KUALA LUMPUR: Lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic have made the ports and shipping industry more agile and resilient.
They are also better prepared to face current and future challenges, said Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
He said, since the onset of the pandemic the last two years, the maritime transport industry across the globe had faced unprecedented challenges.
He said on a positive side, the health and economic crisis had taught them much and it would stand them in good stead in facing challenges to come.
"The challenges have shaped the future business model of shipping, ports and logistics services.
"The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the critical role of ports and shipping in the global supply chain.
"Port Klang, as with all other ports, was confronted with unprecedented challenges and had to adapt quickly and innovatively to help keep the economy going
"As Malaysia's leading port handling more than half of the country's maritime trade, the onus was on us to keep things running, to adapt, to innovate and to do it fast and do it right so as to mitigate the severe impact of the pandemic on the nation," he said at the "19th Asean Ports and Shipping Exhibition and Conference" themed "Cultivating Adaptability and Resilience".
The event was officiated by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.
Present were Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak, its maritime division under-secretary Captain Mohamad Halim Ahmed and PKA general manager Captain K. Subramaniam.
Chong said PKA, in managing the industry's disruption, worked very closely with the other terminal operators like Northport, Westports and Port Klang Free Zone.
"We did likewise with all the other key players in the port's ecosystem, such as the shipping lines, forwarding agents, haulier companies, related logistics and ancillary service providers, as well as port-related government agencies.
"The Transport Ministry was instrumental in facilitating the clearance of goods during the several periods of the Movement Control Order.
"This assisted in de-congesting the ports and ensured critical goods reached their intended destinations with minimal delay, and exports continued to be delivered to the ports for loading on board ships.
"In addition, the government also facilitated crew change on ships calling Malaysian ports, besides providing access to medical treatment ashore for crew members," Chong said.
Recognising the importance of vaccinating maritime and logistics workers against Covid-19, PKA with the close collaboration of the Transport and Health Ministries, had established a dedicated vaccination centre.
"The centre, located in Port Klang, successfully vaccinated 10,000 workers including seafarers within one month.
"It subsequently became a public venue for booster doses, providing comfort and protection to the workers, their families and the industry," said Chong.
He added that despite the many travel and movement restrictions, the conference was held at a most opportune time.
"We can use this forum to learn from one another's recent experiences and to enhance cooperation in coping with the many challenges we are still facing for the mutual benefit of our respective organisations," he said.
On the exhibition and conference, Chong said it was a platform to showcase the importance of the maritime industry to Malaysia's economic development.
"This conference is the first major international event for the industry since the lifting of the nationwide MCO.
"The 20 eminent speakers from across various disciplines in the ports, shipping and logistics industry from Asia, Europe and the United States will share with us their knowledge and experience from their respective fields of disciplines on coping with the issues we are all facing.
"I am sure that what is shared here will in one way or another, be beneficial to all participants and to help us adapt and build resilience in this most challenging time we are in now," he said.