PTP sets world record



The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) on May 11 set a new world berth productivity record of 340 gross berth moves per hour, beating the previous mark of 336 gross berth moves set in 2001.

In a statement, PTP said the new record was set during operations on the Maersk Sealand vessel AP Moller. It said a total of 4,316 moves were recorded during the operations beginning shortly after the vessel arrived from Algeciras, Spain at 9.17pm on Monday.

It said eight super post panamax cranes were used during the operations that took less than 13 hours. The vessel departed PTP at 10am morning on May 11.

PTP said the new record was a 12.6% improvement from its previous record of 302 gross berth moves during operations on the vessel Skagen Maersk on Feb 16 this year

wow!! i didn't expect that. great news:D

Way to go PTP, you've made Malaysia proud!

Malaysia Boleh!

PTP makes maiden profit since 1999
The Edge - May 14, 2004

The Port of Tajung Pelepas (PTP) made its maiden pre-tax profit of RM8.7 million last year, since it started commercial operations in late 1999, MMC disclosed in its 2004 annual report.

MMC which has a 50.1% stake in the port, attributed PTP’s maiden pre-tax profit against a loss of RM84 million a year ago to the 29.01% increase in revenue to RM385.1 million from RM298.5 million previously.

In reviewing the company’s performance for the year ended Jan 31, 2004, MMC group chief executive Datuk Ismail Shahudin said besides the higher revenue, the port’s profit also came from the RM33.9 million interest savings on the redeemable convertible subordinated loan (RCSL).

“PTP’s shareholders continued to provide support by converting their respective portions of the RM150 million RSCL into equity to place the company on a better footing,” he said.

Low-profile businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al Bukhary, through his Indra Cita Sdn Bhd, had a 40.09% stake in MMC. Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Indra Cita, owns 19.9% stake in PTP while Danish shipping group AP Moller 30%.

This is the first time MMC consolidated PTP’s full year result compared with PTP’s one-month result in the previous year.

Ismail said container throughput in 2003 shot up by 30% to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), solidifying its position as Malaysia’s top container terminal.

Gross crane productivity, ranked among the world’s best, improved by 3% to 32 moves per hour.

He said phase two development of PTP, due to be completed in the third quarter this year, would enable the port to handle six million TEUs annually and strengthen its capabilities to deliver greater value to its customers.

“The port will continue to target aggressive growth from the expected increase in world containerisation and trade,” he added.

Tanjung Pelepas ready soon for mammoth ships
Cargonews Asia - May 17, 2004

By PAUL RICHARDSON

London - The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), one of the most ports in Southest Asia, is about to complete its Phase Two expansion programme, which will see a further two berths totalling 720m completed and fully operational by July.

PTP already has six berths fully operational, and while the new berths will expand container-handling capacity by around a third, they will also cater for the new breed of container-ships in the 8,000 + TEU league.

Under Phase two, PTP will offer an additional 720m of quayside and has also encompassed a channel dredging programme allowing for vessels of up to 16m water depth. This will also include 8,000 + TEU vessels sailing fully laden into the port on the eastbound leg from North Europe and westbound from the United States with deadweight orientated cargo.

PTP's new berths will be introduced on the back of a successful first quarter this year, which recorded throughput volume of 957,500 TEUs, and a 31 percent increase in 2003, when 3.49 million TEUs was handled at the quayside compared with 2.66 million TEUs the year before. And this month PTP set a world record in berth productivity. The port reported 340 gross moves and hour during loading and unloading operations for the Maersk Sealand vessel AP Moeller, breaking the previous record of 336 gross moves set in 2001.

The port said it used eight super post-Panamax cranes on the AP Moller after it arrived from Algeciras, Spain, allowing operationsto be wrapped up in 13 hours.

With PTP's 2003 volumes up almost a third on 2002, and new handling capacity shortly coming on line to handle another 30 percent + increase in volumes, there is relief in the PTP management camp that its majority shareholder, Malaysia Mining Corporation, which owns 50.1 percent of PTP, has recorded a 30 percent rise in revenue in 2003. The annual report concludes that revenue from PTP rose from US$78.55 million in 2002 to reach $101.34 million in 2003.

PTP's main deep-sea customers are Maersk Sealand and Evergreen. Recently CMA-CGM increased its port coverage by slotting in an east-bound call on the line's Adriatic Express service in a vessel sharing partnership with Evergreen-owned Lloyd Triestino.

The first Adriatic Express east-bound call at PTP call was made by the 2,000 TEU Conti Albany on May 22 from the Adriatic, heading for the Far East and China.

As new handling capacity comes online, and new berths and deeper approach channels are made available for the mega-ships, PTP is looking to expand its operational portfolio well beyond the present client base in both the mothership and feedership sectors.

Congratulation PTP... :applause: :applause: :applause:

PTP posts highest ever 1H throughput
By Thomas Soo ( EDGEDAILY )


Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) posted its highest first half year throughput ever, handling 2.01 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first six months of 2004 (1H2004).

In a statement on July 7, PTP said the 1H2004 throughput represented a staggering 25% increase from 1.60 million TEUs in the same period last year.

Transhipment volume in 1H2004 totalled 1.83 million TEUs, up 24.6% from 1.47 million TEUs handled in 1H2003, while local cargo volume grew 22% growth to 77,576 TEUs in 1H2004 from 63,526 TEUs a year earlier.

"The phenomenal growth at PTP is attributed to the continuing strong global economic upturn, as well as the addition of a number of new services calling at the port," PTP said.

It said vessels calling at PTP increased 5.3% to 1,584 in 1H2004 compared with 1,504 in 1H2003. "Effectively, the increase equates to around three extra calls per week," it said.

PTP said with cargo volumes rising on major trade routes, in particular, Asia-Europe, it had experienced a strong growth in volumes as it continued to retain its premier position as a transshipment port.

It said the completion of two additional berths expected in the middle of this month would increase the port's capacity from 4.5 million to six million TEUs per annum.

"Shippers have continued to show their confidence in PTP, and growth in the volume of domestic cargo handled by the port is a reflection of the faith entrusted in PTP by the local community," PTP said.

In May, the port handled its ten millionth TEU - achievement in less than five years of operation. PTP said in the same month, the port set a new world productivity record with 340 gross berth moves per hour, during operations on the Maersk Sealand containership, AP Moller.

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=205060&img=1813.jpg[/url][/IMG]

<img src="http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=205060&img=1813.jpg" border="0">

Malaysia shouldn't have competed with Singapore with this port in the first place.I'm not saying this is not good but somehow we're indirectly stealing their business and that's not a good move.We should concentrate on other core business and specialised in something new not found in this region.Take for example consumer electrical products and electric locomotives?Computer products and constuction are good alternatives as well.
Singapore is a country where they have been very serious and involved in the service sectors for centuries and Thailand is aiming to become some car manufacturing hub in this region.Why not Malaysia pick something else up which no country in this region has ventured in and improved on it?I think this is crucial to ensure that one day we'll be at least be good in something instead of competing head on with others as well as creating uncomfortable tensions between our neighbours.

Malaysia shouldn't have competed with Singapore with this port in the first place.I'm not saying this is not good but somehow we're indirectly stealing their business and that's not a good move.We should concentrate on other core business and specialised in something new not found in this region.Take for example consumer electrical products and electric locomotives?Computer products and constuction are good alternatives as well.
Singapore is a country where they have been very serious and involved in the service sectors for centuries and Thailand is aiming to become some car manufacturing hub in this region.Why not Malaysia pick something else up which no country in this region has ventured in and improved on it?I think this is crucial to ensure that one day we'll be at least be good in something instead of competing head on with others as well as creating uncomfortable tensions between our neighbours.


Yup....I do agree with you that Malaysia shold find a niche industry to excel on instead of directly competing with our neighbours.

But on the grounds that Malaysia shouldn't compete 'too much' with Singapore on the port business.....well I couldn't agree to that as Malaysia is a trading nation and most of Malaysia's economy depends on export and imports which port operations are essential.

Therefore, Malaysia should have more efficient ports which would directly compete with Singapore. It is good to know that now Malaysia didn't rely too much on Singapore as the source of imports cos importers are now using Port Klang and PTP to directly ship their goods into Malaysia.

IMO some competition is good .....and I believe that being competitive isn't going to create tension. It is issues like land reclamation, water supply etc etc......things which borders on sovereignty rights that creates tension. I do not see KLIA or PTP would cripple Singapore although Singapore's reliance on their airport and port is essential to their economy cos Malaysia's airport and ports mostly (a very large percentage) caters to Malaysia's need and with some room to spare for transhipment/cargo hub ;)

....yea.....I know this sounds unbelievable as contrary to many's thinking esp on PTP's intention to steal away business from Singapore but it simply isn't doing that. Singapore has its market and PTP has its own. Maersk and Evergreen's move to PTP does hurt PSA a little but not that significant as Singapore is still the preferred transhipment hub. Did you know that PTP at first approached PSA as its join-venture partner? So PTP from the very start isn't supposed to be PSA's rival.....it is just perceived to be ;)

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=205060&img=1813.jpg

Great view! Any pics of Westport? ;)

My apologise Baq....I've no picture either Westport or northport. BUt i've plenty pictures of PTP and Pasir Gudang :)

Dedicated Highway to PTP and 2nd Link to Singapore.

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=212297&img=17.jpg

Aeriel view of PTP

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=212298&img=20.jpg

Look kinda small..... Any picture of Port Klang?

Constructions of berth 7 & 8 in Phase 2.
http://img54.exs.cx/img54/7807/1823.jpg

http://img54.exs.cx/img54/1622/1824.jpg

Phase 2 in progress.
http://img54.exs.cx/img54/1508/846.jpg

Distripak phase B
http://img54.exs.cx/img54/6076/1821.jpg

New berths equip PTP to receive giant vessels
The Star Maritime - July 19, 2004

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) is now all set to receive the future generation container vessel carrying up to 12,000 TEUs following the completion of the two berths under Phase Two of the port’s development.

Land reclamation for the remaining six berths has also been completed, enabling PTP short lead time for the build-up of additional berths to respond to market needs.

Berths 7 and 8 add an additional 720m of wharf to the existing wharf length of 2.16km.

The wharves have a draft alongside of 19m to cater for the next generation of container vessels which will be in excess of 400m in length.

The berths also feature 25% higher crane loading strength of 100 tonnes per meter of rail.

The new wharf design also incorporates provisions to accommodate wider quay crane rail spacings of 45m, a 50% increase from the current maximum of 30.5m used in Phase I.

This is and anticipation of new crane designs that will be used to conduct operations involving larger next generation vessels as well as to accommodate twin lifts.

PTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said : “The new berths will bring in new capacity that will enable us to market the port more aggressively to shipping lines.

“At the same time, the new total length of 2.88km of wharf, the new berths are expected to raise the port’s annual throughput handling capacity from 4.5mil TEUs to 6mil TEUs.

OMG! I love the view! I would love to see PTP enter the top 10! :cool:

New cranes for PTP’s Phase 2
Containerisation International - September 09, 2004

Malaysia’s Port Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) signed a deal with IMPSA for three super post-panamax cranes and 15 rubber tyred gantry cranes for its phase two development.
The quayside cranes will be capable of lifting two 40ft boxes at a time and the port expects them to be delivered late next year. Delivery of the rubber tyred gantries will take place in the second quarter of 2005.

With the delivery of the new equipment the total number of super post-panamax cranes at PTP will be 27 and the total number of rubber tyred gantries will be 72.

Johor Port to invest RM200m on warehouses
By Faizal Zakariah

Johor Port Bhd will invest RM200 million to build five new warehouses and for an upgrading exercise over the next two years in anticipation of a significant rise in throughput.

Its corporate affairs director Dr Lim Meng Soon said the investment includes the procurement of three rubber tyred gantries for RM13.8 million. Currently, it has 17 such gantries.

Johor Port would also upgrade the wharfs and jetties, equipment, warehouse infrastructure and computerised systems, he told a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 7.

He added that the exercise would be funded via internal funds. Johor Port had RM214.3 million in cash as at the end of last year.

Lim said the expected rise in throughput would be due to the increase in the handling of London Metal Exchange (LME) non-ferrous metals, including zinc, copper and aluminium.

Johor Port had handled 44,000 tonnes of non-ferrous metals since it was picked by LME as its delivery point for these metals in March, he added.

Lim said Johor Port expects its turnover to grow by at least 10% to 15% for this year. For the year ended Dec 31, 2004, it posted a turnover of RM312 million. Its pretax profit was expected to improve by 10% this year from the RM118 million in 2003, he added.

He said Johor Port had forecast its throughput to hit one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of containers in 2005, and to exceed 800,000 TEUs this year.

In the first half, he said Johor Port’s total throughput was 13.9 million tonnes while total containers handled improved by 13% to 393,717 TEUs.

On the possibility of a merger between Johor Port and Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Lim said that should be the future direction for a single transportation entity. Businessman Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary has interest in PTP, which is a transhipment port, while Johor Port is a multipurpose port.

PTP bags Container Terminal of the Year 2004

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has been awarded the Asian Container Terminal of the Year 2004 at the Third Asian Logistics Award in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 7.

"The port is deeply honoured to have won this prestigious award especially in view of the highly competitive field in this category which included terminal operators for the Port of Singapore and Hong Kong Port," PTP said in a statement.

In 2000, PTP became the first Malaysia port to be named the Best Emerging Container Terminal, an award that was again bagged PTP in 2001.

"We believe that this award is recognition that it is not size alone that makes a great container terminal. There are many other factors such as throughput growth rates, current and future handling capacity, operational efficiency and the potential for future growth," PTP added.

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

PTP posts record 9-month throughput of 3m TEUs
New Straits Times

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) recorded its highest-ever nine-month total throughput when it handled 3,026,826 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) during the first three quarters of 2004.

The latest throughput figures for PTP are over 20 per cent, up on the same period last year when the port handled 2,518,029 TEUs.

In a statement issued yesterday, PTP said the rise in volumes was attributed to the continuing global economic upturn, the increasing market share of local cargo, and the addition of new services calling at PTP.

Total throughput handled during the third quarter of 2004 was 1,015,863 TEUs compared with 913,370 TEUs in the same three-month period last year.

Local cargo handled also continued to show an impressive gain, and was up 16 per cent to 122,654 TEUs in the first nine months of 2004 against 105,581 TEUs for the same period last year.

Transhipment volumes recorded an even higher increase of over 20 per cent with 2,904,171 TEUs handled in the first three months 2004 from 2,412,447 TEUs in the same period last year. Total vessel calls increased by 49 to 2,378 for the first nine months of 2004 compared with 2,329 calls in the same period last year.

Third quarter 2004 also saw the completion of berths 7 and 8 as part of the Phase 2 expansion programme. The two berths have added up to 1.5 million TEUs in handling capacity, giving the port annual capacity in excess of six million TEUs.

Significant events during the third quarter of 2004 included the signing ceremony between PTP and IMPSA (Malaysia) for the supply of new quay and yard cranes ast month.

The port was also nominated for Best Container Terminal at the Asia Logistics Awards last Thursday, and won awards for the Best e-Commerce project in trade facilitation at the eASIA Awards held in Taipei and Best Infrastructure Design Award by the Malaysian Development Bank (Bank Pembangunan) at its annual Client Awards ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur last month.

PTP Eyes Market Leadership
The Star Maritime

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), which was named Container Terminal of the Year at the Asia Logistics Award 2004, is currently reviewing possible demand in the region, and deliberating on further expansion.

Its chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said Berths 7 and 8, as part of Phase 2, were completed in July and PTP had embarked on yard expansion behind the two berths.

He said the port had also ordered 15 rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes for delivery in mid 2005, and 3 + 3 Super Post Panamax Quaycranes for delivery before end of next year.

"Our emphasis from now on will be market leadership. Vessel new buildings are at an all time high and global trade is still high.

"We need to continue building, ordering cranes and equipment to meet expectations of even higher productivity and turnaround," he said in an interview with The Star.

He said PTP handled 3.03mil TEUs from January to September this year, a 20% increase compared with the same period in 2003. "The port should be able to exceed four million TEUs this year," he added.

Local cargo handled also showed an impressive gain of over 16% over the first nine months of 2004 from the 2003 figure of 105,581.5 TEUs.

Transhipment volumes recorded an even higher increase of over 20%.

Mohd Sidik said the current trend of container ships getting bigger and bigger now placed PTP at an advantage because all its cranes were Super Post Panamax, and all its berths were able to berth large container vessels.
"We will however always need to be ahead of demand, and ahead of shipping lines' expectations.

"The organic growth is extremely strong now, and Malaysian ports and PSA have been able to enjoy double-digit growth rates.

"This should continue for at least the next two years," he said.

As with most other major ports, he said the greatest challenge today was in estimating demand, organic growth over the next few years and still have further space for new prospects.

"Forecasting is not an exact science, but PTPwill always try to ensure that capacity is never an issue.

On the success rate of Malaysian meant boxes being handled by local ports rather than Singapore, Mohd Sidik said before the set-up of Westport, and subsequently PTP, there were a significant number of full container loads that used to be trucked to Singapore daily.

"This is no longer a sight at the causeway. The success due to efforts by the Malaysian government has therefore been tremendous.

"What we now need to work on together with Senai Airport is also the loose cargo that is consolidated in Singapore warehouses.

"Logistics cost and warehousing costs is much lower in Malaysia, and the presence of major ports, lines and airports will be able to reduce this movement as well in the future."

Asked what the Lloyd's FTB Asia Awards meant to PTP, he said: "The Best Container Terminal Award is a transition from the Best Emerging Container Terminal Award that PTP received from Lloyds in 2001.

"It is a historic triumph both for PTP and the nation, especially given that Westport was also nominated for the same award alongside HIT and PSA. It shows that Malaysian ports have come a long way, " he said.

Mohd Sidik said given that the final stage of decision-making was an independent international panel of 12 judges with set criterion, PTP believed that the strongest factors were customer confidence in its facility.

"Our efficiency, responsive to needs, and market leadership aside from growth and volumes were also key factors that contributed to PTP emerging as the Container Terminal of the year," he said.

Mohd Sidik added that support from key Malaysian and international press also helped keep the PTP branding strong.

He, however, refused to comment when asked about talk to split the second phase of PTP expansion plans into a separate entity and inviting PSA to team-up in the operations of the terminal.

Malaysia shouldn't have competed with Singapore with this port in the first place.I'm not saying this is not good but somehow we're indirectly stealing their business and that's not a good move.We should concentrate on other core business and specialised in something new not found in this region.Take for example consumer electrical products and electric locomotives?Computer products and constuction are good alternatives as well.
Singapore is a country where they have been very serious and involved in the service sectors for centuries and Thailand is aiming to become some car manufacturing hub in this region.Why not Malaysia pick something else up which no country in this region has ventured in and improved on it?I think this is crucial to ensure that one day we'll be at least be good in something instead of competing head on with others as well as creating uncomfortable tensions between our neighbours.

It's not just an issue of competition. For a long time, a significant portion of Malaysia's trade has had to pass through Singapore due to inadequate domestic port facilities. In the process, Malaysia lost much foreign exchange. The policy to develop M'sia's own port facilities was intended to address the outflow of foreign exchange through the shipment of M'sia's imports and exports through a third country. So, it's not an issue of M'sia merely trying to compete head-on with an established player for the sake of it, but more a case of M'sia protecting itself and striving to be self-reliant rather than dependent on third countries. Just as Singapore is trying to be as self-sufficient in terms of water for whatever reason, likewise, M'sia would also like to be reassured that it has the ability to ship its own goods. M'sia ranks among the top 20 trading nations of the world. So, trade is therefore immensely important to the country.

It's not just an issue of competition. For a long time, a significant portion of Malaysia's trade has had to pass through Singapore due to inadequate domestic port facilities. In the process, Malaysia lost much foreign exchange. The policy to develop M'sia's own port facilities was intended to address the outflow of foreign exchange through the shipment of M'sia's imports and exports through a third country. So, it's not an issue of M'sia merely trying to compete head-on with an established player for the sake of it, but more a case of M'sia protecting itself and striving to be self-reliant rather than dependent on third countries. Just as Singapore is trying to be as self-sufficient in terms of water for whatever reason, likewise, M'sia would also like to be reassured that it has the ability to ship its own goods. M'sia ranks among the top 20 trading nations of the world. So, trade is therefore immensely important to the country.


Good explanation you have there GlenJ :okay: ....been telling this to my friends but somehow I failed to see Centrilium's comments here.....but anyway Centrilium has got some good points of Malaysia not innovative enuf when doing business. ANyway competition is good for business and rivalling economies isn't always gonna end up in political tensions. Normally these are due to the sensationalising of stories by the media and some silly remarks by politicians :D

Well.....while on the quest of being self-sufficient, we did managed to roped a few of Singapore's long time customers but hey...dats business ;)

Just to let you guys know.....PTP isn't solely created to make PSA's life miserable but to make Johor an integrated cargo hub. Did you know that PSA are initially invited to be a stakeholder in PTP? ;) Well.....they decline so PTP had to go on its own.......

i remember reading an article before stating Singapore actually under estimated PTP at the begining.Their perspective was,building the port was waste of money.And it was also stated that the PTP is taking a big percentage of Jurong's business.Will try to look for the article ya.

