Chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said as the port matures, it will need to place greater emphasis on higher value-added services in order to maintain its competitive edge over rival ports.

PTP added another feather to its cap when it was awarded the Container Terminal of the Year Award at the Third Asia Logistics Awards 2004 ceremony in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.

The other three nominees were Hong Kong International Terminals (HIT), Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) and Westport.

The award was decided by an independent panel of 12 impartial judges from nine countries.

"We are honoured to have won this prestigious award, especially in view of the highly competitive field in this category, which includes terminal operators PSA and HIT," Mohd Sidik said.

"Being nominated together with two of the world's leading ports is an honour in itself," he added.

Asia Logistics Awards, organised by Hong Kong-based Lloyd's Freight Transport Buyer Asia magazine, recognizes and rewards achieve- ments of companies and individuals that are key to the continuing growth of Asia-Pacific's transportation and logistics sector.

"We believe that this award is recognition that it is not size alone that makes a great container terminal. 

"There are many other factors that play a role in the equation such as throughput growth rates, current and future handling capacity, operational efficiency and the potential for future growth.

"Since we began operations four years ago, these elements have been our primary focus and this award is a vindication of our efforts thus far," he added.

The Container Terminal of the Year Award is not PTP's first award. In 2000, it became the first Malaysian port to be awarded with the Best Emerging Container Terminal, which it won again the following year.