Asia/Pacific News
Singapore in S$3.5 Billion Port Investment
PSA Singapore Terminals (PSA) said Monday it is investing S$3.5 billion ($2.85 billion) to develop Phases 3 and 4 of its Pasir Panjang Terminal (PPT) that will feature "state-of-the-art technologies."
PPT Phases 3 and 4 will feature an automated container yard equipped with proprietary intelligent planning and operation systems, as well as unmanned, rail mounted gantry cranes, the statement said.
The cranes, along with those installed at the berths, were also said to be more environmentally sustainable as they will run on electricity.
PSA said the use of automation and intelligent technologies would spur port productivity and enhance employee skill sets to manage the advanced systems.
In contrast, some 14,500 longshoremen in the U.S. are currently threatening strike action saying they need protection from automation that threatens their jobs.
PPT Phases 3 and 4 will have a total of 15 new berths, and with nearly 6,000 metres of quay length and up to 18 metres draft, the new terminals were said to be able to serve the "next generation of containerships."
The terminal will be developed over the course of this decade and upon completion will boost Singapore's total container handling capacity to 50 million (twenty-foot equivalent units) TEUs per year.
"We are excited to embark on the next stages of development at PPT. It will showcase
state-of-the-art technologies that will take our overall capacity, productivity and customer
service to new heights," said PSA Group CEO Mr Tan Chong Meng.
"With our continued focus on innovation, PSA will be better positioned to welcome the container vessels of tomorrow."
In 2010 the port of Shanghai, China took Singapore's title of the world's busiest container port.
