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Northport (M) Bhd, one of the
two port operators in Port Klang, is likely to
surpass its usual “moderate” growth in container
volume this year based on its stellar
performance in the first quarter.
Deputy chief executive officer Haris Abdul Aziz
told StarBiz that Northport had posted a 17%
increase in the container throughput to 730,452
TEUs in Q1 this year against the same period
last year.
Last year, Northport handled 2.86 million TEUs,
a 7.5% increase over the volume handled in 2006.
That exceeded its target of 2.8 million TEUs.
“The growth rate exceeded our expectation based
on our key performance indicator (KPI) of 5%
growth,” he said.
Reflecting the jump in cargo volumes, an 11% of
increase in revenue was recorded in Q1 to
RM165mil.
This also exceeded the port's KPI of a 5.3%
increase in revenue for Q1 this year.
Haris said the high growth posted in Q1
reflected its customers' strong confidence in
the port.
“Several key shipping lines have fostered new
services and deployed bigger ships to further
enhance the shipping connectivity at Northport.
Last year we received 14 new major strings of
services mounted by major mainliners and feeder
operators,” he said.
He added that regional transhipment had been
growing, especially the intra-Asian trades
connecting Northport with several ports in the
region, including those in Vietnam, China,
Indonesia, Thailand and the Indian
sub-continent.
“Also, the volumes of import and export TEUs via
Northport are expected to be sustained, and we
anticipate to maintain our leadership in this
segment at Port Klang,” he said.
On its RM585mil expansion plan announced last
year, Haris said the port would be evaluating
tenders for the re-development of a multi
purpose terminal into a dedicated container
terminal (Berth 8A) soon.
“The 370-metre Berth 8A will be transformed to
handle the ultra-size container ships with three
super post panamax cranes capable of lifting two
40-ft containers or four 20-ft containers in one
move.
“The cranes will have an outreach of over 22
containers across the beam with
six-containers-high stacking,” he said.
The RM585mil port expansion exercise spans three
years starting this year. The fund is internally
sourced.
Haris said it was developing a new container
terminal to meet the growing trend in container
shipping characterised by the emergence of
mega-size carriers.
“With only a handful of global ports taking this
ambitious effort to attract the giant container
ships that are expected to be operation by 2010,
we expect our initiative to send strong signals
to the industry that the port will be prepared,”
he said.
Most global liner operators are building ultra
large containerships in the range of 12,000 TEUs
to 13,000 TEUs in capacity to enjoy higher
economies of scale.
“Complementing our development is the initiative
taken by the Port Klang Authority to have the
North Channel dredged. This allows the safe and
swift passage of the mega-size carriers,” he
said.
The Port Klang Authority spent more than
RM300mil on the dredging project.
With a high tidal range of about five metres,
the deepening of the channel to 13.5 metres will
offer a total channel depth of 18 metres, more
than adequate for under keel clearance to allow
the passage of the mega-size new generation
ships of up to 12,000 TEUs.
Other than its core container business, Haris
said, Northport expected to broaden its offering
base by expanding the scope of its core services
in the value chain and becoming more integrated
in the logistics supply chain.
“We foresee vast opportunities in this area by
becoming more engaged in distripark
(distribution park) services. We offer 1 million
sq ft of covered space and free zone space for
integrated warehousing and cargo consolidation
services.
“The widening of its cargo base will also
include fostering the growth of bulk and
conventional cargoes, automotive trade, dry
bulk, regional and coastal trades via the south
point of Northport,” he said.
Operationally, the port expects to increase its
productivity through higher efficiency.
“The measures will include optimal utilisation
of our resources, efficient deployment of
equipment as well as the acquisition of new
equipment and replacement of old equipment,” he
said. |
