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The cargo base of Kuantan Port has been broadening with positive indication in the growth of container handling.
Disclosing this, the executive vice chairman of Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd Datuk Shamsuddin Mohd Dubi, said: "We have indeed come a very long way from a port dependent on a single commodity to a much broad-based product base."
"This has no doubt been our ability to timely meet the expectation and demands of the trade," he added.
Shamsuddin said the expanding demand generated from the strengthening of the manufacturing sector in the East Coast hinterland has prompted the port to embark on expansion of the container handling facilities.
"The demand for dedicated facilities is critical to meet the specific and exacting requirements of international shipping lines, more and more of which have started calling, and even more are expected to add Kuantan Port to their respective port rotation in future," he said.
The dedicated container terminal - the first on the eastern seaboard of Peninsular Malaysia - will draw 350 metres of quayline and is expected to berth both mainline and feeder vessels.
The container terminal will be equipped with appropriate shore-side gantry cranes and supporting equipment.
"We have targeted the new container terminal to enter into commercial operation by the middle of 2002," Shamsuddin said.
With the completion of the new container terminal, the present 200-metre container berth, next to the 525-metre multipurpose berth will be converted for use as multipurpose berth, thus stretching the berth to a total of 725 metres.
The additional capacity that will be generated at the multipurpose berth will contribute towards easing of the congestion experienced by conventional cargo vessels calling at the port.
Shamsuddin said the various development and expansion projects being carried out by KPC to meet the growth demands from key areas is a positive reflection of the commitment by the company to keep ahead.
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