Port of Tanjung Pelepas

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (abbreviation: PTP, UN/LOCODE: MYTPP coord|01|21|58.85|N|103|32|54.12|E) is a port for container ships located on the eastern mouth of the Pulai River in south-western Johor, Malaysia. Receiving its maiden vessel on 10 October 1999 on a three-month trial operation, it set a world record as the fastest growing port with TEU|1 million|first=yes of containers handled after 571 days of operations. The good performance sealed the port's fate, and it was officially launched by then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, on 13 March 2000.

Growth

The port continues to register spectacular growth. At the end of 1999, the terminal handled TEU|20,696|first=yes, which rose to TEU|418,218 in 2000, TEU|2.05 million in 2001, and TEU|2.66 million in 2002, and TEU|3.87 million in 2003 outstripping Port Klang and thereby establishing itself as Malaysia's largest port. In 2004, it registered a 15.2% increase to TEU|4,020,421, and came in as the world's 16th busiest container port. In 2005, PTP handled TEU|4.2 million, and 2006 an estimated TEU|4.6 million [ [http://www.mmc.com.my/content.asp?menuid=100013&rootid=100001&parentid=100010 Transhipment Hub page from MMC Corp] ] . In 2007, PTP handles a further TEU|5.5 million, a growth of 14.5 percent compared to 2006. [ [http://www.mmc.com.my/content.asp?menuid=100041&rootid=100003&MediaId=270 PTP container traffic up strongly] ]

This accelerated growth hinges on the port's proximity to the busy sea lanes on which the Port of Singapore derived its growth and sustainability for nearly two centuries. Positioning itself as a choice alternative to Singapore's terminals, it highlights its proximity to the Tuas Second Link which leads to Singapore. Sustained growth after 2000 was also largely possible as Maersk Sealand, the world's largest container ship operator, took a 30% equity stake in the port's holding company, Seaport Terminal in a deal concluded on 17 August 2000, effectively shifting all of Maersk's operations to the new port from the Singaporean port by the end of that year [ [http://www.marinelink.com/Story/Maersk-Sealand+To+Move+Hub+To+Malaysia-3809.html Maersk-Sealand To Move Hub To Malaysia] ] . Maersk was once the largest operator in Singapore, and the shift represented a 10% drop in business there.

In 2002, Evergreen Marine Corporation, then the world's second largest shipping company after Maersk, also shifted its operations to PTP from Singapore. This event raised alarm bells in the Singaporean port, with widespread speculation in the shipping community that Evergreen's endorsement of PTP demonstrated that Maersk's move may not be an isolated one [ [http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/020406aw.htm Evergreen forges agreement to shift transshipment hub to KL] ] . Other lines have since also started direct services at PTP.

In 2008, the port announce that it will expand it's quay by the addition of four berths worth MYR1.4 billion. The length of the quay will increase by 1.44km to the existing 3.6 km. It is expected that the first two berths will be operational in 2009. The expansion project will increase the handling capacity to 12 million TEUs. [cite news| title=PTP to build four berths worth RM1.4b| url= http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/Wednesday/Nation/ptp22.xml/Article/| author=| publisher=Business Times| accessdate=2008-04-23]

Facilities

The current port offers 10 berths totalling 3.6 km of linear wharf length, and a 1.2 million square meters container yard which have over TEU|156,000 in storage space. The berths are serviced by 27 Super Post-Panamax quay cranes, 13 of which have a 22 box outreach and twin lift. The total capacity of the port today is over TEU|8 million per year. 77 rubber tyred gantry cranes operate around the container facility. [ [http://www.ptp.com.my/container.html Port of Tanjung Pelepas Container Terminal page] ]

The port has a naturally deep harbour with a draft of 15 - 19 metres, and its turning basin of 600 metres allows for ships of any size to turn easily. [ [http://www.ptp.com.my/strategic.html Port of Tanjung Pelepas Strategic Location page] ] [ [http://www.ptp.com.my/strategic1.html Port of Tanjung Pelepas Strategic Location Detail page] ]

The entire master plan of the port envisages over 75 berths making it the only port in South East Asia with long term potential to handle increasingly growing container traffic. The berths is expected to extend from the mouth of Pulai River to Malaysia-Singapore Second Link. [ [http://www.ptp.com.my/masterplan.html Port of Tanjung Pelepas Master Plan Page] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.ptp.com.my/ PTP Official website]
* [http://www.xylogue.com/info/train-map/malaysia/port-tanjung-pelepas-front.htm Map of Road from Tanjung Pelapas Port to Senai Airport]
* [http://www.stroudgate.net/aps/articles/053.html Shipping Portal: PTP]