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The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is a new container transhipment port developed on a greenfield site under a private concession agreement. The port is ideally located on the west side of the Malaysian peninsular in the State of Johor Darul Takzim adjacent to the Straits of Malacca and the main shipping routes between Europe and South East Asia. The port has also very good inland communication links since it is located close to the North-South Expressway, the main highway which runs along the west coast of Malaysia, and is in close proximity to the Second Crossing to Singapore.
Ports uk members Halcrow and Pinsent Masons provided consultancy services for the Tanjung Pelepas project. Though working independently, their involvement provides an insight into the strength a combined team of consultants can bring to project implementation.
Halcrow undertook initial feasibility studies for a potential port development in Johor for the Government, considering the market potential, optimum site location, infrastructure requirements, technical aspects, project cost estimates, phasing and programme, as well as advice on privatization.
The Phase I development consists of a container transhipment terminal with an annual throughput capacity of 3.8 million TEU. The terminal comprises six berths each 360m long with a depth alongside of 14m to accommodate the latest generation container ships. Navigational access to the port is provided by a 12 m deep dredged channel 12km long and 300m wide. The terminal includes a container yard with an area of some 1 million m2 with container stacking areas laid out for rubber tyred gantry (RTG) operation, a rail container transfer station, port administration building, port entrance gate, road bridge access, port utilities building, maintenance workshop, sewage treatment plant, port electrical supply and sub-stations, water supply and drainage system.
Halcrow was commissioned to provide project management and technical assistance for the planning, design, procurement and construction of this privately financed US$800 million fast-track development. The work included master planning studies, shipping traffic studies, preparation of information for investors and bankers, site investigations, design works and tender documentation for the dredging, reclamation and ground treatment works, wharf construction, port infrastructure and buildings, access road and container handling equipment. This technically complex project posed a range of challenges that were met with cost-effective engineering solutions. During the two-year project planning and design period, Halcrow provided a core team of four senior engineers with extensive experience in port planning and engineering backed up by Halcrow experts and specialists.
Halcrow in association with Sepakat Setia Perunding Sdn. Bhd. (SSP) a major Malaysian consultant were also commissioned to carry out the concept design and review followed by the detailed design of the infrastructure and port buildings for the Phase I development.
Pinsent Masons, in association with a local law firm, were appointed by the concession company to advise on the legal aspects of the tendering and procurement of the project. This involved a risk analysis of the concession contract, and preparation of the tender packages for various design and construction elements of the project including early enabling works, dredging and reclamation and wharf construction. The legal scope expanded to include the procurement packages for the gantry cranes and other port handling equipment and a variety of consultancy work including IT design and supply and environmental work. Input from Pinsent Masons was also required for the information package for investors and bankers and the legal scope covered all ancillary issues such as insurance and bonding.
In addition, Halcrow provided the site project manager for the construction covering the site planning, coordination of the works, coordination of site supervision consultants and contractors, physical and financial progress monitoring and reporting, contract administration, environmental monitoring, site safety and liaison with external authorities.
The first two berths including container yard, container handling equipment, buildings, services and access road were completed within budget and fully operational ahead of the original project programme in a period of just over 2 years from commencement of the dredging and reclamation works. The Port was officially opened in March 2000. Halcrow were commissioned in association with SSP to prepare the designs for the Phase II port buildings and infrastructure.
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