Malaysia’s PTP expansion raises capacity 25%, enables calls from ULCVs

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PTPPort of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia’s busiest port, is planning to increase its annual box handling capacity by another 25 percent over the next few years as it projects volume increases and prepares for the arrival of ultra-large container vessels (ULCVs).

The port recently concluded the second phase of its expansion that has already boosted its yearly capacity by 25 percent to 10.5 million twenty-foot-equivalent units, but is still looking to raise it further by 12.5 million TEUs in three to five years’ time, according to a report by Bernama, Malaysia’s national news agency.

The facility finished building Berth 13 and Berth 14 in May this year, adding 720 meters of quay length and bringing the port’s total quay length to over 5 kilometers.

In addition to the two new berths, the expansion project costing MYR1.4 billion (US$437 million) also put up three blocks of container yards, installed new quay cranes, and set up the electrification of existing rubber-tired gantries.

The improvements will enable Maersk Line’s giant Triple-E vessels to start calling at PTP starting this year, said the report. Besides Maersk, other global box liners calling at the Malaysian transshipment hub include CMA CGM and Evergreen.

Tanjung Pelepas reported a volume growth of 6.4 percent in the first six months of the year, and projects tonnage to get a boost in the second half with the operations of the two berths. The enhancements are seen to raise productivity through increased vessel turnaround, which in turn will attract new business opportunities.

PTP added that it processed 7.6 million TEUs in 2013 and forecasts throughput to reach 8.6 million TEUs this year.