Lack of Customs staff delays ships at Pengerang, industry exec says

2026-03-20 - 15:10

In some cases, vessels are required to anchor temporarily while awaiting clearance, further affecting sailing schedules, according to Jeyenderan Ramasamy. (Johor Port Berhad pic) PETALING JAYA: Full-time Customs officers and round-the-clock services are needed at Pengerang port in Johor to overcome significant shipping delays, according to a senior marine industry executive. Jeyenderan Ramasamy said vessel clearance processes now could take up to 10 hours, Bernama reported. “Customs operations are limited to standard office hours, from 8am to 6pm, and are closed on weekends, while port activities operate 24 hours a day,” said Jeyenderan Ramasamy of Maritime Network Sdn Bhd. “Outside these hours, shipping operators must travel to the Pasir Gudang Customs office, which involves a round trip of up to four hours, excluding processing time. “Documentation processes at Pengerang port can take between eight and 10 hours, compared with less than three hours in Singapore,” he said. He said the Customs office serving Pengerang is located in Sungai Rengit, about 20 minutes away, creating challenges for time-sensitive operations, particularly outside normal working hours. If cargo unloading is completed at midnight and the bill of lading is issued at 3am, operators cannot have the documentation processed immediately but must go to Pasir Gudang for endorsement, before a pilot can be appointed for the vessel’s departure, significantly prolonging turnaround time. In some cases, vessels are required to anchor temporarily while awaiting clearance, further affecting sailing schedules and increasing operational costs, he said in a statement.