[240313.EN.SEA] Tanjung Pelepas Port's New CEO To Lead US$450 Million Expansion

MALAYSIA' largest container port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) has a new chief executive officer, Glen Hilton, who will be responsible for leading the harbour's US$450 million expansion programme.

Development of the port will create new berths, three blocks of containers yards, equip the port with new cranes and electrify older rubber-tyre gantry cranes.

Said PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman: "Glen's track record and extensive experience in managing ports and delivering results makes him the ideal candidate for this position."

The new CEO's career includes 12 years with various ports in the DP World Group. Before his appointment, he was the managing director and vice president, South East Asia at DP World Asia. He is said to have played crucial roles in the turnaround of the Caucedo terminal in the Dominican Republic and the successful start up of the Ho Chi Minh City container terminal.

"Glen will deploy his wealth of experience in bringing operational best practices from a global perspective to PTP, as well as oversee the successful commissioning of our expansion programme," said Mr Sidik.

The present second phase of the terminal expansion project involves building two new berths, three blocks of containers yards, purchasing new cranes, as well as electrifying existing rubber-tyre gantries.

Construction works on the new berths measuring 720 metres have started and are to be completed in May 2014. The expansion will raise PTP's annual handling capacity by 25 per cent to 10.5 million TEU and increase the number of berths to 14 with total quay length of 5 kilometres.

The new berths and equipment will be able to handle 18,000-TEU ships. PTP is one of world six ports selected by Maersk Line for its daily service. The others are Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Shenzhen-Yantian, Shanghai and Ningbo.

Last year the port handled 7.7 million TEU. The port also added Mediterranean Shipping Corporation (MSC) as a customer during the year and new vessel sharing services between various shipping lines. It is targeting volume growth of six per cent this year, bringing annual container volumes to over 8 million.

Port authorities are planning Phase 3, which will involve the construction of three new berths of 1.5 kilometres to be completed to 2018.

Source : HKSG, 18.03.13.