UASC'S LARGEST CONTAINER VESSEL CALLS AT WESTPORTS

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- UMM SALAL, a 13,000 twenty-foot equivalent
unit container vessel owned by the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), made her
maiden call at Westports on May 12, marking a momentous landmark in the history
of UASC.

The berthing of UMM SALAL at Westports is viewed as yet another great effort
to promote government-to-government relations and business-to-business
partnership.

"We see it as an opportunity for both the Middle East and Malaysia to
achieve greater harmony and to further expand commercial prospects," said
Westports Chief Executive Officer Ruben Emir Gnanalingam in a statement Sunday.

He also assured UASC that Westports would continue to provide its utmost
support in their endeavour to be a leading global player.

The UMM SALAL, which sailed into Westports from Yantian, China, is the first
in a series of nine A-13 Class container ships odered by UASC, and is currently
being deloyed for North Europe trade.

On hand to receive the mega-sized container vessel on Thursday was Port
Klang Authority Chairman Datuk Dr Teh Kim Po, Westports Executive Chairman G.
Gnanalingam and Lars Christiansen, Vice President, UASC, Asia Region.

Meanwhile, Ruben said Westports was now on an expansion path and has
already commenced reclamation work from Container Terminal 6 to 9.

As for wharf expansion, he said the port operator had completed almost 70
per cent of works on the first 300-meter for CT 6.

"It is scheduled to be ready in July. We have also ordered eight
new cranes which would be delivered between July and Novermber," he
said.

Ruben pointed out that Westports would continue construction of another
900-meter berth with the first 300-meter expected to be ready by end-2012 and
the balance by mid-2013.

He said the 900-meter berth would be complemented with 11 new cranes which
would bring the total number of cranes at Westports to 54.