PETALING JAYA: For the first time in history, Labuan will have the largest ship-to-ship (STS) transfer hub in Asia, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

       The Transport Minister said this will certainly benefit not only industry players, but also the community and Labuan as a whole.

       “This morning, together with Straits Energy Resources Berhad (Straits) chairman Tengku Baharuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud and Labuan Port Authority (LPA) chairman Datuk P Kamalanathan, I witnessed the signing ceremony of the Heads of Agreement (HoA) between Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd with Fendercare Marine Asia Pacific Pte Ltd at Grand Dorsett Hotel Labuan.

       “The HoA was signed by Victoria STS managing director Benjamin Bernard and Fendercare Marine Regional Manager (Asia Pacific) William Barker.

       “Straits, a group currently listed on Bursa Malaysia through its unit, Victoria STS (Labuan) Sdn Bhd, has entered into a HoA with Fendercare Marine (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, through its parent James Fisher.

       “This HoA aims to establish collaboration between both parties in STS services,” he said in a Facebook post on Friday (May 20).

       On July 12 last year, Straits obtained permission from the Malaysian Marine Department to develop the largest hub in Asia at Victoria Bay Port Limit, Labuan.

       Meanwhile, Dr Wee congratulated Straits under the leadership of Tengku Baharuddin and Fendercare Marine (Asia Pacific) on the joint venture.

       “I am confident that both parties can ensure that the existence of Asia's largest STS hub can benefit the people and the country,” he said.