Tank Containers - A new source of traffic

The commissioning of the Clean Sea Terminal Westport (CSTW) for cleaning ISO tank container facility at Free Commercial Zone of Westport has added to the growing importance of Port Klang as a maritime center offering a wider range of ancillary shipping services.

It has also opened new possibilities for the increased movement of the ISO tank containers in a big way via Port Klang. The General Manager of container terminal of Westport, Vincent Lim said since operation of CSTW in September 2000 the company has been handling approximately 100 units of tank containers per month and it is expected to grow up to 400 units within next couple of months. 

"In addition, Bulkhaul Singapore Pte Ltd, the international tank container operator, is looking at the possibility of sending some 100-120 units of ISO tanks per month for servicing at CSTW," he said.

The RM 3.8 million depot, which is situated at the Yard 6 of the FCZ of Westport, is capable of cleaning 10-16 units of tanks container a day and is projected to handle between 200-300 units per months. 

The joint venture company between Clean Sea of Australia and an UK based shipping agency has plans to expand the facility by another 4,000-sq. m to cope with future demand. Speaking at the official commissioning of the CSWT, the Transport Minister, Dato' Seri Dr Ling Liong Sik said Clean Sea International has given a cutting edge for Port Klang to handle more tank containers for the regional and international markets. 

"The development of the new facility is timely as Port Klang is emerging as one of the leading container handling facilities in the world," he said.

"As the first depot of its kind in Malaysia with world class environmental and safety standards, Clean Sea can help stimulate the cargo throughput at Port Klang and meet the needs of oleochemical and petrochemical shippers in the country," said Dato' Seri Dr Ling.

Meanwhile Jan Andersen, the Senior Director of Clean Sea said Westport was a fast growing hub centre in the region. 

"The location of CSWT within the FCZ is ideal as it allows us to reposition tanks from other Far East locations, and easily redistribute in the Malaysian market as well as to cater for transhipment of the containers to other regional markets," he added. 

"We are indeed committed to this project and will develop Port Klang as the regional hub for cleaning, refurbishment and repair work of ISO tank containers," said Jan Andersen. 

Andersen said the sludge recovered from the tank cleaning activity will be compressed into cakes and later incinerated while the water re-used in the cleaning process. 

"Within a short period of six week we have received cleaning and refurbishing orders from Thailand, Indonesia and even from China," said Andersen.

Among the services offered by CSWT include cleaning of tank containers, specialised stainless steel repairs, on/off hires, statutory surveying, product heating and sampling, tank inventory management via the internet, waste water management and control and regional logistics management packages said Andersen.

The Director of Bulkhaul Singapore Pte Ltd, Richard Allen said the availability of tank containers more readily would help overcome the impediment faced by local shippers of petrochemical and oleochemical products," he said.

"With Clean Sea depot, shippers no longer need to rely on the supply of the tank containers and for cleaning and repairing services from other countries. Upon request from the shippers empty tanks can be picked up, brought to CSTW to be cleaned, refurbished and repaired and then supplied anywhere in the Far East," said Allen.

"CSTW also offers to reduce down time and provide a support mechanism, which will create new opportunities and savings of USD100-200 per container. Tank container users in Malaysian market will benefit as they will be getting more reliable service and assured of cleaner tanks coming out from this international standard facility," said Allen. 

"We will be utilising the CSTW facility extensively as we have clients from all over Malaysia in Penang, Port Klang, Johor and East Coast states of Terengganu and Pahang. Prior to the establishment of this facility, tanks entering Malaysia had to go to Singapore for cleaning or back to Europe for any specialised repairs," said Allen. 


NCB listed
Northport Corporation Bhd listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on September 18, 2000. The issue price was RM2.70 per share. Northport Corporation consists nof Klang Container Terminal (KCT), Klang Port Management Sdn Bhd and Kontena Nasional. Under the restructuring exercise, KCT becomes a wholly-owned entity of Nothport Corporation and was delisted from the KLSE. KPM became a subsidiary of KCT with one golden share held by ministry of Finance.

The combined and new strength reflected in the formation of Northport Corporation Bhd is expected to contribute significantly to forging ahead the growth of Port Klang as a leading world port.

NCB, drawing the strengths from Klang Container Terminal, Klang Port Management and Kontena Nasional will continue to fuel the growth of the transportation and port services sector. 

"The merger has given the group the ability to combine and optimize their resources and undertake further investment according to the demand and supply situation of the market," said NCB new chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid in a dinner organised by Northport.

Tan Sri Sarji said the re-structuring exercise allows the group to consolidate the strength and resources of Klang Container Terminal, Klang Port Management and Kontena Nasional. 

The long awaited merger involving the three entities was completed when NCB was listed in the main board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange on September 18, 2000. 

"Now we are working very hard to realise our objectives stated in the restructuring exercise," he said.

In an immediate move, NCB has merged the container operations handled by Klang Port Container Terminal and Klang Container Terminal under North port Container Terminal. Customers could expect more rapid action by a single container terminal operations, headed by En.Basher Hassan Abdul Kader," said Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji.

NCB has allocated RM200 million for the development of berth 12 and 13 to handle the booming container traffic which is expected to hit 2.3 million TEUs at Northport by end of this year. Construction work on the additional terminal development is expected to be started in early next year and is expected to be ready for commercial operation by 2002. By then Northport Container Terminal will have taken delivery of an additional five more super post-panamax quay cranes. The 356 metre extended container handling facility will raise the container handling capacity of Northport to well above 3.5 million TEUs a year.

The conventional operation at Northport will be headed by En.Hamid Baba and will focus on its core operation of conventional cargo, marine services and dockyard operation. Southport's conventional cargo handling facilities which draws 1km length will be enhanced to be more efficient said said Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji.

The Managing Director of KCT and KPM, Abdul Halim Harun said efforts are being made to create a common corporate identity between KPM and KCT with gradual phasing-in of the new Northport logo on KCT and KPM's machinery, equipment, uniforms, promotional roadshows and exhibitions. 

"Our telephone numbers and computer system have been harmonised. The terminal is now looking into the re-organising of manpower between both terminals. Nobody will be retrenched in the process of re-organisation which is expected to be carried out over the next six months period," said Halim.

However, redeployment will be inevitable in the administration and supporting staff section, Halim added.