Westport in Port Klang offers quality work at an affordable price and it is armed with a sufficient capacity , fast turnaround time and productivity.

EVER since China's entry to the World Trade Organization, there has been a rise in trade activities the world over. This surge in demand, particularly for goods from Asia and China, has created more services along these trade routes.

The demand for Asian goods is seen as a sign of better times ahead for ports, particularly in this region.

Touching its 10th year in the industry, Westport has grown by displaying strong operational performance over-the past 10 years.

Though existing in .a competitive environment, the port has maintained steady growth, reflected by its market share of Port Klang, which stands at 52 per cent.

Boosting capacity and strengthening its efficiency, Westport has charted a 12 per cent growth within the first eight months of the year.

A factor that contributed to the increase was the increase in vessel calls by existing customers to cater for their own growth and the emergence ,of new shipping lines. Liners such as Maruba Lines, Dubai based Simatech and German-owned Hamburg Sud have added to Westport's list of Main Line Operators.

Apart from these, new joint services created out of the current trend of liners merging to reach economy of scale also added to the volume at the port.

Westport executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam attributed the jump in cargo volume to increased trade as global economies improved and shipping companies carried more cargo to Europe from Asia. To date, eight new services have commenced from Westport and it is expected that by the end of the year there will be 11 new services calling at the port.

Westport, the country's first-ever deep water port, is the nation's load centre, due to its hinterland connectivity, and a transshipment hub because of its geographical position and its extensive feeder network.

The port recorded an 11 per cent growth in local volume with 618,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in the first eight months of 2005 and this volume is expected to hit the one million- TEU mark by the end of the' year.

At the same time, transshipment cargo, which accounts for 65 per cent of the container volume, is expected to hit two million TEUs as the year closes in. Its total container throughput was 2.56 million TEUs last year and it aims to surpass three million TEUs this year.

Riding the waves of success is Westport's conventional, terminal.

The conventional general cargo handled from January to August this year increased by 8 per cent to 5.87 million tonnes from 5.41 million tonnes in the same period of 2004.

The volume could reach nine million tonnes by the end of this year.

Buoyed by the growth of the dry bulk volume of 24 per cent, it seems to be the largest contributor of the overall growth of the conventional business.

The steep rise of the dry bulk sector as experienced by the port is contributed by the rise in soya and grains, whereas growth in cement is due to the surge in demand of cement worldwide spurred by China.

The upward movement of the port's volume 'in container and conventional is a sign of growth in times to come.

This was reflected in Westport's revenue earned in 2004 of RM527 million, which was the highest since 1994. It aims to hit RM600 million in revenue ,this year, up 14 per cent from last year. Net profit is expected to rise to RMI00 million this year, an 11 per cent increase over the RM90 million it made in 2004.

The port's revenue from January to August has risen 15 per cent to RM 386 million, from RM335 million in the same period of 2004.

To add another feather to its cap, Westport's RM350 million Floating Rates Notes was recently upgraded by Malaysia Rating Corp Bhd from an AA- to AA.

Expected to achieve three million TEUs by year-end, Westport is geared to improve its crane productivity from the 32 to 35 moves per hour. Although its 32 moves per hour is beyond what is expected of the industry, the port believes that it be a trend-setter and not just a follower.

Westport's high level of service delivery has been rewarded recently by its No 1 client, CMA-CGM's longterm agreement with the port in making Westport the key Asian transshipment hub as well as Norasia.

In addition, the relocation of China Shipping Container Lines' regional office from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur augurs well for the port as the liner is expected to increase its shipping activities from Port Klang this year.

To get excellent world-class infrastructure, high quality work all at a price of the cheapest rate is a dream come true. Though some players predict a slowdown in the industry, Westport is certain that this would have a minimal impact on its terminal business as it is armed with sufficient capacity and fast turnaround time and productivity.

In view of the demand for consumer goods, increase in purchasing power and advancement of technology, the number of containers is going to rise.

Thus, it is well ahead of time with world-class facilities, fastest possible time of vessel turnaround, and technology, attitude and performance levels to fulfil customers' expectations well into the future.

The NST, 26.9.2005