World Top Container Ports

TANJUNG PELEPAS – MALAYSIA

TEU throughput 2006: 4,770,00 (+14%)

Confirming its position as Malaysia's number one container facility for the fifth year in a row, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor set a new throughput record in 2006 by handling 4,770,000 teu, up 14% form the previous year.

According to PTP's chief executive officer, Harun Johari, this growth was due to the successful integration of shipping firms Maersk Line and P&O Nedloyd, which led to the launch of new services at PTP, as well as to strong throughput form Evergreen Marine Corp. In addition, MISC's Halal Express service, which calls at PTP, the additional capacity that came on-line through the deployment of larger vessels and the increased volumes generated by PTP's free trade zone tenants all helped to make the year a success.

PTP now also has a direct link to the east coast of India, following the introduction of the new Orient Express Lines (OEL) service to Kolkata on May 5, 2007. the Malaysian port recently embarked on a road show campaign to create awareness in India of its position as a major regional transshipment hub, as well as to promote its free trade zone among Indian manufacturers.

Harun is convinced that the Port, with its global sea connectivity and its Free Zone (FZ), could help the Malaysian government to transform the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) into South-East Asia's next metropolis by driving the creation of an integrated logistics hub. Covering an area of more than 2,000 acres, the FZ is Malaysia's first Free Zone and consists of commercial and industrial parks integrated within a single boundary, forming the terminal of the port. The FZ is progressing so well that plans are in place to develop additional land in tandem with demand shown by interested parties.

PTP now comprises ten berths of 360 m each on a 3.6 km linear quayline, following the construction of berths 9 and 10 at the end of 2006, which has lifted throughput capacity to 8m teu. Equipment comprises 27 super post-Panamax quay cranes, ten of which have a 22-box outreach and twin-lift capabilities.

PTP's crane productivity stands at an average of 33 moves per hour, the highest in the region and way above the industry average.

With most ports in the world facing congestion and capacity constraints, as well as the introduction of larger vessels with deeper draught requirements, PTP is fortunate in that it remains the only port in the region with capacity available to cater for container traffic growth over the next 15 years, having facilities that can handle the new breed of 10,000+ teu vessels with draughts up to 19 m.

For the future, PTP's strategic aim is to become a regional distribution hub, and its management has plans to build even more berths to cater for growth as and when it occurs. Indeed, PTP is already on the lookout to reclaim additional land for the development of phase three of its expansion plan beyond 2010.