Later this year, three new berths will commence operations at Singapore’s Tuas Port to address the extended waiting times for ships, a situation exacerbated by increased vessel arrivals following heightened Red Sea shipping tensions. The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore announced this development in response to global disruptions caused by vessels diverting around the Cape of Good Hope, leading to “vessel bunching” at major ports.
The new berths will increase the total number of operational berths at Tuas Port to 11, aiming to manage the surge in container vessel arrivals more efficiently. This expansion is critical as Singapore handled 13.36 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first four months of 2024, marking an 8.8% increase compared to the same period last year. The spike in container volumes has resulted in longer waiting times for container berths.
Despite the congestion in the container segment, the MPA clarified that resupply and bunkering activities for tanker and bulk vessels, which occur within anchorages, remain unaffected. However, some shippers have reported extended waits for deliveries and transits due to increased refueling demand and port calls at Singapore, the world’s largest bunker port.
The addition of these berths is a strategic move to mitigate the impact of global shipping disruptions and ensure Singapore remains a pivotal node in international maritime trade.
