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The single largest capital investment port
development project at Northport is well
underway.
The port expansion involves the re-development
of a multi purpose into a dedicated container
terminal (Berth 8A as well as acquisition of
three super post-panamax long range cranes and
related landside development.
A substantial sum of the RM585 million announced
last year will go towards the re-development of
a multi purpose into a dedicated container
terminal (Berth 8A). The size of investment
currently underway will be the single largest
expansion undertaken by Northport since the port
was privatised and bring the total Northport
(Malaysia) Bhd has invested in port development
to more than RM1.2 billion.
The development of this berth is aimed at
meeting the specific requirements of the mega
size containerships which have deep draft and
need longer berth. The quayline at Berth 8A
which will initially serve one ultra large
container ship a time, could be extended into
CT3 to handle more of such vessels should the
need arise.
The 370 metre long terminal will be supported by
three super post panamax cranes capable of
lifting four 20-foot containers in one move from
ship to quay or quay to ship. The cranes will
have a span outreach of 22 containers across the
beam and stacking six containers high.
Landside facilities made simultaneous to the
development of the new container berth (Berth
8A), will involve “yard optimisation” involving
deployment of more Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) to
replace Straddle Carriers (SK) and development
of Container Freight Stations and providing more
yard space for other cargoes, including storage
of automobiles
The decision by Northport to add additional
capacity is aimed at responding to the needs of
the shipping industry which is expected to
witness the entry of more mega sized container
ships in excess of 11,000 TEUs. We expect our
initiative to send strong signals on port
selectivity of select global liner operators who
will be deploying the ultra large ships to
further reduce cost.
The move to serve the mega size carriers
coincides with the completion of dredging of the
Northern Approach Channel at Port Klang
undertaken by Port Klang Authority at a cost of
more than RM300 million.
Following the dredging, the approach channel has
been deepened to 13.5 metres will offer a total
channel depth of 18 metres, more than adequate
under keel clearance to allow the passage of the
mega-size new generation ships up to 12,000 TEUs. |
