S'pore port handles record high of 3 billion gross tons in ship arrivals

Breakthrough is especially significant given recent choppy waters, says Chee Hong Tat

- Esther Loi

Singapore's port has reached an all-time high in arriving ship traffic, recording 3 billion annual gross tons in vessel arrivals so far in 2023.

Annual vessel arrival tonnage or the internal volume of all ships that arrive in a year, including their engine room and non-cargo spaces - is a common maritime industry measure of vessel traffic calling at a port.

The record was achieved on the morning of Dec 25 with the arrival of the Singapore-registered container ship ONE Olympus at Pasir Panjang Terminal.

Singapore's port reached 1 billion gross tons in 2004 and 2 billion gross tons in 2011.

Marking the latest milestone on Dec 26 at port operator PSA's office in Pasir Panjang, Acting Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat described it as an "especially significant" breakthrough, given the choppy waters the country's maritime industry has had to navigate in the past few years.

Mr Jeremy Nixon, global chief executive of Ocean Network Express, which operates ONE Olympus, said the shipping company was proud that one of its ships has helped Singapore achieve this milestone.