Northport Receives New Terminal Equipment From Japan

Northport (Malaysia) Bhd (“Northport”), a member of MMC Group officially received 9 units of new Rubber Tyred Gantry (“RTG”) cranes. The new terminal equipment is the first batch of a total of 23 units of diesel-powered RTGs and 11 units of electrified RTGs or eRTGs purchased by Northport from Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui E&S”).

The First Secretary of Japan Embassy in Malaysia, Mr. Saito Hiroaki was present to witness the handover of the RTGs from the General Manager, Cranes & Systems Division of Mitsui E&S, Mr. Atsufumi Takahashi to the Chief Executive Officer of Northport, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof.

“The port congestion in early 2021 and 2022 as well as anticipation of a consistently high container and conventional cargo handling at Northport had triggered our move to reconfigure and restructure our terminal to improve our port capacity. The terminal reconfiguration plan involves the conversion and development of new container yard and acquisition of new port equipment. The move is necessary as we have been handling high volumes of container cargo in recent years and we foresee that this upward trend will continue in the coming years,” said Dato’ Azman.

Northport had a back-to-back record breaking achievement in the last two years. In 2021, Northport set a remarkable record-breaking performance for its container business segment after successfully handling 3,324,364 TEUs of containers, the Company’s all-time high container handling in a single year. Last year, Northport recorded 11,115,670 Freight Weight Tonnes (“FWTs”) of cargo throughput, the highest achievement of conventional cargo handling in a single year since the formation of Northport through the merger of Klang Container Terminal (“KCT”) and Klang Port Management (“KPM”) in 2000.

Currently, Northport operates a fleet of 84 units of RTG cranes, consisting of 71 diesel-powered RTGs and 13 e-RTGs.

“Today’s event symbolizes the start of a strategic partnership between Northport and Mitsui E&S through the handover of the new RTG cranes. This venture presents an opportunity for more collaboration and at the same time further strengthen the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan,” said Mr. Saito Hiroaki.

“We are delighted that finally we are able to handover these new RTGs to Northport. It is also a proud moment for Mitsui E&S after completing the designing and manufacturing works of the terminal equipment and delivering the RTGs for the first time to Northport. These new RTGs are equipped with modern features and new technologies, providing reliable and consistent service to meet the growing demands of today’s port business”, said Mr. Atsufumi Takahashi.

In line with the companies environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) initiatives, Northport will increase its environmental friendly port equipment through the purchase of 11 units of new eRTG cranes for its new container yard designated as the J Block. The new eRTGs will be fully delivered by December 2023. Northport was the first port in Malaysia ever to use eRTGs back in 2013.

Apart from the environmental friendly terminal equipment, Northport has also embarked on other initiatives towards empowering ESG commitment especially in its operations, including the new NDSB2 warehouses which are equipped with solar panels, natural air ventilation system, translucent panel for natural lighting system, Industrialized Building System (“IBS”) and Rainwater Harvesting System. Northport is also evaluating the use of LNG powered for its prime movers and utilising B10 biodiesel for its terminal equipment and vehicles as part of the company’s green initiatives.

“The arrival of these new RTGs will further boost the efficiency and productivity of our container operations and fulfill our commitment to continuously deliver high quality service to our valued customers. The delivery of the new RTGs today is a step forward for Northport in becoming a Safer, Greener, Smarter and Better port,” concluded Dato’ Azman.
Source: MMC