MALAYSIA's Northport plans to expand its facilities and improve its service offering in 2007, in a bid to strengthen its position as a national gateway port and regional transshipment hub.
To realise these expansion goals, the board of Northport (Malaysia) has just awarded MYR500 million (US$142 million) to finance a number of development projects. A major portion of the funds will be used to build a 350-metre-long berth to handle growing TEU traffic and larger containerships.
The additional berth will be supported by super post panamax gantry cranes and ancillary port equipment.
Other initiatives this year will include upgrading the port's existing IT capabilities and networking systems. Special attention will also be paid to staff training and re-training programmes, port authorities told the Shipping Gazette.
From January to November 2006, the port handled 2.5 million TEU and 7.5 million DWT of non-containerised cargo. Port authorities expect that this year's growth will be in line with national growth.
Growth in the port's throughput is fostered by the expansion of the economy, be it the national or global trade. The prognosis for the Malaysian economy remains good, based on forecasts made by the government and the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research.
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