IN A first such long-term berthing contract signed in Malaysia between a port operator and a shippingline, Westport has signed an agreement with its key customer, CMA-CGM, to allow the French-based line to use the port as a key Asian transhipment hub for the next 15 years.

Locking in CMA-CGM for the long term is expected to stablise Westport's growth prospects in a highly-competitive port operation environment The line is expected to generate a throughput of about 850,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) this year for Westport.

The NST, 20.6.2005