Singapore to Accelerate Berth Openings to Ease Backlog

Singapore is accelerating the opening of berths at its new megaport in the Tuas industrial estate to accommodate the increasing number of container ship calls. 

In addition to the eight existing berths on the north side of Tuas Port, terminal operator PSA will fast-track the opening of three new berths later this year, thereby boosting the port's overall handling capacity.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and PSA are collaborating closely with liner operators and regional feeder operators to keep them informed about berth availability and to provide guidance on arrival times to minimize berthing delays.

By the 2040s, all of Singapore’s container port operations will be centralized in Tuas, with an expected annual throughput of 65 million TEUs. Alphaliner reported that the south side of Tuas Port received its first cranes in March, and approximately 1,000 meters of pier equipped with eight cranes should be operational very soon.

In May, despite peak congestion, the new pier had not yet handled any vessels, with the exception of Hapag-Lloyd’s latest 24,000 TEU ship, the Singapore Express, which was christened at the berth without loading or unloading cargo.

This week, however, Alphaliner noted the first calls at the South Side of Tuas 1, primarily from smaller vessels such as the 2,732 TEU MSC Tania, which was handled in mid-June. From January to May, container ship calls in Singapore increased by 13% year-on-year. In January alone, nearly 2,000 container ships arrived in Singapore.

To alleviate bottlenecks, the MPA has reopened the Keppel Terminal, increasing the weekly throughput from 770,000 TEUs to 820,000 TEUs.