- The Port of Singapore has bounced back after port closures overseas, shipping delays and a global container shortage saw container throughput here fall by 0.9 per cent for the whole of last year.
- In addition, five maritime firms here either expanded operations or established new ones this year.
According to an article published in The Straits Times, the Port of Singapore has bounced back from a pandemic-induced slowdown, handling more cargo in the first five months of this year than in the same periods of 2020 and 2019.
Container Throughput Drop
Amid port closures overseas, shipping delays and a global container shortage, container throughput here fell by 0.9 per cent for the whole of last year, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Chee Hong Tat yesterday.
He was speaking at the launch of the Smart Port Challenge 2021.
Back to Growth
The port here regained momentum in the second half of last year, Mr Chee said. Container throughput has since grown by 4.6 per cent from January to May this year compared with the same period last year, and by 3.9 per cent compared with the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
“Neither Covid-19 nor the Suez Canal incident earlier this year prevented us from growing our port operations,” Mr Chee added.
Healthy Development
The investment pipeline for Singapore’s maritime sector has also remained healthy amid the pandemic. Last year, 11 new shipping groups set up shop here and eight maritime companies expanded their operations.
In the first five months of this year, five maritime firms here either expanded operations or established new ones with support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
Motivative Innovations
Mr Chee said: “We must not rest on our laurels. We should ride on this momentum to build even stronger capabilities and position ourselves to grow further.”
One way to do this is through innovation, Mr Chee added, citing how the Port of Singapore had implemented contactless cargo and bunkering operations and provided telemedicine services for seafarers during the pandemic.
Demand for such technological solutions is expected to continue to rise and Singapore is well-placed to develop its marine tech sector, he said.
The Smart Port Challenge
The Smart Port Challenge, now in its fifth edition, has become a key pillar of this effort.
