PTP volume up on new services
The Star
By ZAZALI MUSA
PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) continued to record growth in its local cargo volume last year despite the global economic slowdown.
Chief Executive Officer Capt. Ismail Hashim said the volume grew 43%, or 94,000 20ft equivalent units (TEUs), from 218,000 TEUs in 2007.
He said the growth was due to a number of factors including the increased import and exportservices introduced by shipping lines calling at the port.
Ismail said this included new services between PTP andAustralia, New Zealand and the Philippines introduced by MISC Bhd when it moved its hub from Singapore to PTP in June.
"Another new service introduced last year was the link to Europe and the far East by German shipping line Hapag Llyod.
"Joint services and slot exchange arrangements between the various shipping lines calling at the port made it possible for local cargo owners to move more cargo through PTP last year," he told StarBiz.
Ismail said PTP had retained its status as Malaysia's NO.1 port with 5.6 million TEUs recorded last year and it had been leading other local ports in terms of throughput volumes since2002,just two yearsafter it started operations.
He said efficient and reliable port-related services had increased the confidence level of customers such as Maersk and Evergreen to introduce more service calls at the port.
"Last year, Evergreen unveiled a new service linking Vietnam's Ho ChiMinh City and PTP, whileMaersk started a service linkingAsia and the US through its vessel-sharing agreement with french liner CMA CGM," he said.
On its expansion plan, Ismail said PTP was in the midst of adding two new berths to the present 12. The new berths would be ready by 2013.
He said the port had also ordered eight new quay cranes worth US$80mil. Four would arrive in the second quarter and the balance in the third quarter, increasing the number of cranes to 44 at the port.
Ismail said although the global economic scenario did not look promising for the port and shipping industry this year, the unfavourable conditions could bring about some opportunities for PTP.
"During bad times, people tend to be more creative and rising operational cost will force shipping lines to look for cheaper alternatives," he said.
Ismail said PTP always prided itself on being able to deliver topclass port services, operational efficiency and high productivity that translated into cost savings for its customers.
He said it would continue approaching new shipping lines to make calls to PTP despite the slowd