The message from operators who want to bring in super post-panamax ships to Port Klang is clear: deepen the draft or risk losing the business to other ports in the region.

The word of caution is especially worrying since the successful emergence of Port Klang as regional transshipment hub now stands threatened if the port does not act quickly in providing deeper drafts and longer reach shoreside cranes to accommodate the growing size of vessels.

The draft restriction is especially at the approach channels to Northport.

Urging Port Klang terminal operator’s to take pro-active measures to cater for the increasing size and capacity of ships, a leading mainline operator at Northport said it has now become apparent the trend (towards the emergence of larger vessels) is irreversible and it was incumbent upon the port to act quickly.

"There is an urgent need for terminals to be market driven in order to be able to respond appropriately by timely investing in additional berths, deeper depths alongside berths as well as at the access channels to and from Port Klang and to procure cranes that are able to outreach 17 rows of containers across or more," said the managing director of P& O Nedlloyd M.A, Patrick Lim Keng Lee.

Speaking on occasion of the maiden call of his vessel – P&O Nedlloyd Shackleton, the largest container vessel to berth at Port Klang to date – Patrick said the port must be supply driven and respond to market needs.

“With more and more terminal competition emerging from neighbouring countries, Port Klang cannot afford to be caught with operational limitations in the emerging era of very large container ships. It has to be pro-active and stay ahead of the curve, “ added Patrick.

In addition to P&O Nedlloyd Shackleton, three other sister vessels of similar 6,802 TEU capacity, "P&O Nedlloyd Stuyvesant",  "P&O Nedlloyd Houtman",  and "P&O Nedlloyd Cook" being delivered this year, will also call Port Klang in the Europe-Far East Service. 

These four newbuildings of the Whale Class, with four others of the Southampton Class, brings the total to eight vessels over 6,000 TEU in the P&O Nedlloyd fleet of more than 120 vessels.
 
The Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik, who attended the maiden call of P&O Neddloyd Shackleton, said with the blueprints for containership upto 10,000 TEUs now on the drawing board, the access channels and the depths alongside berths at Port Klang need to be deepened. 

Currently Port Klang has two approach channels, namely via Pulau Angsa and Pintu Gedong channels.

The Pulau Angsa passage through the North Klang Straits channel offers 153 metres wide and 11.3 metres depth approach.

The entry via the South Klang Straits approach through Pintu Gedong offers passage with a channel 360 metres wide and 15 metres deep.

The chairman of Northport Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji said Northport wants the channel dredged to meet the demand of mega carriers. 

“We will forward our request to the government because it involves huge capital investment. By deepening the North channel mainline vessels calling Northport can save at least 4-5 hours in approaching time. Otherwise the larger vessels must take a round about way through Pintu Gedong passage to Northport, “ he said. 

In responding to concerns over operational limitations, Sarji, who is also the chairman of Permodalan Nasional Bhd, said NCB is constantly upgrading is land and shore side handling equipment. 

Meanwhile, a significant development in P&O Nedlloyd’s services at Port Klang is its improved service from Asia to the East Coast of South America, offering Malaysian exporters more frequencies and extensive coverage to ports in the Mercosur region of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, an area which P&O Nedlloyd has been long established.

Patrick said the provision of the new services with the Malaysian Government's call to increase trade to non-traditional markets.