Congestion charges lifted at Kota Kinabalu port (Malasia)
Malasian container shipping lines have cancelled a congestion surcharge at the Port of Kota Kinabalu following recent improvements to productivity in ship and cargo handling by Sabah Port.
The decision to lift the MYR150 per TEU (US$43) and MYR300 per FEU surcharges that have been in place since 2003 was welcomed by port users including the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers, reports The Business Times.
"We are pleased with the development. Since privatisation, Sabah Port has been doing a good job in taking positive measures to enhance productivity levels at the port," said the president of the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers, Datuk Wong Ken Tau, adding that container moves have increased from eight moves an hour to the present 18 moves.
The improvements follow the installation of two mobile harbour cranes to discharge boxes directly to shuttle carriers in a bid to speed up the cargo handling process, prevent delays and raise the port's competitiveness.
The capacity expansion and improved efficiency come as Sabah Port prepares to handle increasing volumes of container traffic. The state is expected to commission soon the new MYR400 million Sepangar Bay Container Terminal, which is designed to accommodate larger vessels and deliver faster turnaround times as the facility will be equipped with ship-to-shore gantry cranes, the report said.
In 2006, Sabah Port handled a total of 240,000 TEU, most of which passed through the Port of Kota Kinabalu, with terminals in Tawau and Sandakan accounting for about 50,000 TEU.
The decision to lift the MYR150 per TEU (US$43) and MYR300 per FEU surcharges that have been in place since 2003 was welcomed by port users including the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers, reports The Business Times.
"We are pleased with the development. Since privatisation, Sabah Port has been doing a good job in taking positive measures to enhance productivity levels at the port," said the president of the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers, Datuk Wong Ken Tau, adding that container moves have increased from eight moves an hour to the present 18 moves.
The improvements follow the installation of two mobile harbour cranes to discharge boxes directly to shuttle carriers in a bid to speed up the cargo handling process, prevent delays and raise the port's competitiveness.
The capacity expansion and improved efficiency come as Sabah Port prepares to handle increasing volumes of container traffic. The state is expected to commission soon the new MYR400 million Sepangar Bay Container Terminal, which is designed to accommodate larger vessels and deliver faster turnaround times as the facility will be equipped with ship-to-shore gantry cranes, the report said.
In 2006, Sabah Port handled a total of 240,000 TEU, most of which passed through the Port of Kota Kinabalu, with terminals in Tawau and Sandakan accounting for about 50,000 TEU.