Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a joint venture between Malaysia-based MMC Group and Netherlands-based APM Terminals, is the first port in Malaysia to commission and operate electric prime movers (e-PMs). This introducton reinforces its leadership in sustainable port operations and marking another significant milestone in the nation’s maritime decarbonisation journey.
The first 21 e-PMs, delivered by Terberg Tractors Malaysia (TTM), officially entered service on 11 August 2026 to support horizontal container movement within the terminal. The deployment marked the first operational rollout of PTP’s e-PM fleet. It will collectively strengthen the port’s sustainability ambitions, operational efficiency and commitment to greener terminal operations.
Expanding the electric fleet
This milestone followed the signing of a procurement agreement between PTP and TTM in December 2025 for 52 e-PMs. Following the successful commissioning of the first 21 units, the remaining e-PMs are scheduled to be delivered in batches through to the end of September 2026. This will progressively expand PTP’s electric fleet and advance the port’s long-term decarbonisation agenda.
Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, Yang Berhormat Loke Siew Fook commented, “I am delighted to congratulate PTP on yet another Malaysian first as the country’s first port to introduce e-PMs. It reaffirms the port’s pioneering spirit and sets another national benchmark for the maritime industry. Ports around the world are accelerating their transition towards electrification. I am pleased to see Malaysian ports, with PTP at the forefront, keeping pace with global developments. What makes this achievement even more meaningful is that these e-PMs are manufactured locally by TTM in Pasir Gudang, Johor. It showcases the strength of Malaysian talent and manufacturing capabilities.
“PTP has consistently delivered remarkable achievements, setting new national benchmarks time and again. Last year, as PTP celebrated its 25th Anniversary, it also recorded another historic milestone. It was the first container terminal in Malaysia to surpass 14 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in a single year. It was also recognised by Alphaliner this year as the world’s fastest growing port. PTP succeeded with a growth rate of 14.5 percent. I look forward to seeing PTP continue strengthening its position as Malaysia’s leading transshipment hub,” he added.
Supporting long-term capacity growth
PTP Chief Executive Officer, Mark Hardiman, stated, “These new assets are not solely about advancing our sustainability ambitions. They also form an integral part of PTP’s long-term expansion programme. The fleet will increase the port’s handling capacity to 16.3 million TEUs annually by 2029. It will enable us to deliver greater capacity, reliability and efficiency to support growing trade volumes and our customers’ future requirements.
“We first undertook a Proof of Concept (PoC) between 2023 and 2024, which delivered encouraging results. The study demonstrated that an e-PM generates 4,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent (kgCO₂eq) per month compared to 7,600 kgCO₂eq for conventional units, achieving a 48 percent emissions reduction, alongside a 57 percent reduction in monthly operational costs per unit.
“PTP has established a comprehensive decarbonisation pathway to reduce carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030. A significant part of this journey has been the progressive electrification of our equipment fleet. Between 2011 and 2023, we progressively electrified our rubber-tyred gantry crane (RTG) fleet in phases, while expanding the fleet over time, with 245 e-RTGs now in operation. The introduction of e-PMs marks another important step in this on-going transition towards lower carbon port operations,” he said.
“Beyond equipment electrification, we continue to advance green infrastructure solutions while strengthening international collaborations. This includes the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) GreenVoyage2050 initiative, the Australian Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), and our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Port of Melbourne on sustainable port operations. Together, these initiatives ensure PTP continues to deliver sustainable, resilient and future-ready port solutions for our customers and stakeholders,” he added.
Malaysian engineering supports the transition
TTM Chief Executive Officer, Boo Wei Ching, expressed, “TTM is proud to join PTP in their sustainability journey. We remain grateful for their continued trust and confidence. We look forward to achieving greater heights in performance and innovation, in partnership with PTP.
“The commissioning of these e-PMs demonstrates the capability of Malaysian engineering and manufacturing to support world-class port operations. Our teams have worked closely with PTP throughout the testing, commissioning and operational readiness process to ensure every unit performs reliably. We look forward to supporting PTP as the remaining units are progressively commissioned in the months ahead,” he said.
With the successful commissioning of the first 21 units, PTP will progressively deploy the remaining 31 e-PMs through the end of September 2026. This will complete the fleet of 52 under its procurement programme with TTM. The initiative represents another important step in the port’s long-term transformation. It combines operational excellence, innovation and sustainability to support future growth and evolving customer requirements.
