‘PTP TRANSSHIPMENT VOLUME SET TO RISE’
Port able to meet shippers’ need for temporary area to place their cargo
MMC Corp Bhd expects higher transshipment cargo volume at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) over the next few weeks following the recent disruption at the Suez Canal in Egypt.
The 400m-long Ever Given container vessel found itself wedged across and blocking one of the world’s busiest marine waterways after a sandstorm on March 23. It was finally freed on March 29.
About 12 per cent of global trade passes through the 193km canal, which provides the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe.
MMC group managing director Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said its ports and logistics unit, in particular PTP operator Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, could accommodate the increase in transshipment activities from shippers.
“They (shippers) have to find temporary area to place their cargo. PTP is able to accommodate the request (transshipment),” he said after a signing ceremony between MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ramco Systems Ltd yesterday.
Meanwhile MMC said its partnership with global software solutions provider Ramco was for a major integrated Enterprise Resource Planning programme.
The group-wide transformation will allow MMC to consolidate and standardise its processes at five major ports, namely PTP, Johor Port Bhd, Northport, Penang Port Sdn Bhd and Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd.
Che Khalib said the implementation of a common system and integrated technology platform would maximise synergies and allow its ports to share expertise and benefit from the economies of scale.
“We aim to leverage technology as a key differentiator in order to gain a competitive edge and add value to our stakeholders.”
Che Khalib said the unified system would also allow the group to reduce costs throughout all port operations by about 20 per cent.
He added that MMC had set aside a “high double-digit millions” for the group’s digitalisation effort this year.