Glenn Marine pitches for new port

Kuala Lumpur: The owner and operator of the Port Klang Cruise Centre (PKCC) in Pulau Indah has come up with a proposal to convert the country's first cruise terminal into Port Klang's third container port.

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Port Klang Authority chairman Datuk Teh Kim Poo told Business Times that owner-operator Glenn Defense Marine (Asia) Sdn Bhd (GDMA) had submitted its proposal to the port authority. GDMA bought over PKCC from Star Cruises Terminal Sdn Bhd for RM118 million in 2009. GDMA is part of the Glenn Marine Group of Companies which is partly owned by Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT). "They have shown us the proposal, we did our studies and found that it was a good idea. We have no objections, but it's up to them to get the approval of the Ministry of Transport," he said. When asked why the location was not considered in its 20-year master plan, Teh said the idea of converting the cruise terminal into a container port had not come about then. The Port Klang Development Master Plan 2010-2030 commissioned late last year in effect had identified five locations, which did not include the PKCC site. These were Pulau Che Mat Zin, Klang Bar Channel, Old Klang Bar Channel, Pulau Carey and Kampung Batu Laut. Industry players have questioned the need for a third port considering there is room for expansion in Northport and Westports. Teh, however, begged to differ, saying land for expansion at the two ports were limited. "Westports has land for further development but this is land owned by Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam in his personal capacity, we cannot consider that in our plans," Teh said. PKCC is parked under Glenn Ports and Cruise Terminal in the group. Its chief executive officer Brian Paul did not respond to e-mailed questions as at press time. PKCC, which started operations in December 1995, is the first purpose-built modern dedicated cruise terminal in Malaysia.