Significant News Coming for Malaysians! A New Port to Emerge in “Port” Dickson Soon?

Bernama: (From left) Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, and Tanco Holdings Bhd group managing director Datuk Seri Andrew Tan Jun Suan at the joint-venture agreement signing ceremony. According to Aminuddin, the AI ​​technology adopted must have an optimal impact on the entire chain of marine and cargo services, such as registration of entry and exit of ships, scheduling of ship movements, and tracking of marine operations around the port.

On a significant day in Seremban, March 4th emerged as a landmark date for Malaysia's maritime and logistics sector with the announcement of the nation's inaugural smart artificial intelligence (AI) container port in Port Dickson, poised to revolutionise the industry with an estimated investment of RM2 billion. This ambitious project is championed by Midports Holdings Sdn Bhd, in partnership with Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan Inc (MBINS), setting a new benchmark for technological integration in port operations.

The Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, unveiled the details of this groundbreaking venture during the signing ceremony of the joint-venture agreement between MBINS and Midports Holdings. The port, strategically located in Pasir Panjang, Port Dickson, is designed to feature a 1.8km jetty alongside a terminal and container operation area spanning approximately 80.93 hectares. The introduction of automatically operating gantry cranes marks a significant leap towards a future where seamless synergy between technology and logistical operations is realised.

Although the new port's capacity might not rival that of Port Klang, its strategic design to accommodate a broad spectrum of container ships signals a strategic foresight. The port's offshore area, blessed with a natural depth conducive to maritime construction and located merely 1.85km from the shore, presents an ideal setting for this pioneering initiative.

The ceremony was graced by the presence of key figures, including Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, and the leadership team from Midports Holdings, highlighting the project's national significance. Aminuddin emphasised the port's potential to significantly impact both the national and state economies, particularly through the generation of 5,000 new job opportunities spanning various sectors.

Furthermore, Aminuddin shed light on the strategic advantages offered by the port's geographical positioning. Situated near the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and linked to a network of roads and highways, the port is poised to become a crucial node for both domestic and international sea transport, transforming Port Dickson into a 'New Port City'.

The port's capacity for direct trade with Sumatra via Dumai promises enhanced trade efficiency, reducing both distance and time. The adoption of AI technology in the port's operations is set to redefine the marine and cargo services landscape, streamlining processes such as ship registration, movement scheduling, and port operations tracking, thereby elevating operational efficiency, reducing human error, and minimising accidents.

As the event concluded, the vision of Port Dickson evolving into a dynamic hub for sea transport, driven by cutting-edge AI technology, became ever more vivid. The smart AI container port project is not merely about constructing a port; it's about pioneering a new era in the maritime industry and propelling Malaysia to the forefront of the global maritime sector.

In fact, Midports Holdings is a 79% owned subsidiary of Tanco Holdings Berhad, and the above share price chart represents the past 52 weeks movement of the company.