Transhipment boosts PTP to 31% throughput rise
Containerisation International
Volumes at Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) have grown by nearly one-third for the second year running, recording a 31% total throughput rise – after 30% in 2002.
Of the total 3.49m TEY handled in 2003, transhipment accounted for 3.33m TEU, marking a 32% rise in this segment, from 2.54m TEU transshipped in 2002. A mere 4.5% of the total cargo increase was not accounted for by transhipment.
Underlining PTP’s focus on transhipment, CEO Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman stated, ‘To maintain PTP’s position as a premier regional transhipment hub, we will continue to target aggressive growth especially with the expected completion of an additional 720m of wharf early this year.’
Nvertheless, local cargo volumes did increase 15% from 130,000 TEU in 2002 to 150,000 TEU this year, a trend which may continue when the PTP Free Zone – now under construction – opens in mid-2004, as both Schenker Logistics and BMW Group relocated to the free zone in 2003, BMW bringing its Asian Regional Parts Distribution Centre from Singapore.
With a 26.6% rise to 3,148 container vessel calls, PTP was under pressure to improve vessel handling times, and managed to improve crane productivity 4.5% from 31 moves per hour (mph) in 2002 to 32.4 mph, according to the port.