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Sustainability & Health In Penang Port Sdn Bhd

 
The concept of health as a sustainable state became part of the health lexicon in the last two decades of the twentieth century. It is related to the idea of environmental sustainability and makes explicit the notion that the workforce will work better in a safer and assured environment. Not only that, a company’s sustainability hinges also on its capability to resume its daily operations – despite facing tremendous or unexpected hurdles, maintaining the business functionality is a necessity, opting to find new ways to provide valuable service or business breakthroughs.
 
If the company operations are conducted in such a way as to sustain an equilibrium of life-supporting environment and economic stability, then the safety and overall employee health is covered. Looking at how the port operates day-by-day, one thing is clear: we need to not only reduce carbon emissions across the port, but ultimately reduce air pollutants and unconducive environment while making progress towards growing the company’s economy. While the government plainly have a role to play, a great deal of the hard work ahead falls on the company; its individuals and its stakeholders.
 
As such, to achieve Penang Port’s core purpose - to improve and assure employee’s lives, Penang Port thinks holistically on being environmentally aware, boosting innovation, and supporting the kinds of practices where employees can thrive.
 
   
Environmental Strategy & Culture
Penang Port is currently assessing existing company’s initiatives, policies and metrics to establish the baseline for Environmental Sustainability and Health roadmap. One of the near future plans is by adopting the usage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to replace diesel consumption for Port's operation fleet to reduce carbon emission.

In order to achieve a standard of environmental management, Penang Port will explore on suitability of adopting the ISO 14001 certification: Environmental Management System.

Green Port Initiative
For the Green Port Initiative Penang Port focuses on the Environmental side in which emphasis is given to address the climate change (carbon emission & renewable energy) and water security (water consumption & water distribution).

Reducing Carbon Emission:

• Purchased 7 units hybrid Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) - Lowering Carbon Emission in North Butterworth Container Terminal, usage of fuel and achieve cost saving.

 
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) - to replace diesel consumption for Port's prime movers.

Renewable Energy:

• Rooftop Solar PV system - The project will generate solar electricity for the consumption of the Butterworth Wharf Container Terminal (BWCT)

Floating Solar System – Penang Port proposed to further increase use of solar (RE) electricity in Penang Port terminal in order to generate solar energy for consumption at North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT). The floating system is due to the lack of land or rooftop space at NBCT container yard.
 
Water Consumption:
Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) - collect and store rainwater from godowns roof for cleaning and non-edible water usage.

Water Distribution:
Non-Revenue Water Management services - to be implemented in the port to manage correct billing and to eliminate water leakage which causes wastage.
 
Business Resilience and Initiatives
The ever-present challenge of overcoming odds with COVID-19 has affected companies in more ways than one. With the announcement by Government on the MCO uplifted & economy recovery, Penang Port will be focusing to attract more empty containers to support local & South Thailand demand.

Business Resilience Focus
Penang Port sets its sights on the transhipment activities for containers that are moving between the Bay of Bengal (BoB) & Far-East Countries and to fulfill the requirements from potential transhipment carriers. The effort has started since March 2021, and the hopeful scenario in BoB serves a good market opportunity for the company.





Adding to that, Penang Port explores the opportunity in the North Sumatera & South Myanmar regions towards a niche business called “Cargo In Container Out” from the aforementioned areas to Malaysia through conventional shipments – which is then converted to containerised services via Penang Port terminals, creating a parallel terminal services for cater to the port users.


Penang Port aims to penetrate the new Bulk Cargo shipment from Perak. The emergent potential business of dry-bulk cargo to be exported via Penang to China & Bangladesh market will allow a varied and versatile service within the Asian Region. As such, Penang Port will adopt meticulous planning and measures to ensure efficiency of logistics and transportation from Penang to Perak and vice versa.  
Health Monitoring and Measures 
On the aspect of health and safety, Penang Port’s Medical unit -- in conjunction with the Occupational Health & Safety unit has started and maintained an assessment programme for all drivers in Penang Port. Those who met the criteria underwent assessment and consultation by certified Occupational Health Doctor. As they are the fulcrum that keeps the operation and services going 24/7, drivers are prioritised and emphasised in the health monitoring efforts done by PPSB.

With strict SOP due to recent pandemic, mass medical screening programmes are still being withhold to ensure social distancing and hygiene related aspects are maintained well. Align with the new normal practice, PPSB’s Medical unit will pursue on webinar with selected topics that are required by the employees. Currently, topics include; health and mental awareness, safety precautions, and first-aid response as part of the 2022 programme.

As for strategy in the long run, with support from the management, Penang Port can strategically move toward preventive medical management in the near future. Most kinds of medicine are concerned with treating a sickness or damage rather than preventing it. Preventive medicine, on the other hand, prevents illness from occurring in the first place. One person at a time, through reducing sickness, disability, and death. Preventive medicine employs a holistic approach that considers the entire patient as well as the many factors that influence their health. This involves maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as considering the importance of family and community.


 

 

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