The disruption caused by the Red Sea situation has led to significant delays at Singapore Port, with 90% of container ships now arriving off their scheduled times, a notable increase from the 2023 average of 77%. This information was shared by the Minister of Transport, Chee Hong Tat. The crisis has necessitated the diversion of vessels to the longer Cape of Good Hope route for Europe-Asia sailings, exacerbating port congestion due to extended vessel stays and berth occupancy. This has also resulted in a phenomenon known as "vessel bunching," where many ships arrive simultaneously, further straining port capacity.
To mitigate these challenges, the Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and PSA have taken measures including the reactivation of berths and yard spaces at Keppel and Tanjong Pagar Terminals. Additionally, a new berth was inaugurated at Tuas port on 1 July, with plans for two more by the end of the year, aimed at bolstering port capacity in light of growing demand.
Efforts are also in place to enhance vessel arrival times and operational efficiency through the MPA's Just-In-Time system, in collaboration with major container lines.
Source: sbr.com.sg