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NORTHPORT (M) Bhd, which has added three new
super post-panamax ship-to-shore cranes costing
RM75mil, is expected to witness accelerating
volume growth in the next three years.
It said that the new equipment would further
boost its capacity from the present four million
TEUs (20-ft equivalent units) per year.
With the extra capacity, the premier import and
export gateway is likely to surpass its humble
5% forecast annual TEUs growth.
The port aims to handle 2.8 million TEUs by
year-end against 2.7 million TEUs last year.
From next year, its three-year, RM585mil
expansion plan announced early this year would
start showing results.
It will have a dedicated terminal, to be
operational in two years' time, to cater to Suez
Max-class vessels of 12,000 TEUs.
These mega-sized vessels, which require a deep
draft, will be berthed at the new 350-metre
berth (Berth 8A) that is being developed
linearly as an extension to the Container
Terminal 1 (CT1) at Northport.
With the development of Berth 8A and the
re-development of the break bulk terminal
converted into container handling, the container
quay line (including CT1 and CT2) will run
linearly 3.2km (see graphic).
The dedicated Berth 8A for handling the
ultra-sized container ships will be supported by
four super post-panamax cranes capable of
lifting two 40ft laden containers or four 20ft
containers in one move from ship to quay or vice
versa.
On completion of this project in 2009,
Northport's capacity will be boosted to over
five million TEUs.
Its other future development plan, not included
under the RM585mil budget, is the extension of
its quay line and landside operation to an
undeveloped area north of Port Klang in the
Sungai Puloh area.
According to industry sources, negotiations to
acquire the land is ongoing.
Dubbed as the “freight corridor”, this new
terminal is expected to open a new chapter for
the port to look for more businesses.
Besides containers, the port also owns a
dedicated general cargo terminal at its south
point.
This segment is also expected to grow, as plans
are in the pipeline to upgrade the terminal.
It has also been reported that the Port Klang
Authority had offered 20 acres to be leased out
to Northport in that area.
Another promising market for the port is
roll-on/roll-off (roro) berths and its logistics
services, which the port is currently working on
to expand.
Financially, the wholly owned subsidiary of NCB
Holdings Bhd is expecting another profitable
year for the period ending Dec 31, 2007.
Last year, the port posted revenue of RM634.1mil
against RM604.6mil in 2005.
Its pre-tax profit increased to RM158.3mil from
RM140.7mil in 2005.
NCB Holdings (which has another direct
subsidiary, Kontena Nasional Bhd) has announced
its key performance indicators (KPIs) for the
financial year ending Dec 31, 2007, which
include growth of 8% and 1.3% in revenue and net
profit, respectively.
Under the KPIs, NCB has also targeted a 5%
growth in container throughput, 7% return on
shareholders’ equity and earnings per share of
25 sen. NCB posted a pre-tax profit of
RM165.3mil on revenue of RM834mil for its
financial year ended Dec 31, 2006. |
