Preview - Port Klang

REVIEW 21WESTPORTS BREAKS FIRSTHALF YEAR RECORD WITH 2.65MILLION TEU’SMalaysia’s leading port, Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd, has recordedits highest first half year throughput ever, handling 2.65 million twentyfootequivalent units (TEUs) in the first six months of this year. This is astaggering 30% increase compared with the same period last year when ithandled 2.03 million TEUs. The uptrend in volume continued from the firstquarter of this year. Westports posted an all time high monthly throughputof 484,000 TEUs in June 2010, moving a total of 1.4 million TEUs in thesecond quarter, which is a 33% increase from the same period last year.Additionally, local container volume posted a strong 25% growth, up fromthe 579,000 TEUs handled in the first half of last year to reach 724,000TEUs in the first six months of this year while transshipment was up by 26%.Positive improvements were seen in both performance and productivity,especially in container operations.Westports conventional business achieved an overall growth of 18% ingeneral cargo and bulk cargo. As for RoRo, the port witnessed an increaseof 45% in vehicle handling compared to 2009. The contributing factorsin growth were an increase in steel products, both imports and exportswhile for Bulk Cargo, the contribution came from an increase in fertilizerimports. With this growth, Westports is in line to achieve its overall targetof 8.5 million metric tonne for conventional business in 2010.WESTPORTS NEW 300-METER CONTAINER TERMINALWestports Malaysia Sdn Bhd will resume the initial phase of its expansion this year that will see the construction of the 300m-container terminal 6 (CT6).Westports was supposed to have begun its expansion about two years ago but was slowed down by the global economic downturn. The cost is unknown untilthe bid comes in. However it is estimated that based on previous experience, the cost could be more than RM200mil inclusive of construction, equipment,logistics and dredging. The construction of CT6 comprises an additional 300m berth, 1,500 additional ground slots of yard space and four new quay cranes.It is expected to be ready by second quarter next year. This will see the increase of the port’s capacity to 7.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).Executive Director Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said when completed, CT6 would see the berth length of about 600m. However, Westports wouldconstruct half of the project first as the remaining development would require land reclamation. The reclamation tender is already out and it will startdevelopment as soon as possible. Ruben said Westports planned long-term expansion would see capital expenditure of RM3.5bil to RM4bil to bedeveloped over the span of 15 to 20 years. It will involve about 3km of berth length for five terminals. Again, the speed of the expansion plan willdepend on the trend of the future economy.GATEWAYA PUBLICATION OF PORT KLANG AUTHORITY