WESTPORT in Port Klang is in the midst of several projects to upgrade and expand its facilities to meet growing demands that accompany the double-digit growth that the terminal is currently experiencing.
These include building two additional berths to add to its current seven, and a container yard. Work on the 600-metre wharf at CT4 started in July and is expected to be completed in October next year. It will be equipped with sets of twin lift quay cranes.
"The additional berth will enable us to offer our customers berth on arrival," said Westport executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam. He said two Central Freight Stations (CFS) were also being set up to cater to the increasing demand to stuff and un-stuff. Other developments include building a marine jetty to act as a base for Westport's tugboats and pilot boats and work to expand the container terminal's existing gate to meet current needs.
"Also to be widened is the main access road to Westport," he said, adding that another interesting project to be implemented this year was the use of rubber-tyred gantry cranes for loading and discharging containers for rail wagons. "The most prominent new service that Westport will be offering is the electronic-based billing system which will act as an automated billing system where customers will be billed according to the manifested amount of cargo and containers handled." said Gnanalingam, in an interview in conjunction with Westport's 10th anniversary on Friday.
He said there were several maiden services that called Westport in the first four months and these new services launched by liners would directly make Westport a transit centre for booming trade between the East and West. Gnanalingam said as the transit point for cargoes plying between the east and the west, Westport was strategically placed on the global shipping map as not only an ultra-modern port, but also as the most productive terminal in the world. Over the past decade, Westport has handled 6,834,075 TEUs.
"Within this short period most of the major main line operators (MLOs) have recorded a three-digit TEU growth in Westport. "Among them are Hanjin, Evergreen, Noarasia and CMA. Shipping lines. "Shipping lines, like other companies, seek higher revenue with lower cost. The only way to lower their cost is to achieve higher productivity with faster vessel turnaround time and that's exactly what Westport offers liners to cater to their needs.
"With the additional berth, we assure our customers berth on arrival. To further enhance our services, we will be acquiring additional cranes. "Thus our customers are guaranteed a higher vessel productivity, faster turnaround time with a skilled workforce achieving gross crane productivity of 30 moves per minute (mph), which is above the industry standards of 25 mph. (See graphic) "Thus Westport is on the right track to continue recording double-digit growth," he said.
Asked Westport's formula for turning a green field into an emerging port in the region, Gnanalingam said Westport's success could be attributed to several factors such as its highly skilled workforce, its emphasis on productivity, the use of cutting edge and state-of-the-art IT applications and its customer driven concept.
"The secret of Westport's success is in our highly skilled workforce who are given training and development courses as well as motivational and team building sessions. These programmes are conducted to continuously enhance their skills and viability. "With such a well-planned training schedule in practice, Westport is not short of producing top-notch performers to guide it to brighter fortunes in future.
"Productivity and turnaround time are vital elements in this industry and Westport believes in spurring its workforce to deliver and to maintain standards that exceed the norm. "Hence with the drive to outdo the industrial expectation of a mere 70 mph, Westport managed to discharge containers at 201 mph on mv Regina Maersk in August 1999 and followed by 264mph on mv Clifford Maersk in December 1999.
"In October 2002, the record was further improved to 271mph while working on mv Ville De Virgo. March 2003 marked a new era of record-breaking feats when a new world record was achieved. "This feat was made possible while discharging containers on board a CMA-CGM vessel, mv Peninsular Bay. The world record of 368 mph still stands and has not been breached yet."
As an IT-driven port, Westport has engineered G-Links, an advanced computer network system that controls every aspect of the port's operations. Gnanalingam said: "A sophisticated system such as COSMOS is employed to facilitate container operations and MAXIMO to monitor crane utilisation and inventory control. "The Smart-Card-Security-Systems (SCSS) and Gate-Control-Security System (GCSS) have been introduced to enhance safety and security of the port," he said.
He added that Westport's E-billing and E-procure had paved the way for creating an image of a paperless port. As a customer-oriented port, he said Westport continuously strived to foster and maintain a cordial working relationship with its customers. "Committed to being a total logistics port, we lavish our customers with an array of value-added services, a 24-hour dedicated customer service centre and call centre.
"Westport is also linked to the World Wide Web to enable our customers to obtain the latest, updated terminal operation information through our Westportlink and Client Access. "In less than a decade, Westport has charted a sterling performance illustrated by its healthy consecutive double-digit growth.
"This is all due to its world class terminal facilities, highly skilled workforce, successful collaborations and the partnerships it has forged - with employees, customers and community." On pricing and productivity, Gnanalingam said given a choice, Malaysian ports would prefer to increase the rates on THC (terminal handling charges), but as we are all aware, this is in the hands of the government.
"Westport's strengths lies in high terminal productivity that is exhibited by its productivity and efficiency. "Since its inception, the terminal operations performance has improved tremendously, productivity has escalated by leaps and bounds and recorded an exponential growth. "In 1999, our gross crane productivity was only 22-24 mph (but considered good by industry standards).
"The scenario has changed, as the terminal is leading the industry in moves per hour by recording a crane productivity of 30-32 mph. "Currently, Westport's operation team is focusing on achieving 35 mph, a target set by the organisation." He said apart from the above were Westport's world-class infrastructure, 15-metre depth, fleet of super post panamax cranes, capacity driven-berthing facilities, flexibility in operational management, extensive IT application and "a one-stop" integrated service centre.
The Star, 6 September 2004 |
