Malaysia's Northport allocates RM272m to buy equipment
Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, a port operating unit of NCB Holdings Bhd, has allocated over RM272 million for the purchase of new container handling equipment as part of its immediate plans, The Sundaily reports.
NCB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the allocation will be used to buy six twin-lift container quay cranes, four straddle carriers and 17 rubber-tyred gantries.
Four of the quay cranes, with a design configuration to handle containers 22-across, will be stationed at Northport's Wharf 8A which is now under construction.
"When commissioned, the new Wharf 8A will form part of Container Terminal 4. The remaining two units (of quay cranes) will be capable of handling containers 18-across and are intended to be used at the upgraded Wharf 16," he told reporters after viewing the works in progress at Northport yesterday.
Ahmad Sarji said the upgrading work on Wharf 16 forms part of the contract for the development of Wharf 8A.
He said the delivery schedule of the new cranes is linked to the planned completion dates for the works on Wharfs 8A and 16, which are July 2013 and March 2014, respectively.
He added that Wharf 8A will inject an additional container handling capacity of 600,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), when fully operational.
The investment is part of Nortport's continuing programme aimed at further enhancing the capacity and efficiency of its container-handling facilities, in particular that of Container Terminal 1, which together with Container Terminal 3, service larger container vessels.
Ahmad Sarji said the planned initiatives are aimed at enhancing capacity as well as ensuring continued sustainability in responding to the needs of customers on a long-term basis.
He said the port would be able to handle 5.6 million TEUs by mid-2013 when the works are completed. Currently, it can handle about 3.2 million TEUs.
"Traditionally, we have been growing at double-digit (in container volume) but in the last two to three years, we experienced single-digit growth because we do not want to congest the port by taking too much business," he said.
"Although achieving single-digit growth, it accounts for a substantial increase in revenue."
On Port Klang Authority's new Port Klang Master Development Plan which will see the development of a third container terminal in Port Klang to complement the existing facilities at Northport and Westport, Ahmad Sarji said: "We have very little knowledge on the third port. How can we assess its impact on Northport (with the little knowledge)?"
Asked to comment on reports that tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary is eyeing a takeover of several ports, including Northport, in a bid to expand his growing logistics empire, Ahmad Sarji said he was unaware of the matter.
"I don't know. It is beyond my knowledge," he added.
NCB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the allocation will be used to buy six twin-lift container quay cranes, four straddle carriers and 17 rubber-tyred gantries.
Four of the quay cranes, with a design configuration to handle containers 22-across, will be stationed at Northport's Wharf 8A which is now under construction.
"When commissioned, the new Wharf 8A will form part of Container Terminal 4. The remaining two units (of quay cranes) will be capable of handling containers 18-across and are intended to be used at the upgraded Wharf 16," he told reporters after viewing the works in progress at Northport yesterday.
Ahmad Sarji said the upgrading work on Wharf 16 forms part of the contract for the development of Wharf 8A.
He said the delivery schedule of the new cranes is linked to the planned completion dates for the works on Wharfs 8A and 16, which are July 2013 and March 2014, respectively.
He added that Wharf 8A will inject an additional container handling capacity of 600,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), when fully operational.
The investment is part of Nortport's continuing programme aimed at further enhancing the capacity and efficiency of its container-handling facilities, in particular that of Container Terminal 1, which together with Container Terminal 3, service larger container vessels.
Ahmad Sarji said the planned initiatives are aimed at enhancing capacity as well as ensuring continued sustainability in responding to the needs of customers on a long-term basis.
He said the port would be able to handle 5.6 million TEUs by mid-2013 when the works are completed. Currently, it can handle about 3.2 million TEUs.
"Traditionally, we have been growing at double-digit (in container volume) but in the last two to three years, we experienced single-digit growth because we do not want to congest the port by taking too much business," he said.
"Although achieving single-digit growth, it accounts for a substantial increase in revenue."
On Port Klang Authority's new Port Klang Master Development Plan which will see the development of a third container terminal in Port Klang to complement the existing facilities at Northport and Westport, Ahmad Sarji said: "We have very little knowledge on the third port. How can we assess its impact on Northport (with the little knowledge)?"
Asked to comment on reports that tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary is eyeing a takeover of several ports, including Northport, in a bid to expand his growing logistics empire, Ahmad Sarji said he was unaware of the matter.
"I don't know. It is beyond my knowledge," he added.
