New PKA Chairman

Y.Bhg. Dato' Lee Hwa Beng, a trained accountant who is also former three-term Subang Jaya assemblyman has been appointed as the new chairman of Port Klang Authority effective from 1^st April 2008 by the King, Yang Di Pertuan Agong.

The previous chairman, Y.B. Datuk Chor Chee Heung, has been re-elected into the Cabinet as the new Deputy Home Minister, thus leaving his post as the PKA Chairman on 31^st  March 2008.

Y.Bhg. Dato’ Lee is also a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), Associate Member of ICSA (UK), Fellow Member of Malaysia Institute of Taxation and Chartered Accountant, Malaysian Institute of Accountants (1977).

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  Westports To Invest RM 800m On 3-Year Expansion

Westports will spend RM800 million over the nest three years to expand its facilities. Of the RM800 million, RM460 million will be allocated for the first phase of the expansion plan which is scheduled for completion by June next year. The expansion plan includes a 600-metre expansion of its wharf scheduled to be completed by March and the remaining half in June next year. Westports currently has nine berths with a total length of 2.600 metres.

The terminal has ordered four super post-panamax quay cranes (twin lift), two of which have been delivered and are being installed. The other two are scheduled to arrive in March 2008.Westports now has 24 super post-panamax including four twin-lift cranes. Thirty-three rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) have also been ordered for deployment in the container yard which will be expanded by 60 acres.  Ultimately, 48 prime movers, 51 trailers and six stackers will also be ordered for operations at the yard. Westports now has 220 acres of container yard space equipped with 69 RTGs.By June 2008, Westports will have an annual handling capacity of 7.2 million TEU.

Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said the company will fund the expansion through internally generated fund, five-year deferred payments to contractors and bank borrowings. He explained that the expansion was based on the 48% growth in container traffic for the last two years. In the fist six months of this year, container throughput at Westports totalled 2.1 million TEU, a 20% increase compare with the corresponding period of 2006.The port expects to handle 4.3 million TEU for this year compared with3.7 million TEU 2006.As at June 2007, Westports commanded a 63 per cent share of the container market in Port Klang.Last year, Westport posted a revenue of RM738 million, of which RM571 million came from its container operations.

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  Vessel Traffic Management System Upgraded

Port Klang Authority has upgraded its Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) to provide greater safety for navigation and port security.

The VTMS was first installed in 1997 at the same time when the National Security Divison of the Prime Minister’s Department installed radar coverage in the Straits of Malacca.

The old system monitored navigation at the approaches to the port and also served as a traffic information and advisory centre for ship master, pilots and the shipping community.

Marine Operations Manager Capt. K. Subramaniam said, “The upgraded VTMS removes some problems encountered with the old one, a major concern of which was the non-detection of certain sizes of targets in blind areas. The current vessel tracking system also provides  reliable and accurate information of vessels in the harbour.”

Capt. Subramaniam also said the new system now needs only one radar unlike previously when two were needed. The upgraded VTMS is also reliable for 24-hour operations.

“The upgraded VTMS can also identify vessels using the Authority Identification System. Since AIS is mandatory for all vessels of 300grt and above, almost all commercial vessels can be identified automatically as they are fitted with transponders,” he added.

The VTMS is also incorporated with the Malaysia Sea Surveillance System (MSSS) which is now managed and operated by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

The system now share resources with MSSS and together utilize three radars at Pulau Angsa, One Fathom Bank and Jugra. These radars provide detailed information on ships passing through the one fathom bank. Such a capability ensures early advance notice of ship arrivals and detection of unauthorized entry and intrusion by vessels.

PKA’s radar which covers the whole port area has a range of up to 35 miles.

The upgraded system can also make recording of information from radar and radio communications which could be useful for investigation purpose. The system has a unique capability in being able to run audio and video recordings simultaneously.

Capt. Subramaniamsaid that in line with PKS’s plans to make VTMS information available to the public, the system is being tested to web access where real-time information can be obtained at locations away from the control centre.

The VTMS control centre, which is located in Westports, is manned bt four master mariners and eight operators around-the-clock.

