KUALA LUMPUR: MMC Corp Bhd's wholly owned subsidiary, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), is committed to keeping its focus on maintaining the growth of its cargo operations.
The port operator said the services were not only standard in terms of container shipping but it also offered customisable packages to meet the most demanding of customers at competitive rates.
As the oldest and longest established port in Malaysia, Penang Port serves as the primary gateway to the Northern region of Malaysia and Southern Thailand, serving the basins of the Straits of Malacca and the Gulf of Bengal.
One of the main terminals that PPSB operates is the Butterworth Wharves Cargo Terminal (BWCT). It also manages and provides operational facilities and port services, specifically in handling liquid, break bulk and dry bulk cargo.
The main cargo operation is mainly break-bulk cargo comprising iron, machinery, rice, components, wood moulding, asbestos products and steel billets.
For the dry bulk, BWCT handles the import of fertilisers, scrap metals, grains, raw sugar and coals.
It is also equipped with various types of cargo-handling equipment such as forklifts, prime movers and trailers to expedite operations.
BWCT is capable of handling 2.5 million tonnes of cargo per annum and also provides well-maintained warehouse storage of 50,000m3 of cargo at any one time.
Under BWCT, there is another terminal, which is the Vegetable Oil Tanker Pier (VOTP). VOTP utilises two-berths — a dolphin berth with a depth of an eight-metre ACD, and W2 with a depth of 10 metres at BWCT.
VOTP mainly handles the liquid bulk. Both berths are equipped with pipelines that directly transfer the liquid cargoes to and from the tank farms for either import or export operations.
Cargo operations involve edible oils such as vegetable oils, crude palm oil, crude palm kernel oil and refined palm oil. With a cargo load of 108 private tanks, VOTP provides a storage capacity of about 136,970 tonnes at any one time.
PPSB will leverage on its experience and sterling track record in the shipping sector to support Myanmar Offshore Supply Base Ltd's (MOSB) vision to be an integrated facility.
MOSB Ltd represents a joint venture between Two Fish Supply Base Limited of Myanmar and 2 Fish (SG) Pte Ltd of Singapore. MOSB is 80 per cent owned by 2 Fish (SG) Pte Ltd of Singapore.
MOSB will be based at BWCT and the effort will simultaneously provide total logistics solutions to oil and gas (O&G) customers and improve the infrastructure in the region.
The construction of MOSB's supply base is underway and expected to be completed in three years.
"MOSB has chosen Penang Port due to the full equipment, dedicated facilities, proven experience and efficient services in port operations.
"Supply base is a key component of O&G drilling and platform activities. All cargo, supplies, construction materials and food will be consolidated at the supply base before being delivered to an offshore platform," said PPSB chief executive officer Sasedharan Vasudevan.
"We are very pleased to be in the agreement with Penang Port, as we are confident that with their experience, our company will be meeting international standards in the services they will be providing. By working together, we can create a much greater impact and prove to our clients that when MOSB in Myanmar is ready, these services shall be duplicated in our supply base as well. The development of MOSB in Myanmar is greatly needed to assist the local community by building a better infrastructure and also provide social needs such as education, transport and job creation. ITP Logistics Sdn Bhd will be appointed as the logistics operator to represent MOSB in Penang Port," said MOSB executive chairman Leonard Oh.
The collaboration will accelerate economic growth in Penang with optimal use of resources, as well as provide ample career opportunities. It will also benefit the staff of Penang Port through the sharing of expertise and knowledge from MOSB.