Vessel arrivals rise in Singapore amid Red Sea diversions - MPA

Singapore handled 13.36 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of container volumes in the first four months of 2024, marking a 9% rise compared to the same period last year, the MPA said.

PHOTO: Dense rows of vessels on the waters of Singapore. Getty Images

Since the beginning of 2024, Singapore has seen a significant increase in vessel arrivals. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has attributed this increase to the disruption in vessel arrival schedules at major ports worldwide. This disruption is a result of vessels being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope due to the Red Sea crisis.

The uptick in container vessels arriving off-schedule, coupled with increased container volumes, has extended waiting times for vessels seeking a container berth in the port.

Despite the increased vessel traffic in Singapore, resupply and bunkering operations within the anchorages remain unaffected for tankers and bulk vessels.

Since late 2023, MPA along with Singapore's Ministry of Transport (MOT) and port operator PSA have collaborated to prepare for increased vessel arrivals. PSA has bolstered its workforce and container handling capacity to ease the situation. Additionally, older berths and yards that were previously decanted at Keppel Terminal have been reactivated again by PSA.

Apart from the current eight berths in Tuas Port, three new berths are set to start operations later this year, thereby enhancing the overall port handling capacity.

By Tuhin Roy

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