The 100,000 TEUs achievement in less than nine months of operations is believed to be a record for a new port in this region, it said in a statement.

PTP said the achievement in a short period of time was largely due to a surge since July 2000.

It said five weekly calls by Maersk Sealand to US/Europe and the Middle East were put in place at PTP since June 8.

The services are now backed by a growing feeder network, which currently spans Malaysia and Southeast Asia, it added.

PTP said the January June 2000 figures, which had just been released, saw PTP handling a total of 48,668 TEUs adding that during the trial period of Oct 10-Dec 31, 1999 it handled a total volume of 20,471 TEUs.

The ratio of transhipment cargo for the first 100,000 TEUs reached an estimated 76% since yesterday, this year, it added.

PTP said with a comprehensive network coming in place by the end of this year, it was confident of handling 450,000 TEUs by end of this year.

Transhipment rations are estimated to contribute around 75% to 80% of the total volume by year-end, it said.

PTP is currently working on providing a comprehensive feeder network by the end of this year to complement the growing network.

The feeder network, once in place, will be a crucial step towards the establishment of PTP as Southeast Asia's premier transhipment hub, it added.

Talks with several common regional feeders are in process currently and the focus in on analysing current cargo flow and determining the destinations, which can best be served by cargo being transshipped via PTP, it added

With increased volume in end 2000 and year 2001, PTP is now gearing to bring forward completion dates for remaining blocks of the container yard, delivery of quay cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes and prime movers, is added.

Planning is also currently under way for possibilities of twin spreader quay cranes with a larger out-reach to cater for larger Super Post Panamax vessels currently planned by shipping lines.

PTP is strategically located at the southwest shoulder of Johor with a 45 minute diversion time from the confluence of international shipping lanes.

On full Phase One completion by mid 2001, PTP will be capable of handling a 3.8 million TEUs per annum.

Current service at PTP include Mitusi OSK Lines Japan/Hong Kong straits servie, APL-NOL's West Asia Express and Maersk Sealand's five weekly calls.