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  RM100m Expansion For Southpoint

Northport Malaysia has allocated about RM100 million to expand facilities to enhance conventional cargo-handling operations at Southpoint.

Enhancement of wharf facilities will involve increasing the width of Berths 3, 4 and 5, from the existing 15.2 metres to 47 metres. The three berths have a total length of 430 metre. New fenders will also be installed to enable the berths to receive vessels of up to 80,000 tonnes displacement.

Draft alongside the berths will be increased to 11.5 metres while the Labuan Gurap channel will be deepened to enable calls by bigger general cargo vessels. The turning basin will also be dredged to facilitate safe navigation for vessels of up to 200 metres.

The expansion bas been approved by Port Klang Authority which has also offered 22 acres of land for development into a multi—purpose yard for value-adding and storage activities.

General Manager (Conventional Cargo) Ghazali Hassan said, “Southpoint is positioning itself as a regional hub for the non-container trade. The expansion will be a major boost towards this end.”

“With the growing demand for facilities and services at Southpoint, we need more landside facilities to support the expansion of the conventional cargo trade. The additional land are will be developed into a multi-purpose yard for value-adding activities. This will include areas for storage and warehousing especially for traffic generated at Berth 3, 4 and 5.”

Southpoint has eight berths. Currently, for have depths of between 9 and 10.5 metres for ocean-going vessels of up to 40,000 tonnes displacement whilst four others have depths of about 6 metres for coastal ships of up 6,000 tonnes displacement. Support facilities include eight warehouses and a recently completed container and multi-purpose yard with a total space of 35,000sq. metres.

More than 15 ports are directly linked to Southpoint including all major ports in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei and ports in Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India.

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  Westport Wins IAPH IT Award

Westport won the Information Technology Award at the recently concluded 25^th International Association of Ports and Harbor (IAPH) World Ports Conference in Houston, Texas, USA.

This award has been presented biennially by IAPH to demonstrate its commitment and leadership in promoting the use of IT in ports.

Westport’s win over more than 50 other ports was based on its submission entitled “Westport Malaysia e-Terminal, Truly Electronic”. The presentation included a brief description on the project, result achieved, the technology used, obstacles overcome and its technology base. The highlight of the submission was the specific performance measurement, which showed the improvements resulting from the implementation of the project. This included the cost savings, increased revenue, time savings and increased operational capability.

Executive Director of Westport Ruben Emir Gnanalingam said, “ We are very honored to be bestowed this prestigious award which reinforces our position as one of the world’s leading port operators.

Westport state-of-the-art terminal facilities, intelligent office complex, excellent infrastructure and IT support service have all been specifically tailored to Fastport standards to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and transaction”.

The IAPH conference, which was held from 27 April to 4 May,was attended by delegates from 50 countries.

Westport enhanced its e-Terminal by going truly electronic last year. e-Terminal comprises 10 systems and services that provide optimum efficiency, faster turnaround and higher productivity. These systems and services were mostly developed in-house to offer customers a solution that is based on time-efficient, cost-reduction, and hassle-free environment.

The IAPH IT Award is the third award for Westport in 2007. In January the port won the BrandLaureate Awards 2006-07 for emerging as the best brand in Asia-Pacific in the Ports/Terminal category. In February, Westport become the first Malaysian port to win the Silver Award for Safety Excellence from the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. 

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  NEW CONTAINER YARD FOR NORTHPORT

Northport is building a new container 9.7 ha container yard behind Berth 11.

The new F-Block yard, scheduled for completion by the end of this year, will increase box storage capacity by 369,000 TEU. Six new rubber-tyred grantry cranes will be deployed there.

When the F-Block yard is completed, total yard is completed, total yard handling capacity will be more than 2.2 million TEU at CT1 and 2.4 million TEU at CT2.

Northport had recently completed the construction of a yard for empty containers eith a capacity of 250,000 TEU.

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  Grand Alliance Members

The Grand Alliance, a consortium of four major shipping lines, which calls at Northport, has extended their space, vessel and revenue sharing agreement for another 10 years up to 2017.

The Alliance, which was established in 1998, comprise the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC), Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).

