Other nominees for the `Best Emerging Container Terminal' award were Dalian Container Terminal and Westport.

This is the first time ever that a Malaysian port has won any award at the ceremony. Maersk Sealand, PTP's partner, also shared the honours by winning the `Best Main Line' award.

Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, chief executive officer of PTP, received the awards on behalf of the port at the official presentation ceremony. Around 500 guests from the international shipping, maritime and port industry attended the event.

Mohd Sidik, after the function said: "This is a proud moment for PTP and Malaysia as it is the first time any Malaysian port has won an award at this prestigious Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Award ceremony.

"We are proud of the confidence that shipping lines have expressed in us. This will certainly spur Malaysian ports to give better and superior performances, and prepare us to face greater challenges in the future."

PTP is Southeast Asia's newest deep-draft container terminal. The facility was officially opened only on March 13, 2000, by Malaysia's Prime Minister, Mahatir Mohammed.

Last August, PTP changed the tide of transshipment in Asia by securing the services of Maersk Sealand. The world's largest shipping company shifted its entire transshipment hub to PTP, making the facility the largest hub within the Maersk Sealand global network. The shift will also see PTP gaining a guaranteed annual volume of 2 million TEU next year.

Current services at PTP include Mitsui OSK Line's Japan/Hong Kong/Straits service, APL-NOL's West Asia Express and Maersk Sealand's seven weekly calls to the US/Europe, the Far East and the Mediterranean.

The Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Awards is organised by Lloyd's List Maritime Asia, a trade journal published by shipping daily, Lloyd's List