The Port of Singapore achieves a historic milestone, surpassing three billion gross tonnage in annual vessel arrivals, marking a significant growth in maritime activity
THE Port of Singapore has reached a remarkable milestone by registering an unprecedented three billion gross tonnage (GT) in annual vessel arrival tonnage. This historic achievement was realized with the arrival of the ONE OLYMPUS, a Singapore-flagged containership, carrying 8,628 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) and measuring 98,799 GT. The vessel docked at the Pasir Panjang Terminal on 25 December 2023.
The annual vessel arrival tonnage for 2023 is projected to exceed 3 billion GT, showcasing a substantial increase from the 2.83 billion GT recorded in 2022. The announcement was made at a special event organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at PSA Horizons, attended by representatives from the maritime industry on 26th December 2023.
The event, graced by Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport, saw the presentation of mementoes to the Master of ONE OLYMPUS, Captain Vaibhav Narula, and Mr. Jeremy Nixon, the Global Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Network Express (ONE).
Acting Minister Chee emphasized the pivotal role played by the strong tripartite cooperation between unions, industry, and government, attributing this collaborative effort as the key factor behind the Port of Singapore’s success. He highlighted Singapore’s unique tripartite ecosystem as a crucial element that sets the port apart from others, enabling it to maintain a competitive edge in the maritime sector.
MPA Chief Executive, Mr. Teo Eng Dih, expressed humility at Singapore’s continued status as a preferred port of call. He pledged ongoing collaboration with stakeholders to enhance port efficiency and safety. Mr. Teo introduced the Just-in-Time (JIT) Planning and Coordination Platform, initiated on October 1, 2023, for vessels calling at PSA terminals and Jurong Port. The JIT Platform aims to improve vessel turnarounds, optimize port calls, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with plans for extension to all vessels calling into Singapore from January 2024.
Global CEO of ONE, Mr. Jeremy Nixon, extended congratulations to the Port of Singapore, citing the significant contribution of ONE’s vessel to this historic achievement. He affirmed ONE’s commitment to Singapore as a global maritime center and praised the port’s qualities as a strategic logistics hub.
PSA International’s Group CEO (Designate), Mr. Ong Kim Pong, acknowledged the milestone’s significance, attributing it to the trust of customers and the dedication of PSA staff since 1964. He reiterated PSA’s commitment to positioning Singapore as a premier hub port and supporting global trade through service excellence and sustainable connectivity.
Jurong Port’s CEO, Mr. Terence Seow, emphasized the strong partnership and collaboration with customers and stakeholders in achieving the 3 billion GT milestone. As a next-generation multi-purpose port, Jurong Port is committed to building leaner and greener supply chains to enhance productivity and provide quality service to customers.
Source – MPA
