Tanjung Pelepas says local cargo boosts volumes
The Malaysian Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor said it handled about 5.6 million TEUs in 2008, retaining its status as the country’s largest port.
It handled about 5.5 million TEU in 2007.
Despite the global economic slowdown in 2008, PTP still managed to grow local throughput volume by about 43 percent to about 312,000, up from 218,000 TEUs recorded in 2007, said Ismail Hashim the port’s chief executive officer.
He said this was due to increased shipping services introduced by shipping lines calling at PTP. These include new services to Australia, New Zealand and Philippines introduced by Malaysia’s leading shipping company, MISC, when it moved its hub from Singapore to PTP in June 2008.
2008 also saw a new service being introduced by Hapag-Lloyd linking Europe and the Far East.
“The various forms of shipping line arrangements such as joint services and slot exchange arrangements between the different shipping lines calling at PTP has made it possible for local cargo owners to move more cargo through PTP in 2008,” he said.
He added existing customers such as Maersk and Evergreen have introduced more service calls at PTP.
“Evergreen last year introduced a new Vietnam service linking Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and PTP, whilst Maersk introduced a new service linking Asia and the U.S. through their vessel sharing agreement with French shipping liner CMA CGM,” he said.
While acknowledging the global economic outlook this year does not look promising for the overall port and shipping industry, Ismail said that as carriers look for operational cost savings, PTP offers a low-cost alternative.