NORTHPORT FACILITATES PORT KLANG’S FIRST IMO 2020-COMPLIANT MARINE FUEL SUPPLY
- January 20, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHPORT FACILITATES PORT KLANG'S FIRST IMO 2020-COMPLIANT MARINE FUEL SUPPLY
PORT KLANG, 20th January 2020 – Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (‘Northport”), a member of MMC Group welcomed the arrival of the first shipment of IMO 2020-compliant Low Sulphur Fuel Oil ( LSFO) at its Southpoint terminal, thus becoming the first facility in Port Klang to supply the IMO 2020-compliant marine fuel.
The Chief Executive Officer of Northport, Dato’Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and the Assistant General Manager, Operations and Regulatory of Port Klang Authority(‘PKA”), Capt. Kamal Ariffin Idris was present to witness the discharging of LSFO from a bunker vessel, MT Straits Energy into dedicated storage tanks in Southpoint.
1 January 2020 was the deadline set by the International Maritime Organization (“IMO”) for vessels to comply with the low sulphur fuel oil requirements. The decision was made during IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meeting held in London in 2016. The implementation, which requires all vessels to use fuel with only 0.5% sulphur content against 3.5% prior to the deadline, demonstrates a clear commitment by IMO towards ensuring that the shipping industry meets its environmental obligations through a significant reduction in sulphur content of the fuel oil used by vessels.
“It is our obligation to protect the environment for our future generation. As one of the major ports in Malaysia, Northport has been playing our role through various environmentally-friendly programs and this LSFO bunkering service operations at Northport is one of the initiatives adopted by us. We hope that this value-added service will further enhance the number of vessel calling Northport and Port Klang”, said Dato’ Azman.
Northport has provided a facility at its Southpoint terminal operated by licensed bunker operator, Ombak Suria Sdn Bhd (“Ombak Suria”) to ensure that LSFO is made available to be supplied to vessels in Port Klang. In the next few weeks, Ombak Suria and other relevant authorities will be performing due diligence to ensure the safety, product quality and best practices in bunker operations before commencing any bunkering activities and supplies to the shipping lines.
“It is only fitting that Southpoint, being the oldest terminal in Port Klang, became the first facility to offer LSFO, chalking yet another milestone in its 119-year history”, added Dato’ Azman.
“Port Klang which is currently ranked 12th in the world shipping ports is preparing ourselves to become Malaysia’s bunkering hub. Our strategic location at the busiest shipping lane in the world gives us competitive advantage to fulfill the Ministry of Transport’s aspiration. The arrival of IMO 2020-compliant LSFO at Northport today brings us one step closer to achieving this goal”, said the General Manager of PKA, Capt. K. Subramaniam.
In August last year, PKA had hosted a conference to help the shipping industry make informed decisions ahead of the implementation of IMO 2020. The conference, supported by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia, was aimed at raising awareness and facilitate compliance to the implementation of the IMO requirements. The discussions addressed impacts of the global sulphur cap, and issues related to fuel oil availability, handling of new fuels, sampling and verification procedures, compliance challenges, mitigation of safety aspects as well as enforcement.
Photo caption : Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof (second from right) and Capt. Kamal Idris (far right) were briefed on the bunker vessel operations by Mr. Mohd Taufiq Sari (far left), the Managing Director of May Maritime Services Sdn Bhd. May Maritime Services is the vessel’s management company for MT Straits Energy. Also present, the vessel’s Chief Officer, Capt. Fantje Serat (second from left).
ABOUT NORTHPORT (MALAYSIA) BHD
Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (Northport) is one of the largest multi-purpose gateway ports of its kind in the national ports system. Northport is grouped under MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports), Malaysia’s largest integrated logistics service provider. MMC Ports is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MMC Corporation Berhad, a leading utilities and infrastructure group with long standing credential and capabilities in Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering and Industrial Development.
Northport offers dedicated facilities and services to handle a wide variety of cargoes ranging from containers to cars, break bulk cargoes as well as liquid and dry bulk cargoes of all types and shipment sizes.
With a historical tradition dating back more than 100 years, Northport plays an important role in the development of the Malaysian economy and the country’s burgeoning international trade.
Northport is the winner of Malaysia’s Best Seaport – Outstanding Performance Award presented by the Ministry of Transport Malaysia for two consecutive years, in conjunction with the Malaysia World Maritime Week 2016 and 2017.
For more information, please visit http://www.northport.com.my/
ABOUT MMC CORPORATION BERHAD
MMC Corporation Berhad (MMC Group) is a leading utilities and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering and Industrial Development.
Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include the operations of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd and Kontena Nasional Berhad. Internationally, MMC Group has presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port.
Under the Energy and Utilities division, MMC Group is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad and Gas Malaysia Berhad.
MMC Group’s Engineering division has played a leading role for the implementation of the entire project including the underground works package in completing the 51 km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang project (SBK Line) and is now the main turnkey contractor for the entire Sungai Buloh- Serdang-Putrajaya project (SSP Line). Prior to this, MMC Group has successfully completed the 329 km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project as well as the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) motorway, the first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel in the world.
MMC Group is currently, undertaking key civil and infrastructure projects in the country namely Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant and Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant.
Under Industrial Development, MMC Group’s Property develops and manages close to 6,000 acres of industrial developments in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Kulim, Kedah, which include the Senai Airport City, Tanjung Bin Petrochemical & Maritime Industrial Centre (TBPMIC) and the Northern Technocity (NTC). The Senai Airport City, TBPMIC and NTC developments come under the ambit of Group Property’s three operating companies – Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd respectively.
In other businesses, MMC Group wholly-owns Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, a company which specialises in the full spectrum of water treatment and Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru – a major aviation hub and the main air transportation gateway to Iskandar Malaysia.
Enquiries
Please log on to www.mmc.com.my or call:
Azmi Anis, Head of Corporate Communications, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd
Tel: 012 – 3207755 / +603-3169 8888
Email: azmi@northport.com.my
Azlina Ashar, Head of Group Corporate Communications, MMC Corporation Berhad
Tel: 019 6688 990 / +603 2071 1124
Fax: +603 2026 2431
Email: azlina.ashar@mmc.com.my