Satellite-guided steering system for PTP’s yard cranes
Star Maritime - November 03, 2004

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas has equipped all its 57 rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) yard cranes with a new, innovative steering and position determination system.

The system called SmartRail, manufactured by Kalmar Industries of Sweden, utilizes the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) commonly used in military applications when pinpoint positioning accuracy is required.

The DGPS can handle all RTG steering and positioning activities by itself as opposed to when the RTG operator had to safely and correctly manoeuvre the RTG in the yard while loading and unloading containers.

The system aims to eliminate human error upon confirming and selecting containers during operations, avoid misplaced containers, reduce waiting time for the quay cranes during loading and discharge and have 100% accuracy between container position in the port operating system and the actual physical location in the yard.

This is achieved through the tight integration between the SmartRail system and the port operating system NAVIS.

Retrofitting of the RTGs was completed in July and the system’s performance over the past few months has been very encouraging, said PTP spokesman, “There have been noticeable improvements in operations productivity attributable to the SmartRail system despite the rise in volumes we handled this year.

“Safety has also been dramatically improved and we have virtually eliminated any possibility of RTG related service failures since the system went live,” he said.

The ability to accurately track and position individual containers and RTGs has allowed the port to maximize its yard space and minimize wasteful double handling of containers.

Possible future developments and enhancements to the system could include dynamic deployment so that the RTG nearest to a particular prime movers is assigned to it, instead of prime movers being assigned to dedicated RTGs which may not be positioned optimally.

Sumatec to build fuel oil terminal at PTP

Sumatec Resources Bhd will be building a bunker and fuel oil terminal facility at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas for Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd (SPT) at a total cost of RM300 million on a build, operate and own basis.

Sumatec said on Dec 9 the lease of facility, expected to be fully operational by mid-2007, would generate an estimated revenue of more than RM500 million for the duration of a 10-year lease period.

It will undertake the design, engineering, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the facility for a period of about 20 years.

“The project will further provide synergy to Sumatec’s current business activities and generate a sustainable stream of revenue for the company for the next 20 years,” it told Bursa Malaysia in a statement.

Sumatec said it would enter into a memorandum of agreement with SPT today to build the state-of-the-art facility, which will occupy an area of 14 hectares with an initial storage capacity of 420,000 cubic metre.

It said the terminal would be used by international and regional oil traders to store and market its petroleum products in the Far East.

Sumatec said the terminal, which has a sophisticated jetty capable of servicing Very Large Crude Carrier, would provide a centralised fuel oil blending facility for operational flexibility and economies of scale. It said it had vast experience as a turnkey contractor for marine terminal for petroleum products and had built Petronas/Shell Klang Valley Petroleum Product Distribution Terminal at Dengkel, which is one of the largest oil distribution terminals in the country.

Sales at PTP distribution centre to double: BMW
December 15, 2004

German premium car giant BMW Group is optimistic its regional parts and distribution centre at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor will double sales within the next five years.

The centre started operating on August 2 this year and has a stock of over 35,000 parts numbers, serving 19 markets in Asia Pacific including six countries where BMW has its own subsidiaries to handle distribution and wholesale of the premium vehicle marquee.

BMW group parts and accessories distribution director (America and Overseas) Robert McEwan did not give forecast sales figures but said prospects are in line with the expected growth in BMW sales volume in Asia Pacific in years to come.

Regional sales of BMW cars rose more than 11 per cent in the first 10 months of the year. Sales rose 15 per cent sales in the whole of 2003.

This also places BMW on the right track to top the premium segment market for the third year in a row since 2002.
"The spare parts and accessories business is a significant component of our operations, having grown tremendously over the last decade globally as well as in the Asia-Pacific region in tandem with soaring car sales," McEwan said.

He spoke to reporters at the launch of the more than RM40 million distribution centre on a 4.4ha site at PTP yesterday.

McEwan said BMW is already looking at expanding the regional distribution centre's storage space to an extra 3,000 sq m from the current 15,000 sq m in the near future.

The distribution centre ships about 2,000 lines (or parts orders) a day to Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Brunei, Fiji, Tahiti, Guam, New Caledonia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Bangladesh, besides Malaysia.

McEwan said the facility was made necessary by BMW's "burgeoning" growth in the region.

"This facility, which began operations four months ago, is a key component to this growth in the region and forms the backbone of our parts and accessories business here in Asia Pacific, and consequently, our after- sales service."


He said the group was confident that the investment will not only boost BMW's performance in Asia and Malaysia, but also helps the country become an effective regional business hub.

In the zone
New Straits Times

Port of Tanjung Pelepas’s Free Zone area attracts international companies, which want to expand or seek new opportunities in the region.

The Free Zone area of Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor, Southeast Asia’s fastest growing transshipment port, is set to become a world-class logistics hub for the region.


PTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said a 400ha-prime industrial space was located adjacent to the port’s terminals.
“With its new branding as Tanjung Pelepas Free Zone (TPFZ), the area is gaining favour with international companies looking to expand or seeking new business opportunities in the region,” he said.

He said the Free Zone are as opened in 2000 to develop value-added, supporting industries to generate additional throughput for PTP.

“It’s first phase of 68ha has attracted international and regional logistics players to set up operations.

“These include international cargo owners and logistics companies such as BMW and Schenker Logistics from German, Maersk Logistics from Denmark, Geodis from France, Limfox Logistics from Australia and Naigai Nitto from Japan.”

Sidik said besides international clients, the port also attracted local companies at TFPZ such as Tiong Nam, MIEL Logistics and USRA Distripark.

“These companies are responsible for the regional and global distribution of major international brands for products ranging from auto parts, household goods, apparel, electronics and electrical appliances, consumer goods, chemicals and many more.” He said.

He said a Malaysia-US joint venture company, JB Cocoa, was operating a cocoa products processing plant in the TPFZ.
The plant products high-quality cocoa products for the world’s chocolate makers.

“We believe the Free Zone will play a major role in the development of the port as an engine and catalyst fro growth,” he said.

He added that a wider choice of products would soon be made available to cater to customers’ needs.

“We believe in the benefits of smart partnerships and have begun to co-develop new terraced warehouses with an established local property player,” he said.

He said a subsidiary of public-listed Tenggara Oil Bhd, Tenggara Lubricant Sdn Bhd was also operating in the TPFZ and was into its third year of operation producing lubricant oil under own brand name “TOBEX” as well as supplying Caltex.

“The activities at the Free Zone area have contributed more than 20,000 TEUs last year and based on figures until the third quarter of 2004, we expect an increase of 25 per cent.

“We forecast that the volume will further increase in coming years as there are more activities within the TPFZ,” he said.

He said one of the strengths of TPFZ was that it had excellent multi-modal connectivity in Southeast Asia. “For sea connections, the Free Zone area is adjacent to PTP port terminal and is managed by the same operator. In terms of land connections, it is served by the Second Link Expressway and PLUS Highway and has links major cities throughout Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand,” he said.

He added in terms of air connectivity, traveling to Senai Airport and Changi Airport took about 30 and 45 minutes respectively.

“TPFZ is also connected to the national rail grid which provides accessibility to Singapore and southern Thailand.

“This is grid is part of the Trans-Asia Rail Link project, which will connect Southeast Asia with China when completed,” he said.

He said the location of TPFZ at the confluence of international cargo movements, efficient and advanced handling of cargo, cost competitiveness, in doing business, abundance of land together with the fiscal incentives provided by the Malaysian Government ensured a promising future for cargo owners and cargo handlers in using and setting up bases in TPFZ.

“About 55 per cent of Distripark Phase A has been developed with about 20 per cent reserved by keen parties.
“Therefore, with only about 25 per cent of the Distripark Phase A still available. TPFZ has taken steps to open up more of the Free Zone area and has started to prepare about 70ha at Distripark Phase B.”

The infrastructure for Distripark Phase B is schedules to be ready by end of 2005.

He said it had take initiatives to attract investors such as the leasing of land for development and the availability of ready-built warehouses (for lease). Businesses are also given the option to build customized facilities.

Tanjung Pelepas breaks 4m TEU barrier
Eye for Transport - January 19, 2005

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has set a new throughput record by handling 4,020,421 TEU in 2004, an increase of 15.2% on the 2003 figure of 3,487,320 TEU.

Local cargo, which represented 4.17% handled by Malaysia's number one container terminal last year, increased by 12% from 150,000 TEU in 2003 to 168,000 TEU. Vessel calls rose by 1.3%, with 3,193 vessels calling at the port in 2004 compared to 3,148 in 2003.

PTP has also recorded average mainline productivity figures of 34.62 gross moves per hour last year, and currently holds the world gross berth productivity record of 340 gross berth moves per hour which was set in May 2004 when more than 4,000 containers were shifted in less than 13 hours, with peak production hitting 480 moves per hour.

Last year also saw the completion of the first two berths of PTP's second phase development program. With a water depth alongside of 19 metres, these new berths are designed to accommodate future generation container vessels up to 250,000 tonnes displacement.

PTP is also expanding its container yard capacity, and new facilities under construction and due for completion in mid 2005, will add an additional 40% to current yard capacity, bringing the storage capacity to 154,000 TEU from 110,000 TEU. Three new super post panamax cranes are due for delivery in the fourth quarter 2005, and PTP has also ordered 15 more RTG yard cranes, which will bring the total number up to 72 units.

Last year’s developments in the PTP Free Zone included the start of operations for new tenants such as the BMW Asia Pacific Spare Parts Distribution Hub, and PTP expects the Phase A Distripark of the PTP Free Zone to be fully occupied in 2005. Cargo volume originating from the Free Zone was up 20% in 2004 compared with the previous year.

Speaking on PTP's 2004 success, Port of Tanjung Pelepas CEO, Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said: “Last year was a spectacular year for PTP. We handled more than four million TEU, we broke the world berth productivity record, the Free Zone became a hive of activity with many new world class tenants and for the first time a Malaysian port [PTP] was named Container Terminal of the Year.”

PTP, Senai airport help with Tsunami disaster relief


THE Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and Senai International Airport in Malaysia say they have teamed up to offer their facilities to international aid agencies offering relief to the victims of the tsunami disaster in southeast Asia.

A joint statement said the multi-modal synergy between Senai and PTP will enable effective redistribution of essential relief items by sea or air given that the airport and port are situated about 40 kilometres apart.

They said they plan to use their multimodal facilities available in Johor, which is located near to Sumatra, Indonesia, to overcome some of the difficulties aid agencies have been facing in reaching tsunami stricken areas.

