Improvement of container turnaround at Sapangar Bay Container Port by November
KUCHING: Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd wishes to assure members of the Kota Kinabalu Lorry Operators Association ( PPLKKK) that Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd ( SPSB) will take action to improve the handling efficiency at Sapangar Bay Container Port ( SBCP) and expects the situation to improve by next month.
In a Customer Day session held with 50 members from PPLKKK and Kota Kinabalu Forwarding Agents Associations ( KKFAA) on October 4, 2018, SPSB addressed reports of long queues experienced by container transporters at SBCP as well as other issues of concern.
According to a statement on Monday, issues discussed included lorries queueing to take delivery of containers, further improvement in the gate and yard side operations and compliance to the Port’s standard operating procedure to ensure a smoother flow of container transfers.
SPSB’s deputy general manager ( process improvement), Lai Fui Nar briefed members on the actions the Company has and will undertake.
She informed that SBCP has procured additional container handling equipment in 2017 and 2018 which included two units of quay cranes, four units of rubbertyred gantry cranes, two units of reachstackers, two units of empty stackers and eight sets of primemovers with trailer.
She added that recruitment and training of additional manpower to operate these equipment is currently taking place.
SPSB urged the understanding of the association members in the recent shortcoming and assures that improvements in container turnaround time will be seen once the recruits complete their training in early November.
SPSB furthermore agreed to study its policy relating to gate and yard side management and pledged to investigate reports of unsatisfactory conduct within the port.
In his closing remarks, Datuk Johnson Dai, President of KKFAA expressed his appreciation to SPSB for the dialogue and that KKFAA and PPLKKK shall further monitor the situation.