INGENIEUR
as possible in respect of the equipment and the environment they operate . The idea is to eliminate guesswork and adopt a more predictive maintenance culture . The Shanghai International Port Group ( SIPG ) that manages and operates Shanghai Port , the world ’ s top ranked container port , has more than 5,000 different container handling equipment in their books . In order to optimise the port performance and management systems of the port , SIPG adopts a high technologybased “ Intelligent Management System of Container Operation ” utilising fuzzy control theory , multi-stage optimum decision-making theory , computer remote-control monitoring , computer emulation , network communication , database and modern information management and control technologies in the container production and management systems of the port . The System emphasised the collection and use of data and has managed to cut down equipment maintenance response time and secure the continuous highefficient running of the container production system 16 .
It is demonstrated that a high level use of technology in port maintenance is necessary to optimise equipment life cycle and to minimise equipment downtime . Data analytics and predictive tools are used to ensure equipment maintenance schedules are met , equipment faults are quickly identified , thoroughly analysed and accurate corrective actions taken . This decreases the probability of equipment breakdown and promotes a higher level of productivity .
CASE STUDY – PORT OF TANJUNG PELEPAS , JOHOR
In order to better understand the mechanics of port management in Malaysia , it is useful to look at a case study , and in this case , Port of Tanjung Pelepas is selected .
Port of Tanjung Pelepas ( PTP ) in Johor is a specialised container port located on the Southwest coast of Johor . It is strategically located within the world ’ s busiest international shipping lane , the Straits of Malacca and Singapore ( Figure 3 below ). More significantly , the Straits is also the main thoroughfare for the East-West container trade .
PTP began operation modestly in October 1999 with the opening of its Phase 1 facilities . It was quite an impressive start , registering more than 20,000 TEUs in its first three months of operation . PTP ’ s growth was even more spectacular , surpassing the two million TEUs mark after slightly more than two years of operation in 2001 . Today , PTP is consistently ranked among the top 20 busiest ports in the world . Figure 4 shows the annual container volume handled by PTP since its inception up to 2019 .
Shanghai Yangshan deepwater port is a deep water port for container ships in Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai , China
Figure 3 : Location of PTP and its regional connectivity
18 VOL 83 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020