Both Senai and PTP expressed confidence that they have the capacity and capabilities to act as a staging post for international relief operations currently underway to help the tsunami victims, particularly those in the worst hit Indonesian province of Aceh.

The release added that Senai is also able to receive long range aircraft that will require landing and refueling services, including those using the trans Pacific route from the US west coast to devastated areas in Sri Lanka.

We offer the future
The Star - March 21, 2005

The port industry can be daunting to outsiders. It is not the type of business one can just stray into. “You don’t just get into the port industry by chance. You either come from a family involved in shipping, or some related transportation business, or you stay in a town where the main employer is a port,” an industry observer tells BizWeek.

Thus, many still wonder as to how and why Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary ventured into the port business via Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd.

He was actively involved in the privatisation and listing of Johor Port Bhd. More recently, he set up a greenfield project, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), which has to date incurred more than RM7bil in capital expenditure.

“The fact of the matter is that he (Syed Mokhtar) had the right people to rely on when he ventured into the business – people with many years of experience in the industry,” adds the observer.

Among Syed Mokhtar’s point men in the port and transport business is Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman. He is the chief executive officer of PTP, he heads Senai Airport Sdn Bhd, and is also on the board of Johor Port Bhd. He is an old hand in the port and maritime industry, and has a Masters degree from the World Maritime University of Sweden.

BizWeek met up with Sidik to discuss the outlook for PTP and what lies in store for the port. Excerpts:

BizWeek: In 2000, PTP pulled off a coup by signing on Maersk. The next year you signed on Evergreen. Many people now say PTP is in dire need of a third main line operator. How do you view this?

Sidik: Of course, we are aggressively marketing our services to all shipping lines and looking to ink a deal with a third liner. But you must understand the business and always look at the bigger picture. Shipping lines are constantly acquiring each other and forming alliances. So, if one of our clients acquires another line, our throughput number would definitely grow. It has been happening a lot of late. Our national carrier MISC (Malaysia International Shipping Corp Bhd) acquired American Eagle Tankers (Ltd). There is bound to be more such consolidation in the industry, which could affect us positively.

Also there are many ways to grow. Inking new terminal service agreements is only one way of growing. What about the fact that PTP has captured about 25% of the local cargo, export and import, from the Pasir Gudang hinterland? This was done effortlessly. So, there is room for more growth. Then, there is also our organic growth of maybe 7% which, although small, does make a difference owing to our large container volume.

Growth could also come from ventures abroad. Do you have any ambitions to, say, initiate port operations abroad?

We have had a lot of offers from the region, particularly from countries that are starting from scratch, that is, greenfield projects. It is understandable why they have approached us. There are not many examples of such projects starting from ground zero and making money within five years. We have generated a lot of interest with PTP, but, of course, all plans are still in the infancy stage. So, there’s nothing to talk about really.

The port business is becoming increasingly competitive, be it abroad or on home soil. How does PTP hope to stay ahead?

Of course, one cannot deny that PTP is facing competition. We cannot, and we do not, deny that. But you have to understand the business and understand with whom we are competing against. On the regional front, we are in competition against a high-cost competitor. To the best of my knowledge, when a low-cost competitor competes with a high-cost adversary, the damage and the pressure is more on the high-cost competitor.

In PTP’s case, we are at least 20% or probably 30% more efficient than the high-cost competitor. This makes it much more challenging and difficult for the high-cost competitor to maintain its rates and charges. So the pressure is not on us.

More critically, the high-cost competitor actually loses something very, very important – more than just business – to the low cost player. It loses the power of pricing as a result of the more cost-competitive options available.

The power of pricing, once lost, has a chain reaction. The high-cost competitor is forced into a situation in which the remaining shipping lines request for discounts and whatever reductions available. So you end up losing your control over them. Also, the larger the clients, the larger the discounts requested.

Of course we are in competition, but the fundamentals show that a low-cost competitor will survive even during trying times, but not a high-cost competitor.

But doesn’t low cost mean that your margins are affected, that you make less money than a high-cost competitor?

We are paying interest on the loans we have taken, and we are still making money. In fact, we started making money earlier than expected. So what more is there to be said? We are already a profitable business after a mere five years in business. That is the success of PTP.

There are many new ports springing up in the region, and existing players are also actively marketing their services. What does this augur for PTP?

I think a lot of ports have ambitions. But in some ways, the ambitions are constrained by geography. Both PTP and PSA Corp are at the end, the choke point of the Straits of Malacca, which is a very important strait for navigation. In terms of geography, it doesn’t get any better.

You talk about high efficiency levels, good location, and competitive pricing as PTP’s advantages. So what can we expect? How big can PTP grow?

PTP, in the future, may build as many as 75 berths. There is no port in the world that can offer such capacity. At PTP, what we are offering is the future. Ships are getting larger. We are now talking about ships handling 8,000 TEUs. But ships in the market will grow to 10,000 TEUs and even 12,000 TEUs. There are not many ports in the region that can handle these vessels. PTP was built to cater to these ships. PTP is waiting for these vessels. Also, PTP has a draft of between 17 metres and 18 metres at any one time. PTP has berths that are 360 metres long and cranes that handle 22 boxes across. These are all for modern-day vessels. Not many ports in the world can offer a straight-line berth of four or five kilometres. As I said, at PTP what we are offering is the future.

MAERSK SEALAND....two of the biggest container ship.. 6600 dwt

http://img40.exs.cx/img40/9139/aboutgalleryhongkong169gl.th.jpg (http://img40.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img40&image=aboutgalleryhongkong169gl.jpg) http://img40.exs.cx/img40/7778/picture1456kh.th.jpg (http://img40.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img40&image=picture1456kh.jpg)

PTP's Phase Two Development Programme On Schedule


KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) phase two development programme is progressing on schedule with the first four rows of new container yards expected to be completed by middle of this month.

The new container yards will provide improved loading capacity and stacking of loaded containers up to six high, Johor-based PTP said in a statement Wednesday.

It added that all the rows of the three new yard blocks are due to be completed in August, boosting yard capacity by 40 percent, up to 154,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) at any one time.

Support facility construction is also on schedule, and at the end of this month, a new substation will provide power for the latest generation 82-tonne super post panamax gantry cranes.

PTP said the cranes will be operational in the fourth quarter of this year, and capable of handling 40-foot container twin lifts.

Construction of the basic infrastructure for Free Zone Distribution Park B has begun, and this includes roadworks, drainage, utilities and power substations. Completion is scheduled within the next 13 months.

The phase two development programme began in 2003 with the reclamation of land for an additional eight berths offering a water frontage of 2.88 kilometres.

The first two berths were completed in July 2004, providing a significant upgrade from the wharf structures in phase one.

With draughts alongside the new phase two berths of up to 19 metres, PTP said it would be able to handle the latest planned generation of container ships up to 12,000 TEUs.

These berths also provide unique design features geared towards handling the mega-vessel of the future which includes the ability to accommodate future gantry cranes that will have a rail spacing of 45 metres, an increase of 50 percent on the maximum of 30.5 metres used by current super post panamax cranes.

"We are very pleased with the progress of our second phase of development. As a forward-looking port, we are always planning ahead to be at the forefront of container terminal technology, and offer shipping lines the capacity and commitment to cater to their future needs," a PTP spokesperson said.

-- BERNAMA

http://img32.exs.cx/img32/3360/0105093vc.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Port Of Tanjung Pelepas Breaks Q1 1.0 Mln TEUs Mark
April 09, 2005 16:00 PM





KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) records its highest first quarter (QI) throughput ever, passing one million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) for the first time since it begin operations in 1999.

The 1.005 million TEUs recorded in Q1 2005, was an impressive five percent increase compared with the same period last year when it handled 957,495 TEUs, the port operator said in a statement here Saturday.

Out of the amount, local cargo volumes had surged 23 percent to 44,927 TEUs from 36,399 TEUs handled in the same period of 2004, it said.

The greatest increase came from export cargo, which was up a staggering 36.75 percent to 34,709 TEUs from 25,381 TEUs in Q1 2004 while transhipment volumes had also increased from 921,096 TEUs in the same quarter last year to 960,117 TEUs.

PTP said the increase in local cargo was partly attributed to increased activity within the Free Zone where a new halal food distribution hub was currently being developed.

The hub is a designated zone within 16-hectares of the Prime Industrial Land location, and focuses on activities involving regional and international distribution of halal products.

In the quarter under review, the port also started receiving the first batch of 15 new rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) yard cranes from IMPSA Port Systems, which will be used in the port's Phase II Development project.

PTP which is South East Asia's fastest growing port located at the southwest shoulder of Johor, offers eight berths, backed by one of the largest container yards in the region with a storage capacity of 110,000 TEUs.

-- BERNAMA

http://img15.echo.cx/img15/2498/0105130ri.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

http://img15.echo.cx/img15/6299/0105221er.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

Pelepas port container volume up 5pc in 1st quarter
The Malay Mail - April 12, 2005



Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas, which competes with Singapore for Southeast Asia's sea freight, handled 5 per cent more containers in the first quarter after Malaysian exporters shipped more goods overseas.

The port, located in Johor, handled 1 million 20-foot standard containers or TEUs, compared with 957,495 TEUs in the same period in 2004, it said yesterday.

Export cargo jumped 37 per cent with 34,709 TEUs and transshipment of containers rose 4.2 per cent to 960,117 TEUs. Import cargo fell 0.7 per cent to 10,218 TEUs.

Malaysia's exports grew in February at the fastest pace in three months, boosted by sales of electronics, oil and liquefied natural gas to the US and Asia.

Exports surged 24 per cent to RM75.6 billion (US$19.9 billion) in the first two months from a year earlier, the Trade Ministry said on April 4. March data is to be released on May 4.

Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp and Maersk Sealand, a unit of Denmark's A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, are among the shipping lines that have switched to using Tanjung Pelepas as their Southeast Asia stopover, attracted by the harbour's cheaper port charges.

TNB Will Provide Additional Electricity Supply For PTP


JOHOR BAHARU, May 4 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will provide additional electricity supply for the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) to ensure the port will get continuous supply apart from catering for future increase in demand.

Its chairman Tan Sri Amar Dr Leo Moggie said that currently PTP obtained its daily supply from TNB Tanjung Kupang power station while the additional supply, which is being planned, would be provided by the TNB power station in Gelang Patah.

"The electricity supplied to PTP is adequate but we (TNB) need to look to the future as the port has entered the second phase of its development and more investors are investing in areas around the port," he said.

"TNB wants to reassure the investors of not only the availability but also the quality of power supply," he told reporters after visiting PTP with TNB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Che Khalib Mohd Noh and other senior officers, here Wednesday.

