Westports, a port operator based in Malaysia, is set to boost its container handling capacity from 11 million to 13 million, following the opening of its Container Terminal 8 by mid-2017, according to Splash247.
In a previous article by PTI, it was reported that Westports had pledged to invest around US$300 million in the terminal, following strong financial performance during Q3, 2014.
Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, CEO of Westports, said: “Our focus is always skewed towards a supply-driven approach to meet our customer demand. With CT8, we will be able to handle big vessels while continuously maintain the highest level of productivity.”
Westports profit figures soared by more than 10% in Q1, 2015 as a result of increased throughput and efficiency. Its total intake was recorded at more than $30 million.
The Malaysian shipping industry also looks set to bolster its performance after the Malaysian government recently made the announcement that it is drafting a shipping master plan, which intends to address and resolve critical issues.
Asian shipbuilding has also peaked and is anticipated to rise to around 4.8 million gross tonnage by the end of 2015.
(Source: iStock)