ASEAN Ports Association Malaysia (MAPA)

PORT KLANG: Container volume moving through Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd rose by 15 per cent or 6.4 million twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) last year, compared with 5.6 million TEUs in 2010.

In a statement, Westports said the better-than-expected container volume throughput comes from both transhipment and indigenous boxes, registering positive increases of 22 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.

The robust performance in 2011 has made Westports one of the fastest growing ports in the world.

“The port has been well-known to the shipping industry as one of world’s best productivity terminal operator in container handling.

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, we expect to see a strong growth trend in volumes moving forward albeit uncertainty in eurozone, we have set a target of seven million TEUs in 2012,” Westports chief executive officer Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said.

Ruben said expansion plan to further improve the port’s capacity is underway with the current development of expanding the existing 3,700m container terminal to 4,600m, making Westports Malaysia a 10-million-TEU handling capacity port within the next two years.

The new terminal is designed to handle 18,000-TEU capacity vessel, which will be the largest container vessel in the world come 2013.

He said the company’s investment in expansion works is to accommodate the needs of its customers as well as meeting the increasing demands of domestic and international trade.

by: Business Times

KUCHING, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The Tanjung Manis Integrated Port is to become the primary import and export gateway for Sarawak central region when it begins full operations by next year.

The port, a subsidiary of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and appointed by Rajang Port Authority as its port operator in Tanjung Manis new township, had shown encouraging performance since commencing operations in July last year.

As at October 2009, it had received 11 vessels and handled 2,383 TEUs (twenty equivalent units) containers, said STIDC general manager and Tanjung Manis Integrated Port chairman Datuk Len Talif Salleh in the latest issue of Perkasa, the bi-monthly newsletter published by the corporation.

Currently, the port accesssible to 20,000 GRT (gross register tonnage) vessels, has the capacity to handle up to 200,000 tonnes of general cargo and 25,000 TEUs containers a year.

He said the existing 203-metre wharf would be extended by 200 metres to enable the port to handle an anual capacity of 200,000 TEUs of containers and six million tonnes of general cargo by next year.

When fully operational, the port is expected to be equipped with state-of-the-art cargo-handling facilities such as quay cranes, mobile harbour cranes, rubber-type gantry cranes and reach stackers, said Len.

He said the port was envisaged to play a pivotal role in the shipping industry with the completion of the Sibu-Tanjung Manis road by this year and support the various industries in the hinterland, particularly the Tanjung Manis Halal Hub and other projects planned under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“With better facilities and a team of dedicated and experienced workforce, Tanjung Manis port promises efficient services apart from reducing vessel turnaround time due to its closeness to the sea,” he said.

Len said the port’s strategic location and natural deep water complemented its role as the central region’s transshipment hub.

Meanwhile, the 77,000-hectare Tanjung Manis Halal Hub is expected to attract at least RM9 billion worth of investments for upstream and downstream halal food processing activities, which will create about 10,000 jobs, besides other economic spin-offs.

AS the economy shifts to a lower gear, it may be the right time for the local port industry to focus on improving infrastructure and raising efficiency levels.

This will enable port operators to provide cost-effective services to customers in the near term while ensuring that when the world trade picks up, they are able to seize the opportunities in the longer term.

In recent years, major ports in Malaysia have utilised almost full capacity to cater to the booming business, which in turn has prompted them to embark on major expansions.

According to Malaysia’s Maritime Institute senior fellow Nazery Khalid, it is crucial for local ports to continually improve their infrastructure, efficiency, productivity and performance to offer customers value for money, especially in this climate that is proving to be extremely challenging for the shipping industry.

“Unlike Westports, Northport and Port of Tanjung Pelepas, which are on par with the world’s best container ports, there are some other local ports that can improve their services.

“The other local ports must benchmark themselves against regional heavyweights like the Singapore Port, Shanghai Port and Hong Kong Port which are among the world’s top five container ports in terms of volume.

“Malaysian ports can certainly improve on many fronts to enhance their competitiveness to attract more main-line operators (shipping companies) to call at their terminals,” he adds.

He suggests that port operators thoroughly assess their current positions and chart their next course of action to weather the global economic downturn.

“Amid the economic and seaborne trade slowdown, port operators must plan their resources meticulously and find ways to harness their strengths to place themselves on a stronger platform.

“Now is the time to identify areas of weaknesses which they may have overlooked during busier times,” Nazery says.

As the most cost-efficient mode of trade transport, where 90% of goods are transported via sea, the shipping industry is vulnerable to any slowdown in the world economies against a backdrop of declining trade volume.

On the flip side, it is also well positioned to benefit from the up-tick in economic activity.

By SHARIDAN M.ALI

“THE PORT FACTOR – Chairman Message”

Capt. Abdul Rahim Akob, General Manager of Bintulu Port Authority & Chairman of MAPA

Forging Malaysian Ports’ Business Synergies

I’m delighted to announce the inaugural issue of “The Port Factor”, an offical publication of the Asean Ports
Association Malaysia (MAPA). The newsletter is aimed to stimulate interest and to keep readers abreast with
the Malaysian ports and shipping industry such as port management and operations, port planning and development, marketing, training, technology, safety and security, ships and cargo handling.

Asean Ports Association Malaysia (MAPA) was formed some years ago and was subsequently registered under the acronym MAPA as a non-governmental association early this year, comprising of founding members from a total of 17 Malaysian port authorities and operators. MAPA’s primary objectives are two-pronged i.e. to give ports in Malaysia with a vehicle for national cooperation in port development, operations and management, and to promote and protect the interests of member ports.

MAPA is to specifically promote the exchange of data and information on shipping and cargo traffic amongst Malaysian ports, cooperation in port operations and management, develop and maintain close relationship with other regional or national ports associations or international port related associations, and to undertake other activities as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the said objectives.

Ports in Malaysia have become an important crux in forging economic and business networks and alliances between Malaysia and developing countries. Business networking are becoming essential strategies for Malaysian ports as the process of globalisation and market liberation pose both challenges and opportunities for the nation and for business community. The port sector has always played a major role in the development of national economies. The attractiveness of ports is no longer based on strategic location but on the provision of efficient and prompt services, excellent land infrastructure and sea transport networks. Ports have become commercial centres and manufacturing gateways.

In this respect, MAPA is working in tandem with the developments in Malaysia’s external trade and new economic linkages. Ports are potential investment destinations, either to set up manufacturing projects or other business establishments. Thus being an effective vehicle, MAPA’s outreach will be more extensive and in this process shall be forging synergistic collaboration with trade associations and business councils in order to facilitate information exchange, commercialisation, building a more cohesive partnership and business networking. These will directly contribute not only cargo growth amongst Malaysian ports but industrial developments as well.

Nevertheless, MAPAwill harness our collective creativity, forging ahead with market-driven visions and charting roadmaps for developing, promoting and enhancing Malaysian ports capacities and capabilities in expanding opportunities and building business synergies. Ports will be growing in size and complexity of businesses, and one important asset that needs to be nurtured and enhanced will be the human resource. Ports need to share and improve its human resources and must continuously be at the forefront in its practices particularly when competing globally. This is where I hope that it could be the binding force to forge a strong and successful grouping.