Che Khalib said that TNB expected electricity demand at PTP and areas around it, including from the duty free zone, to increase some 50 percent in two years.

Moggie said that the visit to PTP, the biggest container port in Malaysia, is to hear directly from PTP, which he described as one of TNB's important customers, concerning electricity supply.

"TNB gives an assurance that PTP will have its support to ensure that electricity supply at the port and the surrounding areas will continue to be improved as and when needed," he said.

PTP Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sidik Shaik Osman, who was also present at the press conference, said that last year the port experienced two power failure incidents and a similar one in January this year.

He said that PTP appreciated TNB's decision to visit PTP and hear directly from them.

Sidik said that a number of investors from the manufacturing sector would invest around the port areas and would require additional electricity supply.

He declined to elaborate on the number of investors or the amount to be invested. Also present at the press conference was PTP chairman Datuk Taufik Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Che Khalib was also asked on the power failure, which has been occurring frequently at the Pasir Gudang Port this year.

He said that TNB has identified the cause of the incidents, which was due mostly to road work expansion at the port and had affected TNB's electric cables.

"Following this, we have done a system reinforcement and succeeded in reducing the problems," he said.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/images/logo_edgeasia.gif
Tronoh gets RM100m PTP job
13 May 2005 9:49 AM
By Toh Lye Huat



Tronoh Consolidated Bhd, which announced plans to develop a major apartment project in Kuala Lumpur and a power plant in India this week, is believed to have been awarded a RM100 million job by Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd (PTP) to build new wharves.

It is learnt that Tronoh’s subsidiary Zelan Construction Sdn Bhd was picked for the job over several other major construction groups based on its track record.

It had built power plants here and in Singapore besides delivering several other infrastructure-related and marine engineering projects.

The contract, according to sources, involves the construction of two additional berths for the fast growing port in Johor and stipulates that the contractor has to complete the berths in 15 months.

Zelan Construction is already engaged in some activities in the area including the setting up of a base near the Port of Tanjung Pelepas besides being a partner for the multi-billion ringgit Tanjung Bin power plant.

Another advantage for Zelan Construction is that the owner of PTP is Malaysia Mining Corporation Bhd, which is a shareholder of Tronoh.

Plans are afoot for the Port of Tanjung Pelepas to put in more docking facilities in anticipation of increased cargo volume, the sources say.

To ensure the smooth flow of the port’s operations in view of the expected rise in traffic, industry observers say PTP wants to expedite the completion of the new berths.

On May 9, Tronoh teamed up with the CapitaLand Group of Singapore, a leading listed property company in Asia, for its proposed RM400 million apartment project near the Petronas Twin Towers.

The next day, it announced the signing of a letter of intent with independent power producer Lanco Amarkantak Power Private Ltd to build a RM760 million 300MW plant in India.

PTP gets ready for the big boys
Fairplay - May 17, 2005



Tanjung Pelepas, Singapore’s nearby rival for container transshipment cargo, is flush with capacity after added two berths as part pf its Phase Two expansion. A total of eight berths give the nascent port, which began operating in 1999, capacity of 6M TEU a year.

CEO Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman exudes confidence that PTP is geared to cater to the most exacting demands of lines during boom time. Almost all its cargo – the facility topped 4M TEU during 2004 – is derived from Maersk and Evergreen Marine.

There is no sign of any other major line leaving Singapore’s PSA terminals for PTP, which is preparing to accommodate huge container ships.

“There is no other port in the region where 100% of the berths and cranes can cater to 8,000 – 9,000 TEU vessels,” Sidik tells Fairplay. So, it could be just a question, which will add six berths, has been designed for ships of even 12,000 TEU.

PTP stresses efficiency

PTP has an edge over rivals with its lower handling costs, but Sidik stresses that PTP regards efficiency as its main strength. In the present times of plenty, the sees the cost factor receding into the background.

“The shipping boom has resulted in lines not looking at quick cost gains, but rather overall efficiency gains and analyzing how the ports can cater for their growth,” he explains.

PTP’s other big edge is space for “unlimited” expansion, which enables the port to offer dedicated facilities. Sidik discloses that feeder connectivity has “grown tremendously” since Evergreen’s arrival in 2002, resulting in multiple connections to all major Southeast Asian destinations. As part of its efficiency drive, PTP has deployed Kalmar’s Smartrail system, officially handed over on 14 April.

This uses satellite technology for its automatic steering system and provides automatic container position verification. It can be connected to yard management systems and has increased productivity through higher gantry travel speed, reduced crane shifting time and faster container handling, Sidik discloses.

Hinterland cargo is growing along with transshipment throughput, albeit from a lower base. PTP has already captured one-quarter of the Johor market. Free-zone tenants such as BMW, Linfox, Logistics and Schenker Logistics have contributed to this growth.

Sidik expects the first phase of the free zone to be “fully occupied” in 2005. Its second phase is expected to begin in mid-2005.

He plays down talk of overseas acquisitions: “While we have had offers to invest in overseas terminals, we have yet to embark on any,” he says.

Wisma PTP, Block A

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/09.jpg

Wisma PTP front view

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/10.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/07.jpg

Viewing Deck

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/08.jpg

View between Block A & B

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/02.jpg

Cafeteria

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/05.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/04.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/03.jpg

06

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000008/01.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/press/advertisment02.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/press/advertisment01.jpg

Aerial View of Port

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000010/20.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000010/21.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000011/39.jpg

http://www.ptp.com.my/images/photo/large/7000017/241.jpg

TANJUNG PELEPAS PORT, JOHOR.

The Tanjung Pelepas Port, situated at the mouth of the River Pulai in south west Johor calls itself the 'container port of the future'. The future being 20 years into the next millennium as this port infrastructure is planned in five phases of development and final completion could stretch to the year 2020. To meet future needs of super large ships, the first phase of the port development has been designed, with 2.16 km linear berths, 115 ha container yards, super large port equipment and sophisticated IT-driven port management.
http://members.tripod.com/~mcleon/pelepas/model.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/~mcleon/pelepas/portmap.jpg
http://members.tripod.com/~mcleon/pelepas/portsite.jpg


Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seaport Terminal (Johore) Sdn Bhd. On March 24 1995, Seaport Terminal entered into a privatisation agreement with the Malaysian Government and the Johor Port Authority to plan, design and construct, operate and maintain the, port, with a concession period of 66 years. The port's strategic location (see diagram 1), along the world shipping route in the Straits of Malacca, offers an attractive alternative to shipping lines which currently call at Singapore. For exporters and importers, access to the port can be via the North-South Expressway, the Senai airport, and a new 5.4 km highway connected to the Second Cossing Expressway.



According to Wong Chut Kun, project director at Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, the first two phases of development will cater for container traffic while the third, fourth and fifth phases will have a combination of container, liquid and dry bulk cargo. The entire development, according to its Master Plan, is envisaged to create a new hyper port covering 1,362 hectares of reclaimed land and onshore land.



Construction is presently on-going for the first phase of development. This, in itself, is a huge development for a container port in Malaysia with construction and equipment cost of RM2.8 billion. Spread across a 138 ha site (including the container terminal, port entrance and warehouse), the first phase development will encompass six container berths. Each berth measuring 360 m in length is the most spacious among container ports currently in the country. This will add up to 2,160 m of linear quayside. There will be a sprawling 1.2 million sq. m container yard with a storage capacity of 110,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) and 2,100 reefer points.



Tanjung Pelepas port will be supported by mega large and efficient equipment. Among this are the 18 Super Post Panamax container gantry cranes with an outreach of 53 m, the biggest so far in the country. On the container yard, there will be 58 high-capacity rubber tyred gantry cranes which are six plus one container wide and one over five container high.

According to Mr.Wong, work on phase one of the port development started with enabling works involving the redirecting of a JPS drain and construction of a tidal gate. The first package of reclamation works commenced with removing unsuitable materials and reclaiming an estimated 14 million cubic metres of marine sand using two of the world's biggest dredgers (the

Pearl River and Amsterdam). The two-way, 12 km approach channel will be widened to 250 m with a turning basin of 600m wide, and deepened to 14 m to enable the world's biggest ships and tankers to navigate from the open ocean to the port within 45 minutes.

Wharf construction to build an open pile platform with combi wall started last year. At the time of writing, the wharf was about 30% completed. Construction of port operating facilities comprising the port gate, two office blocks, utilities and drainage facilities, workshops and warehouses and the container yard are currently in progress.



The first two berths are expected to be fully constructed by May this year. Another two will follow by November this year while the remaining two are expected to be completed by February 2000. Contractors are gearing to complete the port facilities by the end of this year, in time for the operation of the first two berths in January 2000.

PTP spruces up to woo new customers
Cargonews Asia - June 07, 2005



The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the young upstart in Johor that has now become the largest port in Malaysia, is gearing up its campaign to lure shipping lines away from rival Singapore.

“We are after every one of them,” PTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman told Cargonews Asia, although he would not confirm market talk of plans to attract new customers this year.

Around 90 percent of the port’s transshipment business is currently accounted for by Maersk-Sealand and Evergreen Marine, which the port managed to take away from Singapore in 2000 and 2002, Twelve other lines make calls at the port.

Malaysian Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy echoed Mohd Sidik’s comments recently at a ceremony to mark the delivery of Kalmar Industries’ satellite-guided crane handling system. “The port is interested in every line (calling at PSA).”

PSA’s Singapore port operations and PTP are close to the Straits of Malacca, the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

PTP, now five years old, last year handled a record 4.02 million TEUs, up 15.2 per cent from the previous year’s 3.49 million TEUs. Vessel calls also increased from 3,148 in 2003 to 3,193 in 2004. And in the first quarter of this year its throughput exceeded one million TEUs, indicating that the 2005 total could well reach five million TEUs. Like PSA, PTP has been riding on the crest of the China trade boom.

In its efforts to lure other lines, PTP is expanding facilities rapidly and employing sophisticated technology such as the Kalmar Smartrail.

“With Maersk-Sealand as its partner, PTP is setting high standards in port cargo handling,” a competing port operator conceded, describing the latest move to adopt the Kalmar satellite-guide crane guidance system for its RTG operations as apparently directed at many potential customers it has identified to convince them of the commitment to state-of-the-art port handling technology and efficiency. The port already boasts of over 33 gross crane moves per hour, and gross vessel moves averaging over 100 per cent hour.

“There is continued pressure by customers for ports to make breakthroughs in productivity,” PTP’d Mohd Sidik said. “Vessels sizes are getting larger, and yet turnaround time at ports is still same.”

With 24 super post-panamax quayside cranes – 14 with 18-box outreach and the rest 22-box outreach and twinlift spreader – 67 satellite-guided rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) and 2.88 km of linear berths, PTP has a capacity of handling up to six million TEUs which will increase when all the new berths it is planning are operational.

