Tuas mega port project to greatly improve Singapore’s port operations

The new port is expected to become the world’s biggest fully automated container terminal once it begins operating in the 2040s.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong believes the future Tuas mega port gives Singapore the opportunity to “rethink the future of shipping”, reported Channel News Asia.

He noted the upcoming mega port will double the country’s current annual port capacity of 36 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units).

“Officially Tuas is designed to handle 65 million TEUs, but I am sure PSA can squeeze a little more out of it if we work hard,” he said.

The new port is planned as the replacement for the existing facilities at Pasir Panjang, Tanjong Pagar, Pulau Brani and Keppel. It is also expected to become the world’s biggest fully automated container terminal once it begins operating in the 2040s.

A strong suit of the mega port is its development on a green site, which would allow for sustainability and innovation to be key features of the project.

In fact, part of the innovations will feature a fleet of fully electric driverless automated guided vehicles that will transport containers between the yard and wharf. These are currently being tested at the Pasir Panjang terminal and are advertised as having a carbon footprint 25 percent less than that of traditional vehicles.

Another feature of the port will be the electric automated rail-mounted gantry cranes that utilises laser sensors and cameras for precision, which will allow crane specialists to remotely manage multiple cranes.

Peter Voser, PSA International group chairman, said the Tuas port gives the port operator an opportunity to “reinvigorate and reimagine”.

“We look towards a future where these technologies can augment our operations and enhance supply chain orchestration,” he said.

The scale of the project, however, has not gone unnoticed by Prime Minister Lee.

“Building Tuas port and its ecosystem is an immense undertaking. But we can achieve this, if we have the same daring and ambition as our pioneer generation of port planners and engineers,” he said.

The first two berths of the Tuas port are targeted to become operational in 2021, when the first phase’s construction is expected to be finished.

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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg