WESTPORT Malaysia continues to record exceptional growth in all key categories of port operations for the first nine months of the year.

As at end September 2003, total volume year stood at 1.72 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared with 1.5 million over the same period in 2002, representing a 15 per cent growth.

“The increase is attributed to the additional services introduced by the existing lines in recent months and new lines with direct calls at Westport,” Kelang Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd said in a statement.

Local boxes handled at Westport, meanwhile, have risen 8 per cent to 542,834 TEUs from 501,490 TEUs in 2002.

“Westport’s role as the transshipment mega hub in Port Klang is further reinforced as transshipment volume has grown by a remarkable 16 per cent,” it said.

The volume as at the end of the third quarter 2003 recorded 1.09 million TEUs against 942,881 TEUs for the same period last year.

“Westport’s key attributes such as the high productivity and vessel turnaround time, efficient transshipment facilities and feeder services are the prime considerations which encourage the main transshipment players to transit via Westport,” it added.

Westport also saw healthy growth in the number of vessels calling. In the first nine months, 3,124 vessels, both main line operators and regional liners, berthed at Westport. This is 11 per cent more than the 2,812 vessels that called last year for the same period.

Total conventional volume also recorded an upward trend for the similar period in review, mainly contributed by increase in dry bulk volume and liquid bulk volume of 5 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.

“The growth in dry bulk is in part due to the rising volume handled for cement and for liquid bulk, due to enhanced awareness of the bunkering services among the shipping fraternity, ” it said.

The surge of 43 per cent in the number of units of vehicles for the first nine months of 2003 compared to 2002 august well for the port, ahead of the liberalisation of trade with the advent of Afta (South-East Asian Nations) Free Trade Area, it said.

“With excellent growth registered for all these key components of the port’s performance till the third quarter, Westport Malaysia is right on track to achieve yet another bountiful year in 2003,” it said.