Under Phase II of its development plan the port will add eight more berths capable of handling ships of up to 12,000 TEUs, claimed the Transport Minister. “The Phase II development programme is progressing well with the first two berths completed in July last year,” he said.

Describing the installation of the Kalmar Smartrail System as “yet another piece of technological advancement,” for PTP, Mohd Sidik said it was the first satellite-guided crane system to be installed in an Asian port.

“PTP has always been a firm believer of investments in information technology to gain a competitive edge,” he said.

Since it began operations in 2000, PTP has invested in a wide range of pioneering container port technologies that Mohd Sidik said had helped it to emerge as a major player in transshipment in the region.

Hongkong-based Kalmar Industries (Asian operation) president Ken Loh said PTP was the “showroom for the Kalmar Smartrail system in Asia.”

“The implementation of this system at PTP is the first in Asia,” Loh said, adding that the Smartrail’s conceptual ability to employ satellite technology (Differential Global Positioning System) provides for improved automation and safety for container handling operations in the staging yard.

Some of the key improvements include increases in equipment travel time of up to 30 percent, enhancements of productivity of up to 25 percent, reduction of equipment collisions to zero, and substantial cost savings in future yard construction.

PTP’s growth has been at the expenses of Port Klang, situated midway on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia where growth still continues but at a slower pace. This is believed to be one of the reasons for the proposed merger between Northport and Westport, the two private terminal operators at Port Klang, to bring about greater synergy of resources in the face of regional competition.

Integrated Industrial Campus For Flextronics At PTP Free Zone
July 13, 2005 17:16 PM




JOHOR BAHARU, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) and electronics manufacturing service provider Flextronics, Wednesday signed an agreement which will see the port building and leasing an integrated industrial campus at its Pelepas Free Zone to the company.

PTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said construction of the facility, measuring 1.3 million feet, is expected to begin soon.

He added that the facility is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of next year and will be leased to Singapore-based Flextronics for a period of 10 years.

"Flextronics' investment marks another important milestone in the development of PTP and Johor's south-western corridor in entirety. We are confident that Flextronics' move will incite more investors to follow suit and take advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the Pelepas Free Zone," Mohd Sidik said to reporters after the signing ceremony with Flextronics president and managing director (Asia operations) Peter Tan at PTP, here Wednesday.

He said the agreement represented a big start for the fast-emerging PTP as the setting up of more industrial facilities at the Pelepas Free Zone is expected to attract more independent shipping lines to make calls at the port, transforming PTP into South East Asia's premier transhipment hub.

"We hope the Flextronics' venture will start a cluster of other industrial facilities at the port," Mohd Sidik said, adding that people in southern Johore would benefit from the venture in terms of jobs and other opportunities.

He said PTP is currently holding discussions with several parties which are interested to invest in the Pelepas Free Zone.

Meanwhile, Tan said the Flextronics facility in the Pelepas Free Zone, due to come onstream by the first quarter of next year, would bring together several of the company's current operations in the south, including in Senai, Tampoi and Malacca.

He said the new facility would employ between 12,000 and 13,000 workers, including more than 1,000 engineers.

"The campus will develop into a fully integrated state-of-the-art manufacturing centre, combining in a single location engineering, printed circuit board assembly, plastics injection moulding and logistics," Tan said. "Additionally, it will co-locate strategic suppliers on-site to reduce material procurement cost, transportation time and enhance time-to-market," he added.

Tan said Flextronics, which employed 18,000 workers in Malaysia, would be investing up to RM1 billion in the integrated facility or RM100 million every year during the lease period of 10 years.

He also commended the approach taken by PTP in building and leasing the integrated facility to Flextronics, describing it as "the prefect arrangement by the perfect partner" which will ensure further growth on both companies in the future.

Asked about the future of the Flextronics plant in the south after the integrated industrial campus is ready, Tan said the workers would be relocated and the company would decide later whether to close the plant.

Flextronics, which registered a revenue of US$15.9 billion (US$1.00=RM3.80) last year, help customers to design, build, ship and service electronics products through a network of facilities in over 30 countries in five continents.

-- BERNAMA

Port of Tanjung Pelepas site for Flextronics expansion
Updated : 15-07-2005
Media : Business Times
Story By : RAVI NAMBIAR



SINGAPORE-based Flextronics has selected the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor as the new site for its RM1 billion expansion programme.

The capital outlay over a 10-year period will see the company consolidate no less than six plants now operating from leased premises in Malacca and Johor at the Tanjung Pelepas Free Zone (TPFZ).

The new site, which will be built and leased to Flextronics by the PTP, will be the company¡¯s biggest in South-East Asia, with some 12,000 employees when it starts operations in April next year.

Spread over some 16ha and offering some 1.2 million sq ft of manufacturing space, the stand-alone building will also be the biggest in TPFZ.

PTP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman and Flextronics Asia president Peter Tan signed the agreement for the project at PTP yesterday.

Flextronics, a leading global electronics manufacturing services provider, recorded a turnover of US$16 billion (US$1 = RM3.80) last year, of which Malaysia accounted for 16 per cent, or US$6.9 billion (US$1 = RM3.80), of the its global revenue.

The deal with Flextronics is another feather in the cap for the PTP which is positioning itself as the leading manufacturing, supplies and procurement centre for multinational corporations in the region.

Since 2000 the PTP has also been opening up new sites within the TPFZ to promote entrepot trade and manufacturing industries involved in producing goods for export.

So far, seven warehouses and one factory have begun operations with more than RM100 million invested.

The players include German carmaker BMW, which has set up its Asian spare parts distribution centre in the PTP, Schenker Logistics from Germany, Maersk Logistics from Denmark, Geodis from France, Linfox Logistics from Australia and Naigai Nitto from Japan.

The deal with Flextronics is expected to see its suppliers located onsite to reduce material procurement costs, transportation time and

enhance delivery time to customers.

¡°We plan to double our existing investment of RM525 million in Malaysia over the next 10 years with our consolidation of operations in the PTP,¡± said Tan.

The new site, he added, would be a fully integrated state-of-the art manufacturing centre spread over 1.2 million sq ft of floor space.

Tan said it would be cost-effective for the company to also relocate some of its existing Singapore operations to the PTP although this would be dependent on customer requirements.

Mohd Sidik said Flextronics¡¯ move will spur more investors to follow suit and take advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the TPFZ.

Japanese firm to invest in PTP free trade zone
Updated : 01-08-2005
Media : Business Times
Story By : KANG SIEW LI





PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) will receive another boost in the next two weeks when it signs an agreement with a Japanese electronics company which will invest RM500 million in its free trade zone.

Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said the company would build a 1 million sq ft plant on a 12.09ha to 16.12ha site in the free trade zone. He, however, declined to disclose the name of the company.

The latest development follows last monthกฆs signing in Johor between PTP and Singapore-based contract manufacturing giant Flextronics International Ltd, which will see the port building and leasing a 1.2 million sq ft integrated industrial campus at its free trade zone to the company for a period of 10 years.

Mohd Sidik expects a substantial growth in cargo traffic through the port when the proposed industrial campus comes up in April next year.

กงThe company is expected to employ about 10,000 to 15,000 workers at its facility. It is also expected to bring in about 1,000 engineers. All of these will lead to increased activities at PTP, Mohd Sidik told Business Times.

กงAt the same time, we are also expecting the port to benefit from the spillover of demand filtering through Flextronics. For instance, we expect major suppliers of Flextronics to set up their operations around the industrial campus,กจ he said.

PTP has also been talking with car companies to move their operations to its free trade zone, but he declined to elaborate.

PTP is understood to have held talks with national carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd, when it was still led by Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff, to base its operations and distribution of Volkswagen cars in its free trade zone. But recent developments in Proton may have changed any decisions.

To date, companies operating out of PTPกฆs free trade zone include Schenker Logistics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, BMW AG, Maersk Logistics, Linfox Logistics and Kenwood Logistics.

Currently, free zone business accounts for less than 10 per cent of PTPกฆs total turnover, but the port hopes to increase that figure to 30 per cent. However, Mohd Sidik would not give a timeframe.

กงOver the last two years, we have been developing our free zone quite aggressively and we are beginning to see results. We expect to see a few more clients coming in this year,กจ he said. Today, 25 per cent of the 405ha free trade zone is occupied.

Already, PTP has seen an increase in its hinterland cargo. Local cargo, which accounted for 4.18 per cent of the portกฆs total container throughput last year, increased by 24.4 per cent to 96,389 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in the first half of this year, from 77,516 TEUs in the same period last year.

Mohd Sidik said while PTP remains on track to achieve a 5 per cent growth in total container throughput by the end of this year (from 4.02 million TEUs last year), higher oil prices would offset this increase and as a result, earnings would be flat.

He said the port consumes quite an amount on fuel each year for equipment such as cranes, trucks and cargo containers.

Nevertheless, Mohd Sidik said he is confident of PTP achieving profit for the financial year ending December 31 2005, but expects its net profit to remain even with last year.

He said the recent de-pegging of the ringgit has no impact on the port since all of its charges and borrowings are conducted in ringgit except when it comes to importing some equipment.

OSK Research Sdn Bhd manager Chris Eng said he still expects PTP to report a 10 per cent growth at the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) level this year compared with 2004, despite rising oil prices.

However, this forecast growth rate is lower than the 24 per cent Ebitda growth forecast for last year against 2003 as PTP already has a higher operating base.

กงWe also expect PTP to contribute 33 per cent of the total turnover of parent MMC Corp Bhd this year and 62 per cent of the groupกฆs operating profits compared with 58 per cent last year. In addition, we expect PTP to record a 7 per cent growth in total container throughput this year against 2004, said Eng.

PTP goes from strength to strength
Cargonews Asia - October 03, 2005


Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas has undergone one of the fastest container volume increases in the world outside China, but higher oil prices may see earnings remaining flat this year.

With accolades pouring in from various quarters the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the port’s ambition of becoming Southeast Asia’s “sole hub” looks within reach.

“We cater towards the large hinterland market of Malaysia with rail and road connections: and being strategically located, we are also an attractive transshipment hub of regional connections,” explains Brian Paul who looks after PTP’s business development. Other factors include our ability to expand, being situated in a greenfield site and growth potential.”

Shipping experts agree that PTP has gone from strength to strength. Having begun operations in 2000, PTP has succeeded in getting Maersk Sealand and Evergreen Marine Corp. to shift their hub from nearby Singapore port to PTP within the first two years.

