KUALA LUMPUR: MMC Group’s unit Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) becomes the first port in Southeast Asia to welcome the region’s tallest ship-to shore quay cranes.
PTP saidthee super post panama cranes stand at a lifting height of 55.5 metres and weigh 1,900 tonnes each.
The four new cranes form a part of the eight cranes ordered by PTP, with the remaining four cranes expected to be delivered by December.
PTP chairman Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said PTP had executed a series of equipment refurbishment and acquisition projects of RM500 million, enabling the port to create a new, full capacity berth to cater for mega vessels.
“By investing in state-of-the-art assets, we are further establishing our terminal as one of the best equipped and most technologically advanced terminal port in the region,” he said in a statement.
Che Khalib said the investment was to ensure PTP progresses well with the rapid changes within the port and shipping industry and subsequently meet the growing customer demand.
PTP chief executive officer Marco Neelsen said as the country's largest transhipment hub, PTP currently operates with 14 berths measuring five kilometres of quay length.
“It is imperative for the port to increase its capacity to ensure future growth while still offering valuable business proposition to its clients,” he added.
Neelsen added the new quay cranes would complement the 50 existing cranes in operation at PTP.
PTP has also acquired other terminal equipment such as 93 units of prime movers and 29 units of rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTG).
Neelsen said in terms of infrastructure upgrading, two berths will be upgraded to accommodate the new Triple E Cranes, while the capital dredging to deepen the channel is commencing.
“With demographic changes and the increased globalisation as well as regional growth continue to drive the advance of container transport, the investments in port infrastructure, global supply and demand cycles have also created stiffer competition between ports especially across the SEA region.
“Our investment towards comprehensive upgrading, refurbishment and replacement of terminal capacity and equipment is therefore a true testament of our aspiration in becoming the preferred port of choice in the region,” he said.