The unsung heroes of Westport are its tugboats and pilot boats. These mighty mouses can handle ships of any size at any given time.

As a result, the port had been attracting a number of major shipping lines including CMACGM, Goldstar, China Shipping, Evergreen, Norasia, Hanjin, Maersk and APL.

Westport sees its pilots and tugboats as playing a vital role in any port operation and considers them as ambassadors since they are the first and last point of contact for vessels which berth or depart from the port.

Westport executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam said: "The speed and efficiency of the pilots and tugboats in bringing these ships in and out of the port are crucial factors which contribute to a port's productivity.

"This is because it has a direct consequence to the turnaround time or the duration of time that a vessel has to spend at the port to load and unload cargo before moving on to the next destination."

Westport's fleet currently comprises of five tugboats and three pilot boats.

Due to the increasing number of vessels calling at the port, a sixth tugboat will be added to the fleet as early as next March.

Gnanalingam said the supply-driven approach in providing facilities had enabled the port to cater to the increasing needs of the shipping community.

"The availability of tugboats has enabled the port to achieve an impressive track record in berth turnaround productivity."

The port's marine department currently has 26 pilots, 17 of whom have qualified for an unrestricted licence.

The availability of these 17 pilots translates a very minimal or negligible delay in bringing the ships in and out of the port.

Furthermore, the pilots are always on standby and readily available as they are stationed only two minutes away from the base at the terminal.

Gnanalingam said the port will continue to recruit fresh pilots and upgrade its tugboats and pilot boats to ensure its marine facilities remain sufficient.

He said it will also keep abreast with the latest technology capable of handling the next generation of vessels and serve to benefit the port's clients.