“One of the factors that went in PTP’s favour was its much lower cost of operations and its strategic location within easy reach of Malaysia’s hinterland, Singapore and Indonesia,” said Helmut Ischinger, a German shipping analysts, based near Hamburg, who monitors the Asian shipping sector.

An estimated US$600 million was initially investing the port, earmarked mainly fort the construction of a six-berth terminal with a 110,000 TEU container yard, ancillary facilities, 24 quay and rubber-tyred gantry cranes and a full complement of prime facilities and trailers. “The strategic location of the port amid the world’s busiest confluence of international shipping lanes and a vision and drive to establish PTP as a premier hub in the region were key drivers towards its success,” said Paul.

There are not many ports in the region that can efficiently handle 8,000 TEU+ vessels; PTP was designed to cater to these ships. A strong advantage, as many experts said, is that PTP offers space to grow. “Being a greenfield port, we offer our customers a promise of continuos growth opportunities. The completion of reclamation works for additional berths in the phase two plan offers flexibility where physical construction of these berths can be completed within 12 months,” Paul maintained.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas to change strategy
Updated : 26-10-2005
Media : Business Times
Story By : RUPA DAMODARAN



PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), which has already made a name for itself, needs to play a different game now by focusing more on niche and high-value customers, said newly-appointed chief executive officer Harun Johari.

'We need to grow — whether double digit or double the size, is something we have to reassess against the market,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after a news conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday announcing Atlanta-based CIBA Vision Corp's RM500 million investment in a contact lens production facility in Tanjung Pelepas Free Trade Zone.

“But PTP is in for exciting times in terms of opportunities but it means thinking differently outside the box, targeting customers and having a position long term.”

Harun said it was important to maximise opportunities for the port as high-value customers would be good for the country in terms of technology transfer, supporting industries and universities.

PTP, he said, is only a third utilised and still have the capacity to grow.

'We need to move away from commodities and ensure that we are not for low value (dumping) while the high value customers go to Singapore.”

Although this year has been a bit tight, he said, the port has won two other major tenants apart from CIBA Vision.

They are Singapore-based contract manufacturing giant Flextronics International Ltd for its RM1 billion expansion programme and Japan's JST Manufacturing Co, which will develop a one million sq ft integrated facility at a total cost of US$200 million (US$1 = RM3.77).

Harun, who joined the company three weeks ago, is stepping up the pressure on his marketing team to be more proactive.

The transshipment market, he said, has been competitive.

Dawn of new growth phase
Updated : 26-10-2005
Media : Business Times
Story By : RUPA DAMODARAN



IS 2006 going to be a better year for your company, the economy and you personally?

I expect 2006 to be an excellent year for PTP. Our growth from 2000 to 2004 has been astounding; no other port that has grown from zero to four million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) within four years.

Over the last 10 months, we have focused on further improving productivity, enhancing turnaround time and increasing value-added services.

The shipping market is going through significant changes with new vessel deliveries and we should see the larger 9,000-TEU-vessel class being put into operations next year.

The market is also in a busy period of consolidation through acquisitions.

From a South-East Asian terminal viewpoint, the larger vessels and the consolidation will mean greater opportunities for a newly designed port such as PTP.

Today, the liners see PTP as being able to provide easy access to capacity and with much better turnaround time.

Next year will also see PTP growing the terminal business further, with new product offerings and leveraging on the development of our Free Zone.

In terms of growth, Malaysia needs to move away from the traditional model and look for new economic drivers.

PTP and south-west Johor promise to offer this new driver as the area has been marked as an industrial, maritime and logistics centre.

It is thus becoming an attractive investment centre to drive Malaysia into the future.

Personally, 2006 would be an exciting year working with the PTP team to further develop the business and contribute to the industry, community and the nation.

What would be top on your list of priorities for the coming year?

The priority for PTP is to continue to grow as the premier port in the region.

As vessel sizes increase, PTP is well positioned to be the market leader for service delivery such as rapid turnaround time and best in class moves per hour with high berth capacity.

This will provide liners the overall operational efficiency, leading to significant cost savings in terms of vessel operations.

The liners are also aware that PTP has the flexibility to expand and fully meet their future needs.

People are core to the sustainable success of the business and this is the other area we shall focus on.

We will enhance the PTP teamwork further and align everyone to deliver the satisfaction expected by our customers.

Cost management and operational efficiency are also important so that PTP would be able to deliver all the services requested by customers while delivering the expected return on investment to shareholders.

Are you going to invest more in 2006?

We would expand the terminal capacity by another two million TEUs with the completion of berths 9 and 10 in the third quarter of 2006 and the delivery of eight new container quay cranes in 2006.

In parallel, the Free Zone would be further developed with the construction of new plants and warehouses.

Please share some of your plans in relation to energy conservation, which has emerged as a major theme.

There is a need to use energy efficiently and move away from traditional forms of non-renewable energy.

For the latter, there is a need to develop and support alternate fuel sources like natural gas or renewables such as ethanol, biodiesel and hydrogen.

For biodiesel, Malaysia is well positioned with a plentiful source of palm oil as a viable alternative.

We also have plenty of sunshine as a source of solar energy to produce electricity or hot water.

PTP is a large consumer of energy from electricity and diesel, especially in the terminal operations. We have taken steps to reduce energy consumption with the use of more efficient cranes fitted with energy-harmonic filters and training of the crane operators.

On a wider scale, we are evaluating the use of natural gas for air-conditioning and power supply.

Finally, a mindset change is critical for success and we are developing strategies to change the behaviour of our staff with the help of two certified energy managers, who are part of our team.

Corridor boon to Port of Tanjung Pelepas
March 6 2006


A CENTRE-PIECE in the proposed creation of the South-West Johor Development Authority is the designation of a logistics/maritime corridor that will leverage on the world-class Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP).

The corridor will cover the area around PTP that would be developed to support various maritime industries over the next five years, in line with efforts taken for the integrated development of southern Johor project.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said recently that the port and its surrounding areas have been identified as the core area and a key driver in the implementation of the project covering the International Petrochemical Centre, Maritime Industrial Centre and Regional Bunker Supply Centre.

"Various developments would be carried out in the area and PTP itself would continue to be developed as a transhipment hub and a logistics and manufacturing industrial centre through its free zone areas," he said.

PTP is expected to n a major beneficiary of the move to create the new development covering the south-western part of Johor, especially in boosting its prospects to emerge as a regional logistics hub.

PTP, which has abundant land bank, was accorded Free Zone status in March 1998 and has been attracting a steady stream of regional distribution companies setting up international procurement centres.

The Government also appointed PTP as a Free Zone Authority (FZA) on June 16, 1999, to administer both the Commercial Free Zone and the Industrial Free Zone.

Pelepas Free Zone is located adjacent to the port and terminal and covers an area of about 405ha This is segmented into different zones depending on the type of activities carried out.

Of this, about 162ha has been designated as Free Commercial Zone reserved for distribution, logistics, and warehousing activities ideal for consolidation, international procurement centres, regional distribution centres, and distribution services. - PortsWorld

Flextronics

http://freezone.ptp.com.my/freezone/images/advertisements/adbig_flextronics.jpg

http://freezone.ptp.com.my/freezone/images/advertisements/International-10-reason-1.jpg

PTP gets world's largest quay cranes
By Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi
May 23 2006
BusinessTimes

http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BT/Tuesday/Corporate/BT568201.txt/Article/Current_News/BT/Images/dailyn1/shawa.jpg


The three Super Post Panamax quay cranes, costing RM82 million, were
manufactured by a Malaysia-Argentina crane fabrication company IMPSA
(Malaysia)

PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) is the first port in Asia to have the world's largest quay cranes to unload containers from commercial vessels.

The gigantic 89m tall structure, which is equivalent to a 26-storey building and the weight of 500 elephants, was successfully installed over the weekend.

The three Super Post Panamax quay cranes, costing RM82 million, were designed and manufactured by a Malaysia-Argentina joint-venture crane fabrication company IMPSA (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Lumut.

Executive director Shawaludin Md Din said the installation was done in two phases.

The first phase was setting up the legs of the cranes, which were about 55m high (completed on April 26), while the second phase was lifting the head of the crane and attaching it to the legs.

He said these cranes are of the latest generation and are designed to serve very large vessels.

"These cranes are able to unload two 40-foot containers at once, cutting down unloading time by almost half," he said when met at the installation ceremony in Johor.

The high precision operation was made possible with a full tide to allow the floating skylift crane to lift the upper structure of the quay cranes and position it on the legs. Some 60 workers manned the four-hour operation.

Shawaludin said the crane will boost the efficiency of the port and allow it to be one of the most technologically advanced in the region.

He said so far there were only three ports in the world to have installed quay cranes of this size - two in US and another in Rotterdam.

"We will be installing five more quay cranes at PTP next March," he said.

He said IMPSA will be penetrating the European market by supplying three units of ship-to-shore cranes to the APM Terminal at Port of Algeciras in Spain next year.

Established in 1996, IMPSA has built more than 100 cranes in Malaysia for the local and export markets for the past 15 years.

PTP to attract larger vessels with high productivity cranes
By Gan Yen Kuan, 22 May 2006 3:39 PM
THEEDGEDAILY


The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) expects more new and larger container vessels of up to 12,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to call at the port when three of its super post panamax cranes being installed at Berth 8 commence operations on June 24.

The new cranes costing RM82 million would enable the port to improve vessel turnaround and increase the port’s capacity, PTP deputy chief executive officer Ismail Hashim said.
The cranes manufactured by IMPSA (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, are the country's first and one of the world’s largest cranes. The new cranes weighs at 1,800 tonnes each and can handle ships with 22 rows of containers across.

Each of the new cranes would be able to lift two forty-foot containers at the same time thus increasing the port’s handling capacity to six million from five million TEUs last year.





http://www.theedgedaily.com/cms/storage/images/com.tms.cms.image.Image_5b08093f-cb73c03a-dc024a00-bec389dd/1/PTP_craneloading_inside.jpg






“PTP unloaded 400,000 TEUs from 280 vessel calls in April, an average of 1,400 TEUs per vessel; we do about 32 moves (unloading a container from ship to shore and vice versa) per crane per hour,” he told reporters in Johor Bahru over the weekend (20-21 May).

PTP is the first port in Malaysia to operate such a technologically advanced crane.

Ismail said the port had also ordered five similar cranes from IMPSA Malaysia for Berth 9 and Berth 10.

“We will receive the cranes by year-end, and they will start operations by the first quarter of 2007,” he said.

IMPSA Malaysia, a subsidiary of Argentina-based conglomerate IMPSA, is the only ship-to-shore crane (STS) and rubber tyred gantry crane (RTG) manufacturer in Malaysia. It has built more than 100 cranes in Malaysia for the local and export market over the last 15 years.

