The $3.5 billion Phase 3 and 4 expansion of Pasir Panjang Terminal was officially opened by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (June 23).
The expansion will add 15 berths with a 6 km quay length to the container terminal's existing 52 berths. The new berths have an 18 m-deep draught. The facilities, known as Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4, are slated to be fully operational by end-2017.
The expansion - comprising the currently operational Pasir Panjang Terminal 5 and two future terminals that will be operational by the end of 2017 - will add 15 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) to Singapore's handling capacity.
Hsien Loong highlighted the crucial role that the port has played in positioning Singapore globally when he opened the facility.
PSA Singapore Terminals operates the facility, and is also working with the Government on the development of the future Tuas Port. PSA International Group Chairman Fock Siew Wah said: "There's much more that needs to be done, many more new challenges and new complexities to overcome. But we remain very committed, motivated, and energised to strive even harder and to work smarter."
This will boost Singapore's container throughput by 40 per cent to 50 million TEUs every year. The quay length of the Phase 3 and Phase 4 expansions will be almost 6,000m with 15 berths.
In 1991, Singapore decided to expand Pasir Panjang Terminal so the city-state's ports could handle 35 million TEU, which was the throughput of 2014. In 2004, anticipating cargo growth, the decision was taken to expand the terminal to handle 50 million TEU a year.
Technologies such as automated rail-mounted gantry cranes will also be used for the first time in the new expansion. These yard cranes are operated remotely from a control centre and containers are stacked with the help of computers, sensors and cameras, thereby saving manpower and increasing productivity.
