Construction works on Westports new 600-metre berth is well on schedule. The berth is scheduled to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year.

Westports has embarked on an RM800-million three-year expansion plan to cater for the increasing throughput at the port. This includes the construction of CT5 to beef up annual capacity by about 30%.

This expansion project will help ensure that Westports docks, already bursting at the seams, can cope with the higher volumes expected from booming global trade. It would also ensure that the port could easily accommodate new gigantic vessels like 13,400 TEU vessels that have hit the seas this year

The CT5 project will make space for two additional berths, which will enable to up its annual handling capacity to 8.0 million standard containers from the current 6 million TEUs. Westports has a 15-year plan of building up to CT9 or another 2,400 meters from CT6 to CT9. After full completion, the total length will be 5,600 meters with capacity of 12 million TEUs.

According to Mr. Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, Westports Executive Director, of the RM800mil, Westports will spend RM460mil for its first phase of expansion plan scheduled for completion by year-end.

“The first 300 meter of CT5 will be completed by April and the remaining half by the final quarter of the year. Presently, Westports has a total of 2,600 meter of wharf length of nine berths. To equip the lengthening of our wharf, we are further developing our container yard and have also ordered extra port equipment,” said Mr. Ruben.

Westports has received four new super post-panamax twin lift quay cranes. To date, the terminal has 28 super post panamax quay cranes including eight twin lift cranes.

By year-end, Westports will have 34 quay cranes including 12 twin lift cranes. Simultaneously, the port would also have 102 Rubber Tyre Gantries (RTG) cranes, 272 prime movers, 290 trailers and 25 stackers.

“Westports will also be receiving a brand new state-of-the-art quay crane simulator to be used for training by the port’s quay crane operators. We are investing RM1.1 million in this crane to continue producing highly skilled quay crane operators,” added Mr. Ruben.

Container traffic grew 18% per cent last year to hit 4.3 million TEUs - making Westports the busiest container port at Port Klang with a market share of 63%. Volumes are forecast to rise even more this year on booming trade between Asia and Europe.

”Westports continues to experience strong growth in its container volumes and we expect to become a 5-million TEU port by year-end,” noted Mr. Ruben.