THE CMA CGM Group, a leading global player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, in partnership with Infinity Logistics and Transport Ventures Limited (Infinity), has launched a weekly Penang-Padang Besar block train service and also officially opened a container depot at the Penang Port today.
CMA CGM Malaysia managing director Ravindra Sahu said the CMA CGM Group was delighted to have partnered with Infinity in launching the compelling block train service and opening a depot here with strong support from the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).
“They are important milestones that enable us to streamline our customers’ logistics needs as we seamlessly relay their cargo from point to point.
“At CMA CGM, we are continuously identifying better ways to enrich and enhance our value proposition to our customers, partners and key stakeholders,” Ravindra said in his speech before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow officiated the block train service and the newly opened on-dock depot at the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) in Butterworth today.
Also present were Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, Senator Lim Hui Ying, PPSB chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan and Infinity managing director Datuk Seri Chan Kong Yew.
Headquartered in Marseille, France, the CMA CGM Group name is an acronym of two predecessor companies, namely ‘Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement’ (CMA) and ‘Compagnie Générale Maritime’ (CGM), which translates as Maritime Freighting Company and General Maritime Company.
Ravindra said with the launch of the block train service, the company is providing a rail and sea multimodal solution to exporters from the southern provinces of Thailand who ship their cargo through the Penang Port.
“The multimodal offering secures the equipment as well as rail and sailing slots, reduces their customs, monitoring and transportation costs, and saves them on scheduling activities with different providers.
“Each week, up to 100 containers on rail are dedicated for CMA CGM shippers. Laden containers are picked up from Padang Besar, a Malaysian town on the border with the Songkhla province of Thailand.
“They will then set off for the Penang Port to be loaded on the CMS2 and KCM2 services provided by CNC, the CMA CGM Group’s Intra-Asia specialist (sea carrier of the group company).
“And from Penang, the two weekly services (CMS2 and KCM2) will head for Malaysia’s top export destinations in Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Busan,” he added.
According to Ravindra, the block train service will make its weekly stop in the Penang port, adjacent to the newly opened on-dock depot that occupies over 14,000sq m in land area.
“Co-managed by CMA CGM and Infinity, the depot is characterised by better connectivity coupled with diverse container handling capabilities and efficiency.
“With a monthly operating capacity of 7,500 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) containers, the facility provides more than just container storage, repair, cleaning, washing, handling and pre-trip inspections.
“It also specialises in handling ‘container grade selection’, a container solution for special goods as well as Flexitank containers for non-dangerous liquid shipments such as cooking oil that Penang exports,” he said.
Sasedharan said being a multipurpose port, Penang Port certainly has multiple advantages that can support the vision of CMA CGM Group and Infinity’s block train service and container depot.
“After the launching, the container depots in Penang Port will be one of the busiest places to come across.
“The design of our layout and area provides sufficient space for storage and it also promotes high-level security which will be crucial for both CMA CGM and Infinity.
“That is not all, as part of Penang Port’s masterplan, our current phase of expansion within the NBCT emphasised land reclamation.
“We also focus on expanding our logistics warehousing efforts. Moreover, plans for the new gates will allow for our future volume growth – coupled with the berth expansion that allows us to cater to about 2.2 million TEUs in our container yard in the coming years.
“This will surely provide a significant space to support CMA CGM Group and Infinity’s block train service and container depot, as well as all of our key partners within the terminal.
“Thus, on behalf of PPSB, I am delighted to begin this exciting new venture with CMA CGM and Infinity,” he said.
Chow congratulated both CMA CGM and Infinity on the great partnership.
“As we know, the logistics industry is an essential component of the global supply chain and a country’s economic growth.
“As such, the Penang government warmly welcomes this partnership that is also aligned with the 12th Malaysian Plan, which seeks to make the country a transport and logistics hub in Southeast Asia by 2025.
“Such partnership also will certainly further reinforce Penang as a dynamic import and export gateway of Malaysia’s northern region – the Silicon Valley of the East.
“In line with the Penang2030 vision, I also believe that this partnership will help strengthen Penang Port as a prominent logistics hub, subsequently becoming a preferred destination of investments in ASEAN.
“It is hoped that more of such collaborations will take place here in Penang to keep our flourishing economy growing, while making businesses commercially nimble to evolve with the ever changing and challenging environment,” he said.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar