The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), South-east Asia's fastest growing port was officially opened by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 13 March 2000. The port is located the Southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, destined to become South-east Asia's leading transhipment hub because of its strategic location at the confluence of major international shipping routes has emerged recently as one of Port of Singapore Corp. most aggressive competitors. Easily accessible from the Straits of Malacca, PTP is situated in South-West Johor. Occupying 783 hectares, PTP is a naturally sheltered deep water port.Since beginning operations, PTP has surged ahead in attracting regular main line services. In August 2000, PTP secured Maersk Sealand as a stratagic partner with the shift expected to bring an annual volume of 2 million TEUs yearly. PTP was also awarded the 'Best Emerging Container Terminal Award' by Lloyd's List in October 2000.

PTP is now shaping up as the region's most modern port with the latest port equipment and a user friendly state-of-the-art IT infrastructure connecting all port users and relevant agencies to guarantee a fast, reliable and efficient world-class service.

Electronic vessel clearance and five new rubber-tyred gantry cranes are expected to boost efficiency at Malaysia's nascent container port.

The paperless Vessel Clearance System (VCS) will do away with the previous system of requesting port clearances involving manual submissions to four government agencies, including: Royal Customs & Excise, Marine, Health and Immigration Departments.

The VCS is the first of its kind to be implemented in a Malaysian port and according to PTP's chief executive, Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman: 'The electronic Vessel Clearance System is part of the port's effort in providing efficient services in handling and also clearance. The implementation of the system will ensure better utilisation of resources by shipping agents, thus reducing redundancy. These innovations are in line with our aspiration to establish PTP as a leading transhipment hub in the region.'

The port also received five rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Noell Crane Systems in January this year as part of its first phase of expansion plans.

Capacity expansion which included 15 RTG cranes, the initial five of which it received in January.

The port currently has 52 RTGs, 14 Super Post Panamax quay cranes and an additional 10 quay cranes that will be operational by end-2002.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) handling capacity is expected to increase to 5.0 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year with the receipt of its additional yard cranes.