NCB Holdings Bhd expects the construction of Wharf 8A in Port Klang by its subsidiary Northport (Malaysia) Bhd to be operational in September this year.
NCB Holdings chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said Northport would be able to gradually handle close to 5.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers once the wharf is completed.
“Wharf 8A, which will inject an additional container handling capacity of 600,000 TEUs, is important for Northport to retain its customers.
“The wharf will contribute to the efforts in strengthening the institutional capacity at Northport,” he told a media briefing on the progress of Wharf 8A at Northport here today.
Wharf 8A, which forms part of Container Terminal 4 at Northport involving an investment of nearly RM350 million, will be able to berth vessels with deeper draft of up to 17 metres which in turn will improve connectivity.
The wharf, together with the planned re-development of container wharves eight, nine and 10, will eventually offer seamless container wharf configuration to support ultra large vessels (14,000 TEUs and above) which are being deployed by main line operators currently.
Ahmad Sarji said the contractors of the wharf took three mitigation plans to ensure the smooth progress of the wharf including increasing the number of workers, extending the working hours and having additional team to work from southern end of the wharf.
He said he was confident in the integrity part of the wharf structure based on the proven track record shown by the contractor.
Ahmad Sarji said Northport aimed to handle about 3.4 million TEUs of containers this year compared with 3.09 million TEUs last year. BERNAMA