Its operations director Sergio Evan Ciner said the new crane would be able to cater to the soon-to-come largest vessel in the world of more than 12,000 TEUs.

To date, IMPSA Malaysia has supplied 17 STS cranes and 15 RTG cranes to PTP.

June 02, 2006 18:59 PM

PTP Gets 'Highest Berth Productivity For 2005' Award

JOHOR BAHARU, June 2 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has received the "Highest Berth Productivity for 2005" award from APM Terminals.

"The award, which was presented in Shanghai recently, follows our overall average berth productivity of 104.20 moves per hour in 2005, which was the highest among all 37 APM Terminals ports and affiliated ports worldwide," PTP said in a statement here Friday.

APM Terminals port network spans five continents.

"The award reflects the dedication and hard work that PTP's skilled personnel put to ensure efficient and reliable services for shipping lines calling at the transhipment hub," it said.

PTP said it was also recognised as the "Best Terminal for 2005" by Maersk Line, the world's biggest shipping line after its merger with P&O Nedlloyd.

"This award is given to the port with the highest level of productivity and efficiency produced for Maersk Line vessels worldwide.

"The award follows PTP's achievement of being named Asia's Container Terminal of the Year in 2004. This further strengthens PTP's standing as a high productivity and efficient port," it said.

The statement said although operations at the port only began in 2000, PTP has constantly shown high service levels for all lines.

"In 2004, PTP even set a world record of an average 340 moves per hour when about 4,000 boxes were shifted within 13 hours on the Maersk line vessel, the AP Moller.

"Today, PTP is one of the fastest-growing ports in the world and is fast gaining status as a premier transhipment hub by handling 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in a year after only five years in operation," it said.

-- BERNAMA

PTP Gets 'Highest Berth Productivity For 2005' Award
June 02, 2006 18:59 PM Printable version of this news

JOHOR BAHARU, June 2 (Bernama) -- The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has received the "Highest Berth Productivity for 2005" award from APM Terminals.

"The award, which was presented in Shanghai recently, follows our overall average berth productivity of 104.20 moves per hour in 2005, which was the highest among all 37 APM Terminals ports and affiliated ports worldwide," PTP said in a statement here Friday.

APM Terminals port network spans five continents.

"The award reflects the dedication and hard work that PTP's skilled personnel put to ensure efficient and reliable services for shipping lines calling at the transhipment hub," it said.

PTP said it was also recognised as the "Best Terminal for 2005" by Maersk Line, the world's biggest shipping line after its merger with P&O Nedlloyd.

"This award is given to the port with the highest level of productivity and efficiency produced for Maersk Line vessels worldwide.

"The award follows PTP's achievement of being named Asia's Container Terminal of the Year in 2004. This further strengthens PTP's standing as a high productivity and efficient port," it said.

The statement said although operations at the port only began in 2000, PTP has constantly shown high service levels for all lines.

"In 2004, PTP even set a world record of an average 340 moves per hour when about 4,000 boxes were shifted within 13 hours on the Maersk line vessel, the AP Moller.

"Today, PTP is one of the fastest-growing ports in the world and is fast gaining status as a premier transhipment hub by handling 4 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in a year after only five years in operation," it said.

-- BERNAMA

PTP to further develop free zone land

June 7 2006

PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) is looking to further develop the land in its Pelepas Free Zone (PFZ) as its current land supply available for development is fast running out.

The zone covers about 405ha, of which some 30 per cent has been fully developed.

“(Operating for some four years now,) the free zone has successfully attracted many big companies (such as Flextronics, JST and CIBA Vision) to build manufacturing facilities here and has reached the point where we will face a shortage of developed land next year,” PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman said at the Fourth Asean Ports and Shipping 2006 conference.

He was presenting a paper entitled, “What are the critical success factors in the development of a port and hinterland as a transhipment hub?” Mohd Sidik, in his presentation, listed six factors that a port should consider in developing itself into a successful transhipment hub.

“Geography is a significant factor. For example, the geography of ports in Pasir Gudang, Penang, Australia and New Zealand makes it unsuitable for them to become transhipment hub for the region because they are located far away from the key global shipping choke points.

“Another factor is a transhipment port must provide first-class infrastructure.

That ’s because if you want to attract international business and players to your port, you must provide that something extra, including deep draft berths and adequate equipment,” he said.

Competitive pricing also comes to play. “If you are a late player (in the port industry), there would already be existing players who are entrenched in the market. Thus, for you to attract new businesses, you would have to provide competitive pricing —tariffs that have to be significantly lower than the major players for customers to look at you seriously,” he added.

Other factors include creating a business friendly environment that exercise flexibility and seamless management, and attracting global players as tenants or partners in the port.

He cited PTP as an example, which is 30 per cent owned by Maersk Sealand. As such, if a port were to get a shipping line to become its partner, it is important that it keeps the shipping line away from the management of the port.

The sixth critical factor that a transhipment port should consider is the importance of offering a conducive operating environment. —By Kang Siew Li

Port of Tanjung Pelepas targets double-digit revenue growth
By Sharen Kaur
August 7 2006
BusinessTimes


PORT of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) expects to see a double-digit growth in revenue this year, contributed by the completion of two new berths and the implementation of the multi-billion ringgit South Johor Economic Region (SJER), said sources.

A source said PTP is mulling possibilities to add more berths and to further develop the land in its Pelepas Free Zone, which covers about 405ha, over the next several years to support its growth.

Of this, about 162ha has been designated as Free Commercial Zone reserved for distribution, logistics, and warehousing activities ideal for consolidation, international procurement centres, regional distribution centres, and distribution services.

Currently, only 30 per cent of the land is developed and houses big firms such as Flextronics Int Ltd (Singapore), JST Manufacturing Co (Japan), CIBA Vision Corp (Atlanta), and German luxury carmaker BMW.

Business Times was told that PTP is already in talks with several other companies that have expressed interest to set up their manufacturing facilities in the area.

"The idea to have an independent authority in Johor that would reduce red tape bureaucracy for approval and permits and it would be easy for people wanting to set up companies or do businesses here. This will benefit PTP in the long run," said the source.

The source said the RM15 billion Southern Johor Corridor will open many more opportunities for PTP, which is also looking for other businesses.

The corridor will cover the area around PTP and its surrounding areas that have been identified as the core area and a key driver in the implementation of the project covering the International Petrochemical Centre, Maritime Industrial Centre and Regional Bunker Supply Centre, which would be developed to support various maritime industries over the next five years.

PTP, one of the busiest container ports in the world, is expected to be a major beneficiary of the move to create the new development, especially in boosting its prospects to emerge as a regional logistics hub.

"PTP aims to benefit under the Ninth Malaysian Plan as the Southern Johor Corridor will boost the port's interland bringing more logistics-related business into the area," the source noted.

Meanwhile, with 10 berths currently in operations, PTP aims to increase its capacity to handle 8 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) per year. Its two new berths (Berths 9 and 10) have the capacity to handle vessels of up to 250,000 tonnes and offer drafts of 19m alongside.

PTP, which is 70 per cent owned by MMC Corp Bhd and 30 per cent by Maersk Sealand, handled 1.82 million TEUs for the first five months of the year. It handled 4.2 million TEUs for the whole of 2005.

PTP expected to win deal to manage planned seaport
By Francis Fernandez
November 7 2006


The deal would enable the Port of Tanjung Pelepas to enter the lucrative global port operation and management business

THE Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), South-East Asia's fastest-growing container port, aims to take a stake in managing a planned seaport in Saudi Arabia's Jizan Economic City.

PTP is owned by Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, which is 70 per cent owned by MMC Corp Bhd, while the balance 30 per cent is owned by Maersk Sealand, the world's biggest shipping company.

MMC, the flagship company of Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, said on Sunday that it and its joint-venture partner, the Saudi Binladin Group, had received a US$30 billion (RM109.5 billion) project to develop and manage the new city in the kingdom.

Business Times was told that PTP would most likely get the port operation and management contract, thus enabling it to enter the lucrative port operation and management business.

Currently, the global port operation and management business is dominated by Singapore's PSA Corp and Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampao Ltd.

PSA is a state-owned entity, while Hutchison, which has a 30 per cent stake in the Port Klang- based Westports, is controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing.

PTP was built in 1999, by a private vehicle controlled by Syed Mokhtar, to position Johor as a transhipment hub and reduce container leakages from Peninsular Malaysia to Singapore.

Early this month, Business Times reported PTP's chief executive officer Harun Johari as saying that the port was prepared to sell a stake to an overseas investor.

This led to speculation that PSA, Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp and a group of Arab businessmen might acquire a stake in the port.

PTP, which competes with Singapore for South-East Asia's sea freight, expects to handle 20 per cent more containers this year as global trade expands.

PTP expects a record throughput of five million twenty-foot equivalent units this year, from 4.18 million last year.

The Johor-based port was reported as having handled about 3.06 million containers in the January-August period.

Tg Pelepas port bags Lloyd's container terminal award
November 7 2006
BusinessTimes

Port of Tanjung Pelepas was picked for the highest recorded productivity among global ports


THE Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has edged out other Asian ports to grab Lloyd's List Maritime Asia Container Terminal Of The Year Award.

It was chosen for the highest recorded productivity among global ports at the recent Maritime Asia Awards ceremony organised by Lloyd's List in Kuala Lumpur.

Other criteria were the cost of service, value for money, average speed to berthing, on-site facilities, overall efficiency and frequency of liner calls.

PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman received the award on behalf of the port.

In a statement released in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, PTP chief executive officer Harun Johari said the award was most appropriate and came at the right time.

"It is significant as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, at the recent launch of Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandar in Johor, had singled out PTP as one of the key drivers for the new regional growth area, making it the seaport and international gateway for the region.

"PTP is today one of the fastest- growing ports in the world, and is already acknowledged by the world's major shipping lines as a premier world-class transhipment hub.

"We will continue to work hard and build on our success to increase productivity and provide the best value-for-money services to meet customers' expectations," he said.

Harun said that with most ports in Asia and the world constantly facing congestion and capacity constraints as well as the introduction of bigger vessels with deeper draft requirements, PTP was poised to be one of the very few select ports in the world with the capacity to readily cater for container traffic growth over the next 15 years.

"PTP, with its state-of-the-art facilities and draft of 19 metres, can accommodate the largest container vessels currently in the world today.

"In 2005, it handled 4.2 million twenty-foot equivalent units after only five years of operations, representing a remarkable tenfold increase in growth over such a short period of time," he said.

PTP has also been awarded the Best Emerging Container Terminal in 2000 and 2001, Asia's Container Terminal of The Year in 2004 and Best Productivity and Best Terminal in 2005. - Bernama