PTP builds four more berths

Kuala Lumpur: The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Malaysia will allocate 400 million ringgits to build four berths and a 1.44 hectare wharf to increase its capacity. Berths 11 and 12 as well as the wharf will complete constructions in the second quarter of 2009, says PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman. Construction of berths 13 and 14 will begin in 2009 and should complete in the first quarter of 2010. The annual handling capacity of PTP will rise to 12 million teu after the expansion. PTP handled 5.5 million teu in 2007 and wants the 2008 throughput to reach 6.5 million teu. The throughput hit 1.3 million teu by late April this year. PTP is developing a 141-hectare Free Trade Zone which could attract RM3 billion worth of foreign investments. Just recently Malaysian flag carrier, MISC, signed up to become PTP's third main customer, joining Maersk and Evergreen across the causeway from Singapore. [7/5/08]