Long-term plan will raise efficiency of port operations and free up prime land
Alvin Foo Straits Times 2 Oct 12;
SINGAPORE has officially decided to consolidate all its container port activities at Tuas over the long term with the first berths to be built there in 10 years.
Announcing the decision yesterday, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the move would free up prime land occupied by the terminals in the city area for redevelopment and result in more efficient port operations.
The announcement came at a launch ceremony at which PSA Singapore Terminals (PSA) said it is investing $3.5 billion to develop Phases 3 and 4 of its Pasir Panjang Terminal.
This will be spent on leading infrastructure and the latest port technology, such as an automated container yard and unmanned cranes.
The idea of a mega port at Tuas was proposed by the Government's Economic Strategies Committee in 2010.
Yesterday, Mr Lui said: "We will work towards consolidating all our container port activities at Tuas over the longer term."
This means that the city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Brani, plus those at Pasir Panjang will eventually be merged at Tuas. The port leases at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Brani will end in 2027.
Tuas is suitable given its "sheltered deep waters and proximity to (Singapore's) major industrial areas and international shipping routes", said Mr Lui.
Tuas Port will be a long-term project rolled out in phases, with the first set of berths to be operational in about 10 years, he added.
The target is for Tuas Port to handle up to 65 million standard containers a year, nearly double the current total container handling capacity of 35 million 20ft equivalent units (TEUs). It will also result in greater efficiency.
Now, Singapore has five container terminals - Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani, Pasir Panjang Terminal 1 and Pasir Panjang Terminal 2. Containers are often trucked between these terminals for transhipment, adding to time taken, business costs and road congestion.
Mr Lui said: "Consolidation will eliminate this need for inter-terminal haulage."
The new port will also give a clean slate and the chance to introduce more advanced technology and processes to meet future challenges, he added.
Meanwhile, PSA said Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4 will have 15 new berths, with nearly 6,000m of quay length and up to 18m draft. These new phases can accommodate the next generation of container vessels.
"It will showcase state-of- the-art technologies that will take our overall capacity, productivity and customer service to new heights," said PSA International group chief executive Tan Chong Meng.
The upcoming phases at Pasir Panjang Terminal will feature an automated container yard with proprietary intelligent planning and operation systems, and unmanned, rail-mounted gantry cranes.
When completed by 2020, these additions will boost Singapore's total container handling capacity from 35 million standard containers a year now to 50 million. Last year PSA handled 29.37 million containers.
All container port activities to be consolidated at Tuas in future
Sim Ping Khuan Channel NewsAsia 1 Oct 12;
SINGAPORE: Singapore will work towards consolidating all container port activities at Tuas over the long term as recommended by Singapore's Economic Strategies Committee.
The first set of berths at the new Tuas Port is expected to be operational in about ten years' time.
Speaking at the launch of Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4 by PSA Singapore, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said the development of Tuas Port will free up prime land, which the city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Pulau Brani are currently occupying, for future redevelopment.
The port leases for the city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Pulau Brani will expire in 2027.
Consolidation of port activities at Tuas will improve capacity to meet longer term demands, achieve greater efficiency and economies of scale.
It will also reduce the need for containers to be moved by trucks between existing terminals.
There are currently five container terminals - Brani, Keppel, Tanjong Pagar, Pasir Panjang Terminal 1 and Pasir Panjang Terminal 2.
Mr Lui said: "Tuas provides a suitable location because of its sheltered deep waters and proximity to both our major industrial areas and international shipping routes. We will plan for Tuas Port to be able to handle up to 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per annum."
Meanwhile, PSA will spend S$3.5 billion to bring in class-leading infrastructure and latest port technology to develop Phases 3 and 4 of its Pasir Panjang Terminal.
Phase 3 is expected to be operational in 2014.
When fully completed with 15 berths by 2020, the development will increase the total port capacity by 50 per cent to 50 million TEUs.
- CNA/fa
Full speech at SG Press Centre: Speech by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport at "Unveiling the Future - The Launch of Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4, 1 Oct 2012 at PSA Auditorium.
