KUALA LUMPUR: Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, a member of MMC Group has completed its new container yard, Block K, which will enhance the port's capacity to manage higher container volumes.
Block K provides 2,016 total ground slots (TGS), increasing Northport's capacity by 662,256 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) with a five-day dwell time, bringing the total annual container yard capacity to 6,150,250 TEUs.
According to MMC Corporation Bhd group managing director Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, construction of Block K began on August 14, 2023, and was completed ahead of schedule.
"The project, which was completed 51 days ahead of schedule, marks an exceptional performance by the contractor, MMC Engineering Sdn Bhd," he said in a statement.
The new container yard will be supported by environmentally friendly Electrified Rubber Tyred Gantry (E-RTG) cranes, where it has procured 12 units for operations.
The first eight units are expected to arrive in December 2024, while the remaining four units will arrive by March 2025.
Northport chief executive officer Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof said the Block K completion represents a significant leap forward in capabilities and underscores its commitment to providing world-class port services, reinforcing dedication to high productivity in meeting the evolving needs of customers and adapting to the dynamic demands of the global shipping industry.
The Block K development is among the key components of Northport's broader "Reinventing Northport" transformation plan.
This comprehensive initiative, introduced following MMC Corporation's takeover of Northport in January 2016, was aimed at addressing several key legacy issues and challenges, including low productivity, declining throughput volumes, and ageing equipment.
Northport's transformation efforts have already yielded impressive results. This year alone, the port broke its all-time high monthly container throughput three times, in May, July, and August.
For the first eight months of 2024, Northport handled a total of 2,441,706 TEUs of containers, marking a significant increase of 17.9 per cent compared to the same period last year.
"With our achievements to date, we are optimistic that together with Westports, Port Klang will secure its place among the world's top 10 busiest ports by the end of 2024.
"This milestone will not only strengthen Malaysia's position in the global maritime landscape but also drive greater economic growth for our nation," Azman Shah said.