New records for Singapore port last year: Estimates
Jonathan Kwok
The Straits Times
Friday, Jan 10, 2014
SINGAPORE- Singapore's port set new records last year in terms of vessel arrival tonnage and amount of cargo handled, according to advance estimates. Vessel arrival tonnage - the cargo-carrying capacity of ships rather than their weight - is estimated to have hit 2.33 billion gross tons, up 3.2 per cent on 2012's previous record of 2.25 billion gross tons. The port is estimated to have handled a record 32.6 million containers, a rise of 2.9 per cent from a year earlier. The figures were announced last night by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew at the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) New Year cocktail reception at the Regent Singapore. The numbers show that Singapore remains the world's busiest port by vessel arrival tonnage. It is also the world's top bunkering port. About 42.5 million tonnes of bunker fuel - burnt by ships on their voyages - were sold here last year, although that was a dip from 42.7 million tonnes in 2012. Singapore remains second in terms of containers handled, after Shanghai which handled 33.6 million boxes last year, a rise of 3.4 per cent from 2012. Mr Lui said last year was "yet another challenging year for the maritime industry".
"Shipping companies continued to grapple with high energy costs and overcapacity. However, the global economy is slowly showing signs of recovery, largely driven by growth in Asia and other emerging markets."
Mr Lui added that Singapore is not spared these industry challenges but he is "heartened by the resilience of Maritime Singapore, which continues to register good growth".
The maritime sector contributes 7 per cent of Singapore's economic output and employs more than 170,000 people.
Mr Lui said the Government "remains committed to developing this key pillar of our economy".
"We will continue to strengthen our port infrastructure, with the opening of Pasir Panjang Terminal Phase Three later this year."
The Government will also continue working with schools and industry partners to grow local talent and prepare them to take on maritime careers. The SMF added four maritime leaders to its board yesterday, bringing it to 10 members.
The new members are Mr Andrew Tan, chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, BW Maritime chief executive Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Mr Tan Puay Hin, regional chief executive for South-east Asia at PSA International, and Mr Lee Keng Mun, head of shipping for Asia at HSH Nordbank.
The reception also marked SMF's 10-year anniversary.
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