

PTP is looking to enlist as its customers, manufacturers in the Nilai, Seremban, Mantin, Rembau, Chembong, Gemas, Port Dickson and Batu Kikir areas by getting the companies to use the port services via the rail network and feeder services which will be available soon.

 

PTP’s chief executive officer Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the Seremban roadshow marked the first time the port has endeavoured to expand its service to the central region of the country.

 

He added that with the continued deployment of large vessels in the 6,000-TEU (20-foot equivalent units) range, PTP is best suited to the task of playing the hub port role for the region.

 

The larger vessels, he added, will only call at strategic ports around the world, leaving the distribution to the rail or road network and feeder lines.

 

PTP, Sidik stressed, has the capability of handling the largest vessels, as the port is situated in the mouth of the Pulai River which has the required depth of 15 metres to accommodate the large vessels.
The calling of the main shipping lines, another port official added, ensured that the goods arriving at PTP can be distributed all around the world as the shipping lines plying through PTP sail diverse routes.

 

Sidik added that “the Seremban roadshow marks our first dialogue with central region shippers. It is a crucial step in demonstrating to our future customers that PTP’s hinterland with rail availability extends throughout Peninsula Malaysia”.

 

Other port officials stressed on PTP’s cost competitive services, excellent highway connections, and more so on the port’s connectivity by rail, easing the flow of containers.
Sources in the shipping industry said that PTP will be the next major port in the region, with the capability to take on even the larger and more established ports like Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

The 30 per cent stake in PTP acquired by the largest shipping line in the world, Maersk Sealand, for an estimated RM800 million shows the potential of the port.
The 30 per cent stake by the Danish shipping giant ensures that this year alone PTP will handle in the region of two million TEUs.

 

Shipping consultants said that the current 10 per cent slice taken from PSA will increase, and speculate that the port will be a major transhipment hub in the years to come.

 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik has said that by 2005 PTP will among the top 15 ports in the world.