INGENIEUR
COVER FEATURE
Port Operation Management :
Case Study of Port of Tanjung Pelepas , Johor
By Muhammad Razif bin Ahmad General Manager , Lembaga Pelabuhan Johor
Aerial view Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Gelang Patah , Johor
The International Chamber of Shipping1
articulated that “ Shipping is the life blood of the global economy . Without shipping , intercontinental trade , the bulk transport of raw materials , and the import / export of affordable food and manufactured goods would simply not be possible .”
The truth is , the shipping service is indispensable for global trade . How else can manufactured goods be transported from China to Europe , garments from Asia be delivered to the fashion centres of the world , and more crucially , food to the rest of the world .
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ) reported that more than
80 % of global trade by volume , or more than 70 % by value , is carried by sea and handled at ports around the world 2 . In the era of globalisation , port and shipping services together have evolved from being traditional land / sea interfaces to become providers of complete logistics networks 3 . Together , shipping and port services are regarded as vital components of the global supply chain . The then UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-Moon further lent his support when he said in 2016 , “ Maritime transport is the backbone of global trade and the global economy ”. He further added that “ Everybody in the world benefits from shipping , yet few people realise it . We ship food , technology , medicines , and memories . As the world ’ s population continues to grow , particularly in
12 VOL 83 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020