DECADE ago, it was only a dream to become a mega transshipment hub of the region and one of Asia's most prominent container ports.

Within 10 years of operation, Westport has not only managed to realise its dream of becoming a notable player in the industry but also to bag numerous awards in various aspects depicting a commitment to excellence.

It is acknowledged as a "fast port", "flexi port", "IT port" and "garden port" and is now well on its way to becoming a "safe port".

Since Greek-registered MV Zeno, the first vessel to call at Westport, it has grown to a position of strength and stature and taken the shipping world by storm, winning numerous accolades.

Within five years since its inauguration in 1994, it was the proud recipient of the Lloyd's List Maritime Award as the best emerging container terminal. It then went on to receive the Asian Freight Industry Award as the sixth best container terminal operator.

It also kicked off the new millennium with bang when it clinched the US International Film and Video Festival's Silver Screen Award. In the television commercial, Westport depicted its vision to be the port of call for the new millennium.

In the same year, it was the recipient of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) _ Award for distinction as the Best Public Sector, Development.

This was in recognition of the well-planned trading centre and port with the right facilities and amenities to meet the criteria of the real estate industry.

Westport was also a finalist of the 2003 and 2004 editions of the Asian Freight and Supply Chains Award, which is bestowed upon the best emerging container terminal operator in Asia. It was a frontrunner among leading ports in Asia such as Guangzao Container Terminal (China), Jurong Port (Singapore), Shekou Container Terminal (China) and Northport (Malaysia).

Another interesting award was for being the best landscaped area in Klang by the Klang Municipal Council and later went on to be the best in the state before it won the second place for the best-landscaped structure or building in Malaysia.Westport, the first garden port in the world, has several themed gardens. The second best after Petronas- Carigali Sdn Bhd in the private building category, the port, landscaped over 8ha, has more than 300 varieties of trees and flowering plants as well as three waterfalls.

An organisation which believes in lessening stress and bringing out the best in their performance, it has spent about RM2 million on new landscaping projects, the latest being a contemporary Japanese garden and a landscaped carpark. Westport staff are proud of their landscape and one often recently decided to capture his wedding with the beautiful gardens as the backdrop.

The manicured waterfall gardens are interspersed around the perimeter and have their own unique. For example, there are the Bamboo Garden, Zen Garden, Japanese Garden and rock fountains. Amid this, Westport continues to place priority on its dedicated workforce, loyal customers and the development of the community. Its skilled workforce is its prized asset.

By embedding values like teamwork, integrity and respect in the foundation of every action and attitude of its employees, in return it rewards and recognises the relentless effort of its workforce to exceed industry norms, escalate productivity and improve the company's competitive edge. A competitive workforce is the ultimate vision of the organisation and at the Westport it upholds the belief that the knowledge, commitment and talent of skilled workforce is its strength and success.

With the container and conventional business of Westport flourishing, the productivity of the port will also be among its most notable selling point. It is projected as the most productive one-stop hub catering to every need of the industry within the vicinity.

The achievements for productivity sustained at Westport would definitely place it as among the top 10 most productive terminals in the world.

The NST, 10 September 2004