Northport at Port Klang, which is the home to the largest liner alliance in the world, is confident and is committed to improving infrastructure will meet the growing requirements of the larger ships the alliance has started deploying.

The port, which has already committed to acquiring several units of super post-Panamax container cranes (with longer outreach) to handle the larger vessels topping 7,000 TEUs, expects to provide unhindered access to these vessels when its approach channels are dredged.

Despite some tidal limitation, a growing number of larger ships have started calling at the port, including two of the 6,802 TEUs “Whale Class” containerships of P&O Nedlloyd. 

More are on the trail. Another two of the same series are expected to call at Northport by the end of this year and soon after Northport could expect even the larger 7,200 TEUs ship belonging to Orient Overseas Container Line to call at the port soon.

In addition, Malaysia International Shipping Corporation, which last week announced its plan to acquire four 7,200 TEUs containerships, also calls at Northport (which comprises two terminals, namely Klang Container Terminal and Klang Port Management).

By drawing the larger vessels, Northport, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of the total trade at Port Klang, has made it clear that both dredging of the approach channels and its attraction to shipping line is no longer an option.

“We are indeed committed to ensuring that shipping lines which call at our port get the facilities and services they require, and this include providing adequate depth at the approach channel and alongside the wharves,” said the managing director of KCT/KPM, Basheer Hassan.

Basheer cleared the air when asked for comments on measures being taken to cope with the emergence of the larger containerships at the port.

Contrary to general perception, he added, the port operator has been working with Port Klang Authority and related parties for sometime to look into ways to dredge the north approach channel to give vessels in the 6,500-7,500 TEUs capacity unhindered access to Northport. 

It was pointed out that the larger vessels, which are deployed in the Far East Europe trade, would benefit in the form of substantial reduction of steaming time if they had the option of coming through the North Channel whenever arriving from or departing for European ports.

Shipping lines, including major operators like P&O Nedlloyd have expressed their hope that further studies will be undertaken to examine afresh the possibility of making both of Port Klang's access channels free of impediments in terms of guaranteed water depth. 

Said the managing director of P&O Nedlloyd Agencies M A Patrick Lim Keng Lee, the dredging must be carried out quickly particularly since the shipping line, which has started deploying larger vessels to the port, is committed to Northport.