Evergreen switches from S'pore to Malaysia<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Johar Baharu, Malaysia<\/p>\n
Taiwan's Evergreen Marine, one of the world's largest
\ncontainer shipping groups, officially switched its regional hub
\nfrom Singapore to Malaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) at the
\nweekend.<\/p>\n
The move has been hailed as a victory in Malaysia's aggressive
\ncampaign to compete with Singapore port operator PSA Group, which
\nhandles about 25 percent of the world's total container
\ntransshipment throughput.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik said during the
\nofficial launch Saturday that Evergreen would play a big role in
\nthe development of PTP as a major transshipment hub in the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
PTP would use the opportunity of higher base volumes provided
\nby Evergreen's move to attract more feeders and main lines as it
\ndeveloped and expanded the terminal.<\/p>\n
\"PTP's volume expectations of 2.5 million TEUs (twenty-foot
\nequivalent units) this year and over three million TEUs next year
\nare commendable,\" he was quoted as saying by Malaysia's Bernama
\nnews agency during a ceremony here.<\/p>\n
He said PTP, which is in Johor state just across the narrow
\nTebrau Strait from Singapore, had started its phase two
\nconstruction which involved dredging and reclamation for an
\nadditional eight berths and the construction of two additional
\nberths by the end of next year.<\/p>\n
Evergreen Group vice-chairman S.S. Lin said PTP's \"fundamental
\nelements coupled with its strong management team, complemented by
\nEvergreen's direct service network worldwide, will surely benefit
\nthe customers in Johor and Malaysia.\"<\/p>\n
Evergreen began phasing in its use of PTP on Aug. 24, and now
\nhas more than 15 calls a week at the port.<\/p>\n
PTP chairman Mohamad Taufik Abdullah said the calls by
\nEvergreen had proved that PTP was capable of servicing the
\ntransshipment business of international shipping lines, thus
\nmoving PTP closer in its quest to become the premier
\ntransshipment center in the region.<\/p>\n
\"In 2001, PTP handled 2.05 million TEUs and for this year, we
\nhave surpassed 2.05 million TEUs to date and are expecting to
\nachieve the 2.5 million mark by year-end,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Singapore Port operator PSA Corp. Ltd. also lost Danish global
\ncontainer line Maersk Sealand, another major jewel in its crown,
\nto PTP, last year. Shipping sources said PTP offered quality
\nservice with a 30 percent discounted price against Singapore.<\/p>\n
The Singapore government has responded by announcing an
\noverhaul of its shipping strategy, including a cut in handling
\ncharges, opening the way for new port operators and offering
\nshipping lines the opportunity to run their own berths.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who outlined the new shipping
\nblueprint, said the changes were needed because of the emergence
\nof tougher competition in the region.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/evergreen-switches-from-spore-to-malaysia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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