PORT OF SINGAPORE

Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam asked the Minister for Communications and Information what steps are being taken to ensure that there will be no congestion at our port, now that the economy is picking up, and that our port will continue to maintain its premier position as the busiest port in the world, in the light of competition from other ports.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, in the first nine months of this year, containerised cargo at our Port increased by 21% to reach 28 million tonnes. General cargo throughput also increased by 16%, compared with the same period last year, to 38 million tonnes.

Thanks to long-term planning, our Port has been able to accommodate these substantial increases without any adverse effect. The port continues to maintain a high level of productivity. On the average, the port turns a container ship around in about seven hours, handling something like 600 containers. This turnaround time is one of the fastest in the world. It means much lower costs for shipowners as well as shippers.

As for the foreseeable future, we expect containerised cargo to continue to increase. To meet this expected growth, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) is increasing the capacity of its existing container facilities by adding more quay cranes and other handling equipment. These cranes will be computerized to handle fourth-generation container vessels even more efficiently. The contract for 10 such cranes, amounting to $55 million, was recently awarded.

PSA is also converting two conventional berths into a container berth at a cost of about $30 million. The new container berth will be ready in the second half of next year. This additional berth will be equipped with the latest container handling facilities and should be sufficient to meet the expected growth up to 1992.

Beyond 1992, PSA plans to develop a new container terminal on Pulau Brani. Pulau Brani will have a modern terminal with maximum use of automation, mechanization and computerization in all its operations. Pulau Brani will also be linked to the mainland by a causeway. This will help reduce land transport time for importers and exporters as well as for sea-air freighters.

Singapore intends to maintain its position as the world's busiest port. For the first nine months of this year, shipping tonnage calling at Singapore increased by another 4%, bringing the total tonnage to 250 million gross registered tonnes. We will ensure that our port services are efficient and that our port charges competitive. We will strive for higher standards of productivity to give lower costs and to streamline port tariffs to maintain competitiveness. New computer hardware will be acquired and software developed to improve planning as well as to facilitate information and communication between the port, port users as well as the relevant Government departments. More aggressive marketing programmes will also be initiated to attract more ships and cargo to Singapore. No effort will be spared to maintain our position as the premier port internationally.