Port Klang facility to build deep berth for mega-size box ships
Northport, one of Port Klang's two terminal operators, is to spend US$142.8 million on its next phase of port expansion this year with a major portion of the funding going towards the building of a 350m berth to handle larger vessels and increasing traffic. The additional berth will extend the total quayline to 3.35km, which will be supported by new generation super-post panamax gantry cranes and ancillary equipment.
In 2007, the port will also enhance IT capability by bringing in a broader range of application and networking systems, a port spokesman said.
Northport managing director and chief executive officer Basheer Hassan Abdul Kader said the port must cater to the needs of the new generation mega ships following changing global shipping trends.
"If Malaysian ports are to remain relevant in the dynamic and competitive international port system, we must continue to meet the needs of these deep-draft mega-size ships, including longer berths, more equipment and deeper access channels,'' he said.
Basheer said the government's decision to dredge the north access channel at Port Klang would provide easier access to bigger vessels that require deeper draft. Under the dredging package awarded by Port Klang Authority, the approach channel will be dredged up to 13 metres from the present 11.3 metres. With a tidal range of one to five metres, the depth is sufficient for large vessels.
Several lines have already started deploying vessels of more than 7,400 TEUs at Northport and more are expected to do so in 2007 and beyond, said Basheer.
The port operating company, in addition to the 13 container berths at Port Klang, owns and operates 15 other dedicated berths for handling breakbulk, dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo.
The expansion plan overlaps the on-going development that includes the arrival soon of three super-post panamax shoreside cranes to complement the existing 24 gantry cranes. In addition to this the port will also take delivery of a range of other cranes and equipment, including 12 straddle carriers, 12 rubber-tyred gantry cranes and three high-reach stackers for empties and forklifts.
The addition of 10 more RTGs will raise the number to more than 40 and will mark an important shift in Northport's efforts to optimise terminal efficiency through high density operations.
In 2006, the port recorded 7.5 million FWT of non-containerised cargo for the period from January to November while container throughput was 2.5 million TEUs.
Noting that growth in port throughput was driven by expansion of trade and the economy, a Northport spokesman said: "Given the economic fundamentals, the growth of the Malaysian economy is expected to be good and we should derive our growth from this expansion.''
Transhipment was set to be the driver of growth but this was likely to be influenced by shipping trends, he said.
"We will have to monitor changes in the shipping trends, notably the impact on realignment of shipping consortia/groupings mergers and acquisitions that could influence services strings/frequency.''
On the challenges Northport and other regional ports are likely to face in the new year, the spokesman said Malaysian ports must come to terms with new developments, such as changes in shipping trends likely to impact on ports with the emergence of bigger ships, among other things.
"Ports, especially those pitching for gateway role and as regional hub ports, must look beyond the numbers game,'' he said. "It is not about the number of containers, or for that matter the volume of cargo that you handle. It is about what value you can get and what value you can give out.''
The linkage of multiplier effects on the economy is significant.
"You must focus on the quality of earnings,'' the spokesman said. This could be achieved by seeking to move up the value chain rather than merely serving as storage depot, provider waterfront activities, or just serve as an interface.
"Ports are more than just interface in the present environment when we are faced with the changing key functionalities of transportation,'' the spokesman said.
In 2007, the port will also enhance IT capability by bringing in a broader range of application and networking systems, a port spokesman said.
Northport managing director and chief executive officer Basheer Hassan Abdul Kader said the port must cater to the needs of the new generation mega ships following changing global shipping trends.
"If Malaysian ports are to remain relevant in the dynamic and competitive international port system, we must continue to meet the needs of these deep-draft mega-size ships, including longer berths, more equipment and deeper access channels,'' he said.
Basheer said the government's decision to dredge the north access channel at Port Klang would provide easier access to bigger vessels that require deeper draft. Under the dredging package awarded by Port Klang Authority, the approach channel will be dredged up to 13 metres from the present 11.3 metres. With a tidal range of one to five metres, the depth is sufficient for large vessels.
Several lines have already started deploying vessels of more than 7,400 TEUs at Northport and more are expected to do so in 2007 and beyond, said Basheer.
The port operating company, in addition to the 13 container berths at Port Klang, owns and operates 15 other dedicated berths for handling breakbulk, dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo.
The expansion plan overlaps the on-going development that includes the arrival soon of three super-post panamax shoreside cranes to complement the existing 24 gantry cranes. In addition to this the port will also take delivery of a range of other cranes and equipment, including 12 straddle carriers, 12 rubber-tyred gantry cranes and three high-reach stackers for empties and forklifts.
The addition of 10 more RTGs will raise the number to more than 40 and will mark an important shift in Northport's efforts to optimise terminal efficiency through high density operations.
In 2006, the port recorded 7.5 million FWT of non-containerised cargo for the period from January to November while container throughput was 2.5 million TEUs.
Noting that growth in port throughput was driven by expansion of trade and the economy, a Northport spokesman said: "Given the economic fundamentals, the growth of the Malaysian economy is expected to be good and we should derive our growth from this expansion.''
Transhipment was set to be the driver of growth but this was likely to be influenced by shipping trends, he said.
"We will have to monitor changes in the shipping trends, notably the impact on realignment of shipping consortia/groupings mergers and acquisitions that could influence services strings/frequency.''
On the challenges Northport and other regional ports are likely to face in the new year, the spokesman said Malaysian ports must come to terms with new developments, such as changes in shipping trends likely to impact on ports with the emergence of bigger ships, among other things.
"Ports, especially those pitching for gateway role and as regional hub ports, must look beyond the numbers game,'' he said. "It is not about the number of containers, or for that matter the volume of cargo that you handle. It is about what value you can get and what value you can give out.''
The linkage of multiplier effects on the economy is significant.
"You must focus on the quality of earnings,'' the spokesman said. This could be achieved by seeking to move up the value chain rather than merely serving as storage depot, provider waterfront activities, or just serve as an interface.
"Ports are more than just interface in the present environment when we are faced with the changing key functionalities of transportation,'' the spokesman said.