Port Klang on track to normalcy after months of delays

PETALING JAYA: As Port Klang grapples with an influx of container ships, the Port Klang Authority (PKA) says it has made considerable strides in alleviating the congestion that has plagued the port over the past several months.

“Remarkable progress” has been observed with a 70% delay improvement within just three months, the PKA said.

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Its general manager Capt K. Subramaniam said delays had built up by March following the onset of conflict on the Red Sea in December last year.

“In April, the average delay peaked at about 10 hours, although this varied – with some ships experiencing up to 20 hours’ delay, while others faced none,” he said.

The situation fluctuated in the following months, with delays decreasing to an average of six hours in May, before significantly spiking to nearly 40 hours in June.

However, as of July 25, the delays have been reduced to an average of about 15 hours.

“This is a substantial improvement and a clear indication that our mitigation measures are effective,” he said when contacted.

With approximately 11 ships in the queue as of July 25, the situation at Port Klang is not considered out of the ordinary.

The PKA, said Subramaniam, will enhance port operations and ensure that Port Klang continues to manage the flow of trade effectively in the face of global supply chain challenges.

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“We are intensifying our planning efforts in collaboration with shipping lines to optimise the sequence of arrivals, discharges and loading.

“We are also investing in new equipment and actively urging shipping lines to balance their operations by loading more cargo, which will help to alleviate yard congestion,” said Subramaniam.

The PKA, he added, had successfully fostered strong cooperation between Northport and Westport – Port Klang’s two primary terminals.

“When one terminal is experiencing significant congestion, we divert ships to the other, utilising our collective capacity and avoiding bottlenecks,” he said.

Despite the congestion, Port Klang has seen a growth in cargo volume – with a 6% increase to 7.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the first half of this year compared to last year’s 6.7 million TEUs.

He attributed this to the traffic surge, Malaysia’s robust gross domestic product growth and the burgeoning domestic cargo sector.

On whether the port will return to normalcy by the end of August, Subramaniam said the PKA is “committed to doing our best, but the situation hinges on external factors beyond our control.”

These factors include the conflict in the Middle East and trade relations between China and the United States.

He said although the congestion might be seen by some as a growth opportunity for Malaysian ports, the temporary increase has a detrimental impact on efficiency.