Northport Hits Record Conventional Volumes in May
- June 16, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTHPORT HITS RECORD CONVENTIONAL VOLUMES IN MAY
PORT KLANG, 16 June 2021 – Despite being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (Northport), a member of MMC Group recorded its highest ever monthly throughput for the port’s conventional cargo business segment last month. Northport set a new milestone after handling 1,017,332 Freight Weight Tonnes (FWTs) in May 2021, surpassing its previous record of 968,356 FWTs recorded in August 2013.
“This achievement is a manifestation of Northport’s capability to weather the storm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which had significantly impacted a wide range of economic sectors and industries both globally and domestically,” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of Northport.
“This is the culmination of our transformation efforts in our conventional cargo operations, where we have undertaken various measures to improve our operational efficiency at both our terminals, Northport and Southpoint, including optimisation of storage space and facilities, equipment rationalisation, renegotiation of the contract with vendors, process improvement through system automation and digitalisation, data mining and analytics as well as promoting transformation through talent development and behavioral competencies among our employees. All these measures have successfully helped us to sail through choppy waters especially with the operational difficulties, manpower issues and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” added Dato’ Azman.
For the first five months of 2021, Northport handled a total of 4.1 million FWTs of conventional cargo, a growth of 32% against the same period last year. The most significant contributors to the higher throughput were palm oil, grain and iron and steel products which registered sharp growths of 80%, 61% and 29% respectively against the previous year.
The higher conventional cargo volume handled by Northport was to a large extent contributed by the successful handling of bigger dry bulk vessels at its terminal. Northport is now able to offer vessel productivity of 10,000 Deadweight Tonnage (DWT) per weather working day due to its improvement in processes and productivity. Consequently, twelve(12) vessels with more than 80,000 DWT displacement have berthed at Northport since July last year.
“Going forward, we will centralise our container operations within one terminal and make space for conventional cargo business to grow in the other terminal. This will further improve our cargo handling productivity and create space for the construction of new facilities which will allow us to offer better productivity,” added Dato’ Azman.
Meanwhile, the Biomass Logistics Hub operation in Northport’s other terminal, Southpoint recorded a total throughput of 169,281 tonnes since January this year, an increase of 91% against the same period in 2020. A total area of 300,200 sqft, comprising both open yards and covered warehouses, is currently tenanted by biomass industry players in Southpoint. Southpoint is also expected to see an increase in liquid cargo throughput with new tank capacity build-up in progress. Dato’ Azman added that there is still a lot of life and potential left in this 120-year-old terminal.
Prior to 1973, before the concept of intermodalism and containerisation was introduced to the Malaysian shipping and logistics players with the arrival of the first container ship, MV Tokyo Bay at Port Klang, the loading and unloading of cargo at the port was very labor intensive. Some basic cargo handling systems were in place to make the process more efficient. However, the “traditional” ways of handling the cargo were prone to the high risk of accident, loss and theft.
Today, the productivity and efficiency of conventional cargo handling at Northport have significantly improved with the use of state-of-the-art port equipment, information system and technology as well as improvement in manpower skills, competencies and processes.
“We are very proud of our employees and service providers especially those in conventional cargo operations who took up the challenge and proved that this business segment is still relevant and profitable. We have plans in the pipeline for our conventional cargo business and we are very excited to see this business segment grow even bigger. Watch this space,” concluded Dato’ Azman.
Photo caption: The offloading operation of grain from a conventional ship at Northport.
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 diversified businesses under four divisions, namely 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.
Northport holds the distinction of being the first port in Malaysia to be awarded the ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 37001:2016 standards and the winner of the prestigious National Occupational Safety and Health (NCOSH) Award 2019 in the Business Services category.
Enquiries : Please log on to www.northport.com.my or call Azmi Anis, Head of Corporate Communications, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, 012-3207755 / +603-3169 8776.
ABOUT MMC CORPORATION BERHAD
MMC Corporation Berhad (“MMC”) 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 includes the port 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, a logistics provider. Internationally, MMC 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, Malakoff Corporation Berhad is the largest Independent Power Producer in Malaysia and its subsidiary, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, is one of the leading environmental management companies in the country. Under Gas Malaysia Berhad, MMC is the supplier of reticulated natural gas in Peninsular Malaysia operating and maintaining 2,468 kilometres of gas pipeline. Through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, MMC provides full-fledge water services using high technology treatment in Malaysia.
MMC’s Engineering Division has played a leading role as the Project Delivery Partner and underground works package contractor in completing 51 kilometres Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (“KVMRT”) Kajang Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line) including 9.5 kilometres underground works. Currently, MMC is the main turnkey contractor for 52.2 kilometres KVMRT Putrajaya Line (previously known as Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya Line). MMC has also successfully completed the 329-kilometre 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 is currently in the final stage of completing the Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant (which will serve 920,000 Population Equivalent) and Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant (which will supply 1,130 Million Litres of treated water Per Day).
MMC’s Industrial Development Division develops and manages approximately 5,000 acres of industrial developments namely Senai Airport City (“SAC”) and Tanjung Bin Industrial Park (“TBIP”) in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Northern Technocity (“NTC”) in Kulim Kedah. The SAC, TBIP and NTC developments come under the ambit of MMC’s Industrial Development division, operating under three companies namely Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd.
In other business, through Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd, MMC is the operator of Senai International Airport in Johor Bahru – the southern aviation hub and an important gateway to Iskandar Malaysia.
Enquiries Please log on to www.mmc.com.my or call Azlina Ashar, Head of Group Corporate Communications, MMC Corporation Berhad, tel: +603 2071 1124.
