Thursday 10 November 2011

Northport injects RM135m worth of investments

KUALA LUMPUR: Northport (M) Bhd, the wholly owned subsidiary of NCB Holdings Bhd, announced yesterday that it plans to inject RM135 million into various investments.

“The largest portion from the approved sum will be spent on the development of a rubber tyre gantry (RTG)-supported container stacking yard that will replace one that was previously designed for operation using straddle carriers,” said group chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid yesterday.

“The conversion will pave the way for higher density RTG-assisted stacking of containers. The parcel of work forms part of the phased programme to progressively convert the straddle carrier-based stacking yard behind Container Terminal 1 into an area for RTG operation,” it said.

The group said the investments are aimed at further enhancing the capacity and efficiency of its container-handling facilities, especially at Container Terminal 1. Both this container terminal and Container Terminal 3 provide service to most of the container vessels that call at Northport.

Other investments include increasing its fleet. Its RTG fleet will be increased with 10 new Japanese manufactured units, which will be delivered within 11 months.

There were also 61 new prime movers purchased by the group to both replace and enhance its current fleet. The delivery of the movers will be completed within the next six to eight months.

Northport is currently working on completing Wharf 8A, which is next to Wharf 8. Construction commenced in July and is expected to be completed in 2013.

Other programmes are said to be in the pipeline, which will enhance the handling capacity of the group’s container berths to accommodate larger vessels.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, November 10, 2011.
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