Despite its present over-reliance on Maersk-Sealand as its principal user, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas has reiterated that is a common-user terminal and all shipping lines will be treated with equal attention and efficiency.

Giving this assurance, the chief executive officer of PTP, Mohd Sidek Shaik Osman, said the port, which is facing about 70 per cent berth occupancy, is in discussion with other lines, especially with a view to attracting the lines for the facilities planned under the next phase.

”Future expansion being planned currently which includes an additional 3 – 6 berths for Phase Two is for other main line operators. Part of the reason for future expansion is the increase in demand. Our current negotiations with other MLOs are  proceeding and in the advanced stage of negotiations,” he said.
 
 Phase Two engineering timelines is now in the process of global bids involving several main work packages from wharf construction and dredging and reclamation and the civil works.

The port which has a present capacity of 2.6 million TEUs with 14 quaycranes cranes, will be taking delivery of another 10 more cranes that will boost its capacity to 4.5 million TEUs per annum by end of the year.

The completion of Phase Two will raise its total capacity to about seven million TEUs per annum.

The port handled a total of 386,394 TEUs in the first quarter of this year and expects to handled about two million TEUs this year (after handling about 400,000 TEUs last year).