Latest news with #PenangPortSdnBhd
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Growth plans put ports in tight spot
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has big plans to improve its public transport and road infrastructure, especially between the island and the mainland. But there's one huge catch – space. Two proposed crossings over the Penang Strait could leave port operations boxed in. A third road bridge in the north and proposed light rail transit (LRT) bridge in the south, if both materialise, would hem in the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) and Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT). CLICK TO ENLARGE The two cross-strait links will slice through approach lanes and limit the room, height and safe turning space for large vessels like container and cruise ships. 'This isn't just about the port. It's about how Penang grows with so little space left,' said Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan. His biggest 'headache' is the proposed third bridge from Gurney Drive on the island to Bagan Ajam on the mainland. It was originally conceived as an undersea tunnel. 'Ships need at least 100m of vertical clearance,' Sasedharan said. 'The largest cruise ship in the world today, Icon of the Seas, is already 85m tall. We have to plan for even larger vessels.' A check online shows that among major sea-crossing bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has a vertical clearance of 67m at high tide, while the Kita Bisan-Seto Bridge between Japan's Honshu and Shikoku islands reaches up to 105m. The cable-stayed Duge Bridge in China has a vertical clearance of 565m. It spans a gorge with the Beipan River far below and has a total length of 1.3km. France's Millau Viaduct rises 270m above ground. Its tallest pylon soars to 343m, taller than the Eiffel Tower. It is regarded as the world's tallest bridge structure. Sasedharan said the third Penang bridge may require a highly challenging 2,000m main span with no pillars or piers beneath. This is to allow safe port operations, as the route cuts across a channel used by 5,000 vessels a year. Among the longest main spans in the world are Russia's Russky Bridge at 1,104m and Istanbul's Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge at 1,090m. The LRT bridge, planned between Macallum Street Ghaut, in the south of the island, and Butterworth does not directly affect the port's expansion zone. However, there are concerns over navigational safety and ferry operations. Sasedharan said PPSB had provisionally agreed to a 60m to 62m vertical clearance for the LRT bridge's main span. But it is the span width that poses the greatest risk. 'We're asking for a 600m main span. That's the minimum for safe passage. 'We may need tugboats stationed permanently in the area to manage risks. At RM10,000 a day, who pays for that?' he asked. He added that achieving a 600m main span may require bridge structures as tall as those on Penang's first and second bridges. These could interfere with flight paths from the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Butterworth. It is learned that the LRT bridge is expected to be 4km long. Aside from the railway line, there are plans to include jogging and cycling paths along it. Sasedharan said: 'We're not against the LRT. But this needs a full marine risk analysis, an aviation review and more.' He stressed that the port was not saying 'no' to development, but called for more holistic planning. Worries over Penang's port facilities, however, are being fully considered, said Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. 'Our port is crucial to economic development. We realigned the third bridge's plan to make sure NBCT's expansion will not be hindered. 'As for the Penang Strait, there are many other busy straits in the world, like Istanbul with three bridges crossing the Bosphorus and about 40,000 oil tankers, bulk carriers, freighters and cruise ships passing each year,' he said. Zairil stressed that 'Penang is not doing something that has never been done before'. 'These civil engineering feats are accomplished all over the world. The third bridge is still many years away from being finalised, so we have plenty of time to ensure the best engineering solutions will be used. 'But we plan now to make sure Penang stays globally competitive far into the future,' he said.
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Third fixed link still on hold but work on LRT bridge to start
GEORGE TOWN: While work on one new crossing between Penang's island and mainland is about to start, discussions for yet another crossing has been going on for years. In fact, the idea of a third fixed link between Penang Island and the mainland was first proposed in the early 2010s as part of the Penang Transport Master Plan. It was originally conceived as an undersea tunnel between Gurney Drive and Bagan Ajam, a 7km tunnel to run 11m beneath the seabed, costing over RM6bil. It was to be funded partly through a land swap involving reclaimed parcels along the Gurney Drive coastline. The project was awarded to Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle appointed to undertake the tunnel's feasibility studies and construction. However, the plan never received approval due to cost concerns, political transitions and questions about its financing model. In 2023, the state government signalled a shift, favouring a conventional bridge instead. However, that has run into concerns by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, which indicated that the third bridge would at least need to have 100m of vertical clearance to allow large cruise and cargo vessels through. The main span, without piers or pillars, would need to stretch as far as 2km to prevent interference with shipping lanes. While that plans remains on the drawing board, another more recent idea is bearing fruit – the light rail transit (LRT) bridge under the Federal Government-funded Mutiara Line. The LRT system will link Komtar with the upcoming Silicon Island off the island's southern coast and is expected to serve key locations including SPICE Arena, the airport and the Bayan Lepas industrial zones. The LRT bridge includes a crossing to Butterworth to connect an LRT station in Macallum Street Ghaut with Penang Sentral. It is learnt that the LRT bridge will be 4km long and may include pedestrian and cycling paths as part of a broader multi-modal design. PPSB has specified a vertical clearance of 60m to 62m, with a required mid-channel span of at least 600m to allow ship navigation. On the mainland, the bridge is expected to reach land near the Crowne Plaza Hotel along Jalan Bagan Luar, about 1km north of Penang Sentral. Early-stage construction work on several LRT station sites on the island has begun.
