Singapore Port Reopens Defunct Container Terminals to Handle Increasing Port Congestion

Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority announced on May 30 that operations at the container terminals in the downtown areas were resumed temporarily to ease the growing ship backlog.

The Red Sea Crisis and the diversion of ships through the Cape of Good Hope caused off-schedule ship arrivals and ‘vessel bunching’.

Container volume handled at the world’s 2nd busiest port has also increased dramatically due to supply chain disruptions at several upstream locations.

The increased container traffic has led to longer waiting times for berths, and the port operator PSA is working to adjust vessel arrival schedules wherever possible. However, the average waiting time for box ships is 2 to 3 days.

The port handled 13.36 Million TEU between January and April, 9% more than it handled in the same period in 2023.

Many container shipping companies are discharging more containers in Singapore as they forgo subsequent trips to catch up on the following schedule. The number of containers handled from each ship has also risen.

After reopening the defunct Keppel Terminal, the number of containers handled in a week can be increased from 770,000 TEU to 820,000 TEU.

In addition to 8 berths in Tuas Port, three more will begin operating in the latter part of this year, raising the port’s handling capacity.

PSA plans to quicken their commissioning to increase container handling capacity and ease port congestion.

The port authorities are working with mainline and regional operators to update them on the berth’s availability and advise them on arrival time to reduce delays in vessel berthing.

References: Container News

Singapore Port Reopens Defunct Container Terminals to Handle Increasing Port Congestion appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News