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In
an attempt to turn South Port at
Port Klang into a regional
conventional transhipment hub,
Northport Corporation Bhd is
seeking the area to be designated
as a Free Commercial Zone as part
of its plan to re-develop the area
to enhance its utilisation.
NCB,
which hopes to attract more barter
trade and enhance trading
activities at the facility which
currently serves the coastal and
breakbulk trades, expects the
designation of South Port as a FCZ
would put the port to better use
and purpose.
NCB,
which operating a total of 325 ha
FCZ area in Northport, feels that
the conversion of Southport as FCZ
area will further pave way for
more value-added commercial
activities such as trading,
breaking bulk, grading,
re-packing, re-labelling and
transit.
Northport
officials met with the Port Klang
Authority and the users of the
South Port with a view to pursue
the proposal.
According
to NCB, the response from the
users and the installation
operators at South Port had been
very encouraging towards this
move.
If
all goes well South Port will be
gazetted as the Free Commercial
Zone by end of this year said the
port officials.
South
Port which offers 1,182 metres of
quayline, is being developed
further to cater for the regional
conventional cargo demand.
"We
are currently in the process of
transforming South Port,
traditionally used as a coastal
terminal for trade between West
and East Malaysia into a facility
with added capability of
servicing ASEAN regional
trade," said the Chairman of
Northport Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri
Dato' Seri Ahmad Sarji.
According
to Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji the
development was indeed timely
especially with the impending
implementation of AFTA.
With
the expanded facilities and
capacity, the nine berths South
Port will be able to cater for a
wider array of services and be put
in a competitive position to tap
upon the vast potential in the
Indonesian, Vietnam and Myanmar
trade.
The
first four of the nine berths at
Southport are capable of
accommodating ocean-going carriers
with 20,000-40,000 displacement
tonnes while the remaining five
other berths can accommodate 6,000
displacement tonnes carrier
without any problem.
Currently,
South Port receives an average of
250 calls per month.
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