Barnama
a day ago
- Business
- Barnama
Penang Port Invests RM37 Mln In Four Hybrid RTG Cranes To Enhance Efficiency, Sustainability
REGION - NORTHERN > NEWS GEORGE TOWN, June 23 (Bernama) -- Penang Port Sdn Bhd has invested US$7.88 million (RM37 million) in acquiring four new hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Mitsui E & S Co Ltd, Japan, to enhance operational efficiency and promote environmental sustainability. In a statement today, Penang Port said the addition of these four new hybrid RTGs brings the total to 11 hybrid units as part of the 31-unit RTG fleet and this significant upgrade underscores its commitment to innovation. Penang Port began its hybrid RTG journey with three units in 2019 before adding four more in 2020. bootstrap slideshow 'Hybrid RTG cranes play a crucial role in modern port operations by efficiently loading and stacking intermodal containers with impressive accuracy. What sets these machines apart is their innovative use of both diesel and electric battery power. 'We anticipate a 50 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions with the addition of these hybrid cranes, leading to significant cost savings compared to traditional diesel-powered RTGs,' the statement said. Meanwhile, chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said the investment underscores Penang Port's commitment to enhancing operational efficiency while fostering a greener and more sustainable port environment. 'With these new RTGs, we will significantly improve our container handling capacity, optimise our operations, and most importantly, reduce our carbon footprint, paving the way for a healthier future. 'The arrival of four hybrid RTG cranes represents a significant advancement for Penang Port and the communities it serves,' he added. In addition to the operational benefits, this initiative aligns closely with Penang Port's strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability goals. It encompasses aspects of the port's operations, from minimising carbon footprint and improving waste management practices to optimising resource utilisation.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Penang Port acquires four new RM34mil hybrid RTG cranes from Japan
KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Port Sdn Bhd has announced the arrival of four new hybrid rubber-tyred gantry (RTG) cranes from Japan's Mitsui E&S Co Ltd, a move set to improve operational efficiency and promote greener port operations. The port operator said the US$7.88 million (about RM33.84 million) investment reflects its commitment to developing a more efficient and sustainable port, which will not only meet the needs of Penang but also promote growth in the surrounding region. The addition of these four new hybrid RTGs brings the total number of hybrid units at Penang Port to 11, as part of its 31-unit RTG fleet, the company said in a statement. "Hybrid RTG cranes play a crucial role in modern port operations by efficiently loading and stacking intermodal containers with impressive accuracy. What sets these machines apart is their innovative use of both diesel and electric battery power," it said. Penang Port expects a 50 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions with the addition of these hybrid cranes, leading to significant cost savings compared to traditional diesel-powered RTGs. This is in line with the company's environmental, social and governance sustainability goals, encompassing all aspects of the port's operations, from minimising its carbon footprint and improving waste management practices to optimising resource utilisation. Chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said the new RTGs underscore the commitment to enhancing operational efficiency while fostering a greener and more sustainable port environment. "With these new RTGs, we will significantly improve our container handling capacity, optimise our operations and, most importantly, reduce our carbon footprint, paving the way for a healthier future," he added.
The Star
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Malaysia, Laos reaffirm support for Timor-Leste's Asean bid
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Laos have reiterated their strong support for Timor-Leste's full Asean membership and called for intensified, inclusive efforts to address Myanmar's prolonged crisis. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said both countries agreed that it was time to finalise Timor-Leste's accession process. "We also discussed the accession of Timor-Leste, hopefully by October this year if we can retain a consensus in this meeting tomorrow, particularly during the following retreat,' he said in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, at the Perdana Putra Complex here Sunday (May 25). Earlier, Anwar and Siphandone witnessed the exchange of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) and Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP). The exchange was represented by MMC Port Holdings Sdn Bhd (MMC Ports) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Azman Shah Mohd Yusof and PTL Holding Co Ltd CEO Chanthone Sitthixay. On the situation in Myanmar, Anwar said the matter was also raised during his discussion with Siphandone. "We did discuss too, concerning Myanmar, the need to continue humanitarian assistance, but also the need for all parties in Myanmar to respect the need for peace, immediate ceasefire and then to try and work through the Asean mechanism and understanding, using the five-point consensus among Asean countries," he said. Siphandone arrived in Malaysia today to begin his first official visit ahead of the 46th Asean Summit and Related Meetings in Kuala Lumpur. He was then accorded an official welcoming ceremony by the Prime Minister at the Perdana Putra Complex, followed by a bilateral meeting. Wisma Putra, in a statement, said this is Siphandone's first visit to Malaysia since being elected as Prime Minister of Laos in December 2022. The visit, ahead of the 46th Asean Summit, the second Asean-GCC Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit on May 26 and 27 in Malaysia's capital, underscores the strong and enduring ties between Malaysia and Laos. The 46th Asean Summit, being held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship theme, "Inclusivity and Sustainability", also marks Malaysia's fifth time chairing the regional bloc since its previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Laos reached RM99.7mil (US$21.9mil), with Malaysia's exports valued at RM67.8mil (USD14.9 million) and imports totalling RM31.9mil (US$7mil). Malaysia is the 5th largest foreign investor in Laos, with total investments worth US$942mil across 46 registered projects, focusing on sectors such as renewable energy, transport and logistics, telecommunication, construction, banking and hotel services. - Bernama
