Tank Containers - A New Source of Traffic

The commissioning of the petrochemical plant by BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd (BPC) at the Gebeng Industrial area has opened new possibilities for the movement of ISO Tank Containers in a big way via Kuantan Port.

The plant, which produces glacial acrylic acid from its first Acrylic Acid and Ester Complex, requires ISO Tank Containers for the shipment of its products.

To take advantage of the huge potential in the Tank Container market in Malaysia, Taby, an internationally established and specialized Tank Container operator from Hamburg has set-up its outfit at Kuantan, in Pahang.

The local company is known as Phili Orient Express & Logistics Sdn Bhd (POELSB).

"Taby is a well-established ISO tank service provider with a modern tank container fleet to meet the exacting demands of our client - BASF Petronas Chemicals Sdn Bhd. The tanks are built according to IMO classification - IM 101/US-CFR 49 containers for the transportation of highly dangerous goods," said the representative of Taby Tank Container System, Zulkefli Zainal.

He said the classification of the goods covers IMDG 3, IMDG 6.1, IMDG 8 all of which requires international permits.

"This makes Taby as the ideal partner in our venture to provide high quality service for BASF Petronas Chemicals," he added.

Zulkefli said the Tank Containers offer the safest form for the transportation of hazardous cargoes which need to comply with strict safety regulations issued by international agencies, including the IMO.

Tank Containers are also in demand in view of the pressure to keep the environment clean and safe.

"Increasing environmental requirement has created huge demand for the Tank Container at the Eastern Corridor. Currently there are four-five active users or shippers of such tank in the Eastern Corridor area particularly in Gebeng and Kertih Industrial Estates,"Zulkefli said.

"We handled our first shipment on March 24 this year for BPC. The first shipment of three ISO tanks contained glacial acrylic acid shipped through Kuantan Port to major customers in China," he added. Glacial acrylic acid is an essential component for super-absorbents used in diapers, flocculants and detergents.

"From three ISO Tank Containers shipped in March, we managed to handle 20 Tank Containers in April and another 36 in May. We expect to handle 50 ISO Tank Containers in June since the production at the BPC plant has increased," he said.

Zulkefli said the company was working with MISC Haulage Services and Kontena Nasional, the two haulage companies, to transport the Tank Containers.According to Zulkefli what the company was now handling was only a small fraction of the BPC total production. BPC has completed first of its four major production complexes which is capable of producing some 960,000 tonnes of various acrylic products. The four complexes only form 20 per cent of the total 150 ha site acquired by the joint venture entity. The full development of BPC facility and other major investors at the Eastern Petrochemical corridor will transform Kuantan port as the principle handling facility for ISO tank containers.

"We have taken note that the Port has started its expansion plan to develop an additional 1.1 km dedicated container handling facility and seven more petrochemical berths to cater for the booming petrochemical industries at the eastern corridor. We would like to congratulate the port for its far-sightedness in ensuring adequate berthing facilities for the growing volume of traffic," said Zulkefli.