The Alliance, which has three sailings per week to Northport, calls every Sunday on the Mediterranean-Asia Loop M, with direct  sailings to Jeddah. Ships deployed in the service have an average capacity of about 6,500 TEU. Ports of call under the service include Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Port Klang, Damietta, Genoa, Barcelona, Fos, Damietta, Singapore and Hong Kong with a transit time of 56 days.

Alliance members also call Northport every Wednesday under their Loop 4 westbound service which links Northport direct to Rotterdam with a 15-day transit time.

The third service calls at Northport every Friday with a port rotation covering Northport, Singapore, Shekou, Hong Kong, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen and Yantian.

OOCL is the first to deploy an 8,063-TEU vessel in the Europe-Asia trade under the Alliance. The company now has 12 vessels of similar capacity.

Hapag-Llyod has now deployed five vessels each with capacity of 8,750 TEU and two with 8,400 TEU capacity in the Asia-Europe trade. Five more vessels of 8,750 TEU will be joining the service by the end of next year.

MISC has deployed two of its 7,943 TEU carrier in the Far East-Europe trade under the Alliance’s vessel-sharing agreement.

NYK meantime will deploy two of its eight new 8,600 TEU vessels in the Europe EU4 trade under the Alliance

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  Strengthening Ties with  Koper

A Port Klang delegation visited its Slovenian sister port Koper from June 18 – 22. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen ties between the two ports.

The delegation, which was led by Port Klang Authority Assistant General Manager (Engineering) A.Murytharan, comprised representatives from Northport and the Selangor Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association.

One of the objectives of the visit was to study the potential of  Koper as a strategic gateway to east Europe for Malaysian cargo. The delegation also promoted Port Klang as a platform for Koper to enter the Asian market.

Koper is located along the coast of the Adriatic Sea and is the gateway for cargo to central and eastern Europe to countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The port has been managed since 1957 by a private operator Luka Koper Ptd. The company is also the free zone authority.

Koper has 25 berths with a total length of 3,200 metres with a maximum draught of 18 metres.

In 2006, the port recorded a throughput of 14 million tonnes and a container volume of nearly 219,000 TEU. In the same year, the export from Port Klang to Koper totalled 64,000 tonnes and 5457 TEU. The cargo comprised primarily of rubber, coffee, furniture and vehicle and electronic spare parts. Imports from Koper totalled 24,000 tonnes and 5,477 TEU, comprising largely of softboard, paper, steel and aluminium.

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  Fos Plans Further Boost in Box Capacity

The Port of Marseilles Authority (PMA) is planning to develop two more new container terminals at Fos container terminals and the Rhone inland waterways system.

PMA had earlier announced that the construction of the Fos 2XL container development is to start in September.

Fos 2XL, due in service by 2010 at a cost of more than 400 million, will increase annual capacity at FOS from 600,000 to 2.1 million TEU by creating two terminals in partnership with private operators Port Synergy and MSC.

The proposed additional terminals, designated Fos 3XL and 4XL, would be operated on a similar basis. Subject to feasibility approval, a global competitive tender process will start in 2008, with the terminals due on stream between seven and ten years later.

Although the study stage involves both terminals, development might be phased – Fos 3XL has been included in the 2007-2031 state-regional development plan whereas Fos 4XL is scheduled for the following period.

Fos 3XL, featuring a quay of 800 metres and annual capacity of  800,000 TEU, would be part of the multi-modal Graveleau container facility alongside Fos 2XL and the existing public terminal.

Fos 4XL would be sited opposite the public terminal at the entrance to Dock 2 – offering excellent nautical access and natural deep water with no requirement for major dredging works. With a quay of 1,000 – 1,200 metres, it would be able to handle 1.2 million TEU per year.

The PMA says its latest expansion plan is justified by a prospective 7 – 8 per cent annual growth in container traffic, and that Fos 2XL represents only a ‘catch-up’ operation after 20 years of delayed progress in the sector.

For Distripark Land Sold Out

Space at Fos Distriport, PMA’s 180-hectare logistics zone development, has completely sold out, prompting plans to expand the multimodal park by more than 50 per cent.

To meet demand from current and future users of the adjacent container facilities, the PMA has authorised studies into a 100-hectare extension hosting up to 300,000 square metres of warehousing in four lots.

