Penang Port has set a target to handle two million containers annually in five years' time, reported Business Times. The port is banking on the US$102.29 million North Channel dredging scheme to attract larger vessels and mainliners to its North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT).
PenangPort managing director and chief executive officer Ahmad Ibnihajar said the dredging work to deepen the North Channel from its current depth of 11.5m to 14.5m would begin in the first quarter of next year.
He said the dredging was part of the master plan to transform it from a feeder port into a premier port by 2012.
He said work on the dredging scheme was timely as the port wanted to capitalise on the Ipoh-Padang Besar electrified double-track project which was expected to be completed by 2013.
"We expect the number of containers to surge as the double-track project will help facilitate the movement of containers from Ipoh and southern Thailand via Padang Besar in Perlis," Ahmad said.
Ahmad said the aim was to position PenangPort as the main hub for the Middle East export and import market after placing itself as the intra-Asian main seaport for the Far East market.
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