This is the first time ever 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. The Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Awards is organised by Lloyd's List Maritime Asia, a trade journal published by world-renowned shipping daily, Lloyd's List.

Encik Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman, Chief Executive Officer of PTP, received the awards on behalf of PTP at the official presentation ceremony, over the weekend.

Mohd Sidik, after the function said, "This is a proud moment for PTP and Malaysia as it is the first time a Malaysian port has won an award at this prestigious Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Award. We are proud of the confidence that shipping lines have expressed in us."

"This will certainly spur Malaysian port to give better and superior performances and prepare to face greater challenges in the future," he said in a statement.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), South-East Asia's latest deep-draft container terminal was officially opened only on March 13, 2000.

Last August, PTP changed the tides for transhipment by securing Maersk-Sealand, the world's largest shipping company to shift its entire transhipment hub to PTP.

PTP is now the largest hub within the vast Maersk-Sealand global network. The shift will also see PTP gaining a guaranteed annual volume of 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in year 2001.

PTP is strategically located at the South-west shoulder of Johor with a minimum 45 minutes diversion time from the confluence of the main international shipping lanes. With a depth of 15m, Phase One of PTP has been constructed to meet the needs of Super Post Panamax vessels. The first four of six berths are currently operational with 12 Super Post Panamax vessels. The first four of six berths are currently operational with 12 Super Post Panamax quayside cranes and 24 Rubber-Tyred Gantry cranes.

The berths are backed by one of the largest container yard in the region having a storage capacity of 110,000 TEUs.

On full Phase One completion by mid-2001, PP will be capable of handling 4.5 million TEUs per annum. Current services at PTP include Mitsui OSK Lines Japan/Hong Kong straits service, APL-NOL's West Asia Express and Maersk Sealand's 7 weekly calls to US/Europe, Far East and Mediterranean.