Sun, February 20th, 2002 - PETALING JAYA: With its ability to offer a range of services that add value to both the shipper and the cargo, Westport continues to experience growth in throughput which has made it the transshipment hub of the region.

Last year, the port handled 650,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in transshipment, up from 510,000 container boxes in the previous year. This year, about 50% of throughput(or about 900,000 TEUs) is expected to come from transshipment cargo.

Westport which has a 39% marketshare Of Klang Valley cargo, also intends to maintain its position in the coming year with an even higher market share.

It plans to do this by focusing on transshipment cargo.

It is in industry's prediction that this volume will double within the next 10 years.In this vein, Westport said it will continue to build the port through new lines and investment opportunities in equities to cater for an increased market share.

Westport was unfazed by the Sept 11 attacks in the US and the global economic slowdown.

The company said it grew by 40% in terms of handling volume with November and December as its best months.

Westport has also managed to increase throughput levels by some 50% last month compared to the same period last year.

The port handled 152,312 container boxes in the first month of the year, up from 102,663 TEUs in January 2001.

This year, Westport plans to increase its throughput to 1.8 million TEUs from 1.45 million last year.

About 20 acres of additional yard space with 3;000 ground slots were completed for use by June last year, increasing the company's total terminal handling capacity to 2.5 million TEUs per year.

The company will increase its capacity by both progressively expanding infrastructure developments and increasing equipment inventory for efficient handling of containers.

Towards this end, Westport has set aside RM60 million for capital expenditure this year.

It expected to take delivery of five more post panamax quay cranes in the first quarter of this year to beef up wharf side handling capacity.

In a statement, Westport said the company will also add 2,400 metres of wharf and corresponding back-up storage yard space.

Currently its berth length stretches over 2,000 metres of container wharf,1,200 metres of conventional wharf and 400 metres of liquid bulk terminal,Westport is in the midst of a tender exercise for the construction of the additional wharf. The construction is expected to be completed by 2005.The company. has also adopted a new shift management structure with an eye to improving productivity.

Known as the "4-Group system", it emphasizes team work with the same team member working together all the time, forming a strong sense belonging and family spirit in the workplace.

Each group of 200-staff is led by a Vessel Operations Manager (VOM) and has its own resource person and Maintenance and Repair technicians.

With the introduction of this new system, the team has gone on to achieve 100 moves per hour mark on a Mainline vessel.

To further improve efficiency and keep abreast of the increase in cargo traffit at the gates, Westport also opened up six more lanes.

With three each for import import and export, the extra lanes reduce truck queuing time at the gates. This will continue to ensure the 20 -25 minutes turn around time. Westport has commited to hauliers.