ASIA

Penang sees ‘huge’ growth potential

11 years ago

Malaysia’s Penang Port believes it has “huge potential” to further increase its facilities and services.

The port told Port Strategy there is “a lot of potential for the development of a new and modern liquid bulk facility here at the port”.

Additionally, Kuala Lumpur’s intent to develop an automotive hub in North Malaysia lends support for the development of ro-ro facilities at the port, the port added.

Ahead of this, Penang is already seeing an increase in calls, it said: “Yang Ming and COSCO will reinstate Penang Port as a direct port of call on its mainline service between the Middle East and Far East from April 2015 onwards.”

This comes after CMA CGM and OEL recently added a second weekly call on its Chittagong service, while Regional Container Line and Mitsui OSK Line in March started a joint Southeast Asia service.

One reason for Penang’s growth is a big increase in productivity which is up by over 30%, according to the port.
“We are now averaging 27 crane moves per hour compared to 18 moves per hour in early 2014. Turnaround time for vessels at our port is now much faster,” it said.