ASEAN Ports Association Malaysia (MAPA)

Port Klang handled 7.97 million TEUs last year, ie, 48.5 per cent of the total number of containers carried by all Malaysian ports

PORT Klang, the home of Westports and Northport terminals, remained the leading port in the country last year, holding a 48.5 per cent share of the total number of containers carried by all Malaysian ports.

It handled 7.97 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) last year, against the 16.4 million TEUs handled by all Malaysian ports last year.

Westports led the way with a 15.2 per cent increase in container volume from 2007, handling some 4.96 million TEUs, while Northport saw a 7.1 per cent increase to three million TEUs last year.

Conventional cargo movement for last year saw a 0.2 per cent increase to 22.2 million tonnes for Port Klang.

In terms of numbers carried by individual terminals, however, Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor remained the top port, handling 5.6 million TEUs last year.

PTP was followed by Westports and then Northport.

Of all Malaysian port terminals, only one, Kuantan Port, registered a contraction in container volume last year.

Kuantan Port recorded a 0.4 per cent decline in container volume, from 127,600 TEUs in 2007 to 127,061 TEUs last year.

All ports in Sabah and Sarawak recorded positive growth in container volume, with Miri registering the biggest jump, growing by 30 per cent to reach 28,094 TEUs from 21,618 TEUs in 2007.

Bintulu Port managed to record robust growth last year, increasing to 286,013 TEUs from 251,800 TEUs in 2007.

For 2009, the local port industry is expected to experience a drop in cargo volume handled as import and export activities fall, amid slowing demand for goods.

Last week, Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Lim Thean Shiang had said that this year’s contraction would see Port Klang’s container throughput fall to levels experienced in 2007 to 7.118 million TEUs.

By : btimes.com.my

… due to bleak outlook

PORT KLANG: Port Klang, the national maritime gateway, projects a 10% fall in cargo volume due to the bleak outlook for the economy this year.

Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Lim Thean Shiang said both port operators, Northport and Westports, started to feel the contraction in volume last month with a 16% drop in cargo volume against the same month in 2008.

“In an effort to cultivate and sustain the port business this year, especially import and export activities, PKA has decided on a blanket waiver for those who have difficulties in adhering to the three-day container free storage period at the port,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Port Klang previously had a five-day free storage period but this was cut to three days effective Jan 1.

Lim said the continuation of the waiver would be reviewed in July based on the economic climate then.

Lim Thean Shiang

Lim Thean Shiang

“But, the Port Klang community must continue to upgrade their efficiencies to operate under the three-day free storage period when the economy revives,” he said.

Additionally, PKA will also continue the feeder incentive scheme by April but with a new pre-qualification criteria.

The feeder incentive is given to feeder operators that help bring cargo to Port Klang from other places in the region.

The incentive was frozen in October for PKA to re-study its contribution to the cargo growth at Port Klang.

A total sum of RM37mil in incentive had been given to feeder operators since 10 years ago.

On Port Klang’s performance, Lim said it had recorded a 12% increase in cargo volume to 7.97 million 20-ft equivalent units (TEUs) last year from 7.11 million TEUs in 2007.

“This achievement has propelled Port Klang to be ranked the 15th-busiest port of the world in terms of volume last year from number 16 the previous year,” he said.

By SHARIDAN M.ALI

On 4 April 2005, Kuching Port Authority celebrated its 44th anniversary. KPA’s Chairman, YB Awang Bemee Bin Haji Pengiran Ali Basah, accompanied by General Manager, Madam Liu Moi Fong and Assistant General Manager, Mr. Rosli Saup attended for the function. Others present included KPA’s Deputy Chairman, Mr. Kong Ping Kung, Board Members and senior staff of Kuching Port Authority. To commemorate the auspicious event, a total of 27 staff received certificates of excellence for the exemplary work in year 2002. To all the members of Kuching Port Authority, the 44th anniversary celebration is indeed a very meaningful. It took hard work and effort to achieve what we see today. Since its operation which first started in 1961, for over forty years now KPA never stops to develop. From a single wharf at Tanah Puteh with an annual capacity of 350,000 tonnes to Pending with an annual capacity of 2.9 million tonnes and now to Senari with an annual capacity of 7.0 million tonnes, KPA aims to doing better and giving better services to cutomers.

Historically, Kuching started the import and export activities at Ban Hock Wharf as early as 1948. In order to have port facilities for trading and economic advancement of the state, Kuching Port Authority (KPA) as set up at Tanah Puteh. It became the first organized port in Sarawak, serving the state and the people, and had grown tremendously over the past four decades. Officially establised on 4 April 1961, KPA began operation on 5 June 1961 at Tanah Puteh with a single wharf of 800 feet in length and storage space of 60,000 square feet. Towards the end of 1972, KPA assumed full control and operation of the Biawak Oil Jetty, which was mainly used by tug boats to carry petroleum products to the nearby Shell and Esso installations.

By 1975, with the completion of main facilities under the Port Expansion Project Pahse 1, it was declared open and commenced operation on 16 March 1975, named Datuk Sim Kheng Hong Wharf. Twelve years later, port expansion Project Phase II was completed. Thus, the Pending Terminal was declared open on 8 September 1988. In 1989, KPA launched its first computer system and became the first Malaysian Port Authority to have its container Tracking Systems accorded the MS ISO 9002 certification on 12 August 1998. On 24 November 1999, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, tun Datuk Patinggi Dr. Mahathir Mohamed declared open the Senari Terminal. The migration of container operation from the Pending Terminal to Senari Terminal was completed in June 2001.

On 27 April 2004, KPA e-Port Community system was launched, where KPA is extending its services electronically through the web. This service aimed to facilitate paperless documentation, thus improving the efficiency of the overall logistic supply chain; at the same time reducing operating cost. it plays a major role in improving efficiency, speed, productivity and effectiveness of the port business. On the other hand, the Marine Department of Malaysia had also certified KPA to be compliant with the International Ship & Port Seciruty (ISPS) Code with effect from 1 July 2004. This placed KPA on an international footing for all foreign vessels to have confidence in KPA’s security measures. It is also a testimony if KPA’s commitment to provide a secure and safe environment for all port users and creates a more comprehensive of threats.

Kuching Port Authority recorded tonnage of 7.1 million tonnes of cargo handled in year 2004 and the number is expected to escalate in 2005.

By: Kuching Port Authority