P&O Nedlloyd, one of world’s largest liner operators which calls Port Klang direct with the largest containerships afloat, has expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the port and the terminal operator, Northport, to address the trend towards larger vessels calling at the port.

The managing director of P&O Nedlloyd MA Agencies Sdn Bhd Mr Patrick Lim Keng Lee said the move reflects a more market driven approach taken by the authorities to respond appropriately by timely investing in additional berths, deeper access channels and deeper depths alongside berths “to receive large containerships and even larger ones in the near future”.

He said such supply-driven and market related responses are critical for Port Klang if she aspires to play a significant role in the emerging era of very large containerships.  

Patrick Lim, who praised the efficiency and consistency in the level of services provided by Northport, said the deployment of such large containerships as the "P&O Nedlloyd Stuyvesant" to Port Klang reflects the seriousness and confidence attached to
regional transhipment, the next driver of growth for Port Klang.
 
He said this at the maiden call by the 300 metre long "P&O Nedlloyd Stuyvesant", a whale class vessel with a capacity to carry 6,802 TEUs, at Northport in Port Klang last week.

The event was attended by ambassadors from Brazil, Geraldo Affonso Muzzi, from Uruguay, Roberto Tourino  and from Chile,  Roberto Ibarra and also the chairman of Northport Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Ahmad Sarji.

Last month P&O Nedlloyd, a Anglo-Dutch owned shipping company brought in a sister vessel, "P&O Nedlloyd Shackleton" and they will soon be followed by their other sister vessels of similar capacity, "P&O Nedlloyd Houtman" and "P&O Nedlloyd Cook", which have been deployed in the Grand Alliance Europe-Asia services calling Port Klang weekly.

Patrick Lim said P&O Nedlloyd today provides a weekly service between New York and Port Klang including Norfolk and Savannah on the East Coast, as well as Los Angeles, Oakland and Seattle on the West Coast, including many interior points in the USA.

“At the same time, P&O Nedlloyd recently upgraded its service to East Coast of South America, providing Malaysian exporters and importers, a weekly frequency to and from the Mercosur Countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay,” he said.

He noted the weekly link from Port Klang including Penang and Pasir Gudang with ports of Santos, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Rio Grande, Paranagua, Rio De Janeiro, is a positive contribution to the development of trade with the "South" countries which Malaysia is deeply committed to. 

The service to the Mercusor countries follows the visit by a Malaysian delegation led by the Minister of Transport Dato Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik, including the Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport and General Manager of the Klang Port Authority visited ports in Brazil and Argentina to promote trade links between Malaysia and  the Mercosur Countries. 

“P&O Nedlloyd is confident that this weekly service from Malaysia to markets in the East Coast of South America will serve to expand trade where Malaysia's exports of manufactured goods has reached RM3 billion,” Patrick Lim added.