S'pore adds container handling capacity as more ships call

First of three new berths at Tuas Port starts ops; some Keppel, Tg Pagar slots reactivated

- Kang Wan Chern

In line with a national plan to expand Singapore's port capacity, the first of three additional berths at a new megaport in the Republic began operating on July 1 amid congestion at the local port terminals, as more container ships waited for their turn to berth.

The two other Tuas Port berths will commence operations in October and December, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said in his replies to several parliamentary questions on July 2.

The new berths are part of the phased opening of the $20 billion Tuas Port, where a total of nine container berths have already opened, including the one made operational on July 1.

Earlier in 2024, port operator PSA also reactivated some of the berths and yard space at its Keppel and Tanjong Pagar city terminals, which had been closed as operations move to Tuas Port by 2027.

Its Pasir Panjang terminal will remain open to support the transition to Tuas Port, which will be able to handle 65 million twentyfoot containers when fully completed in the 2040s, making it the world's largest automated port.