Tanjung Pelepas set to move up to the premier league
New Straits Times
Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas in Johor, that has effectively checked Singapore’s ambition to dislodge Hong Kong for the world number one container port ranking, is it-self well positioned to move up to the premier league.
Billed as the world’s fastest growing port, PTP – ranked 108th world container port in 2000 – dramatically shot up to claim the 22nd place last year overtaking several establish ports world wide along the way.
PTP, which last month wrested from Singapore the Taiwanese owned Evergreen Marine Corporation, is ready to move up well within the first 20 ports – an ascent that has no parallel among any ports in the world.
With an estimated volume of about 1.2 million TEUs that is expected to be shifted from Singapore by Evergreen Marine Corporation – that includes Evergreen Line, Uniglory Lines and Llyod’s Triestino – PTP could marshal more than three million TEUs this year.
For the full year next year, PTP could handle close to five million TEUs – that will put the port well ahead of Port Klang that last year managed to retain its 12th world ranking despite ravings to make it into the league of world’s first 10 ports.
PTP, which last year handled about 2.05 million TEUs, composed largely of traffic generated by Maersk which holds 30 per cent equity in PTP, expects to handle about 2.5 million TEUs from the Danish line and further 500,000 TEUs from Evergreen group-of lines.
With prospects of PTP securing at least one more line before end of this year, its performance for 2003 is expected to put it ahead of ports like New York, Tokyo and closer in ranking to Antwerp and Hamburg.
Meanwhile, industry observes expect the critical mass that is building up at PTP to enhance migration of traffic from other neighbouring ports, including its sister port, Johor Port which, like PTP, is controlled by Seaport Terminan Bhd.