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TMP chairman Datu Sarudu Hoklai said it would also boost TMP’s productivity from about 14 – 16 moves per hour to about 24 – 32 moves per hour, enabling 50 per cent improvement in vessel turn-around time.
“Despite berthing space constraint, such quantum-leap improvement in operational efficiency and safety, coupled with intensified marketing, TMP is capable and expected to handle more than 70,000 TEUs (20 equivalent units) within this year.
“With the availability of these versatile cranes, it is hoped that shipping lines will find TMP an appealing destination as a port of call and would fully utilise its services,” he said after receiving the ‘mock key’ from Trac-Wheel (M) Sdn Bhd, the supplier of the cranes in a simple ceremony held at the port yesterday.
Trac-Wheel was represented by its managing director Richard Song Swee Jin.
TMP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC).
Sarudu, who is also the general manager of STIDC, said both cranes had been successfully commissioned on Feb 25.
He said the acquisition of the mobile harbour cranes, the GHMK 3405 with a lifting capacity of 100-tonne, was a milestone achievement for TMP.
The model has a working radius of 10 metres with an outreach of 11 rows and it augured well with the recent maiden call by an 11th row container vessel MV Mell Sayang on Feb 24, he said.
With GHMK 3405, he pointed out TMP would no longer face any problem to service up to 11th row container vessel as well as huge project cargo weighing up to 100 tonnes per lift.
The second unit, HMK 170E, he said with a smaller 63-tonne lifting capacity would complement the cargo handling operations of TMP both at the quay and at the yard, considering TMP saw its container throughput handling reaching 60,854 TEUs last year.
It was an increase by 29 per cent over the previous year, a far cry from TMP’s humble beginnings with container throughput of only 8,645 TEUs in 2009 when it first started operation as a transhipment hub for containers bound for Rajang Port Authority, he stated.
“Both machines are versatile and suitable for barge/coaster, feeder and container vessels catering for containers, bulk materials, break-bulk and heavy project loads,” he added.
According to a press release, TMP was appointed as an approved port operator on Feb 26, 2009 to operate, manage and develop Tanjung Manis Port at Tg Manis, Mukah Division, and commenced operation on July 1, 2009.
From its maiden call by MV Slatan Makmur on Aug 4, 2009 carrying 162 TEUS, TMP currently recorded an average of 5,000 TEUs montly, contributed mainly by four shipping lines.
For the period under review, total container throughput handed by TMP was 60,854 TEUs, an increase of 29 per cent over the previous year.
The sharp increase was driven by strong growth from existing customer as well as new customer. TMP has also seen a new shipping line call at the port, the MTT Shipping during the year.
Transhipment container bound mainly to and fro Sibu constituted 99 per cent of the total container throughput. TMP aims for 28 per cent growth this year.
Last year, TMP handled a total gross registered ton (GRT) of 1,382,307 for 233 vessels, compared to the 1,053,973 GRT for 178 vessels in 2010.
Of the 233 vessels received, container ships registered the highest number of vessels at 188, followed by conventional vessel (25), bulk vessel (16) and liquid bulk vessel (4) that had its maiden operation only in Nov last year.
Source : The Borneo Post
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