The decision follows the take-up of the last four available plots in the existing zone. Two 14-hectare sites have gone to property developer Nexity-Geprim in association with investment company AMB and logistics firm Francesca. Nexity-Geprim is already at Distriport , building a 50,000 sq m warehouse, while Francesca currently operates a 32,000 sq m warehouse there.

A further 14-hectare plot has been allocated for property developer Gazeley’s ‘Magna Park’ concept. The company’s current Distriport interest include warehouse of 36,000 and 20,000 sq m.

The fourth deal involves a five-hectare site where IRDS, part of Belgium’s Eurorail International group, is to develop rail-linked warehouse.

With the agreements, all 600,000 sq m of  warehousing in the existing park are due in operation between 2010 and 2012.

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  PKA Chief is First Malaysian IAPH President

It was momentous occasion for Malaysia at the 25^th International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) World Ports Conference in Houston, Texas, when Port Klang Authority general manager Datin Paduka O.C.Phang was selected as the organization’s first woman and first Malaysian president in its 52-year history.

Datin Paduka Phang’s involvement in IAPH began with Port Klang’s hosting of the 1999 21^st World Ports Conference in Kuala Lumpur. Her chairmanship of the IAPH membership committee won her recognition and in 2001, she was elected 3^rd Vice President. In 2003 she was elected 2^nd Vice President and in 2005 1^st Vice President.

In her inaugural presidential speech, Datin Paduka Phang pledged to make IAPH ‘an even greater force in the maritime industry’ and that expanding the membership base would be a major goal.

She also said it is important to train young port personnel from developing countries, to enhance leadership capabilities and to encourage middle management personnel participation in IAPH activities with a view to grooming the organisation’s future leadership.

Datin Paduka Phang expressed her gratitude to the Malaysian government and in particular the Transport Ministry for their support which made it possible to enhance the country’s role in the international maritime fraternity and enable her to attain the highest level of the IAPH leadership.

The 25^th IAPH Conference was held from 27 April till $ May. The Conference is held biennially with venues rotating amongst the three regions – the Americas, Europe and Africa / Asia Oceania. A trade exhibition is held simultaneously with the conference.

About 840 delegates attended the Houston conference in which 21 papers were presented on topics ranging from the environment to port security.

Thirty-five organizations participated in the trade exhibition which showcased the latest development in the maritime industry.

At the closing session of the conference, port leaders unanimously adopted a resolution calling for ports to promote clean air programs to help fight global warming. The IAPH resolution  reaffirms the group’s recognition of the need by ports to adopt clean air programs to better sustain development of the global society.

IAPH urges ports, members and non-members alike to take active and effective steps towards clean air programs while stressing the critical need to develop integrated action plans for individual ports.

IAPH, which was founded in 1955, is the global maritime industry’s leading organization. It is headquartered in Tokyo.

More than 400 ports and top executives from major corporations in nearly 90 countries around the world are represented in IAPH.

The IAPH port membership handles 85 percent of the world’s container traffic and more than 60 percent of the global seaborne trade

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PORT OF KOPER OPENS REP OFFICE IN PORT KLANG

Port Klang’s sister port, the Slovenian port of Koper has opened a regional representative office for the Far East.

The office, which is located at the Port Klang Free Zone, is manned by Capt. Tomaz Martin Jamnik, former representative of Koper in Hungary.

The main aim of having an office in this region is to strengthen the port’s presence in the fast-growing Asian markets and consequently direct cargo flows to the southern transport route via port of Koper.

Koper, which is located along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, is the gateway for cargo to central and eastern European countries like Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Koper is managed by a private operator Luka Koper Ptd who is also the free zone authority. The port has 25 berths. In 2006, it handled 14 million tones and a container throughput of about 219,000 TEU.

Contact:

Regional Representative Office of Luka Koper

LOB 2, Level 1, Room 13, Jalan FZ2-P5/KS 12,

Port Klang Free Zone, 42920 Pulau Indah, Malaysia

Tel/ Fax: +603 3101 2848  Mobile: +6012 352 9507

E-mail: luka1@streamyx.com

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