The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a 5G mobile network at the Port of Singapore.
Full maritime 5G coverage will be deployed in major anchorages, fairways, terminals, and boarding grounds.
Delivery is scheduled to be delivered by mid-2025.
The announcement was made as part of the MPA’s 9th edition of the International Safety@Sea Week, launched by Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance.
A 5G network has the potential to unlock a full suite of maritime solutions leveraging complementary technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, drones and autonomous vehicles, to improve safety, effectiveness and efficiencies in maritime operations.
Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: “Digitalisation continues to shape and transform the maritime industry, acting as a key driver for global trends such as logistics and supply chain efficiency and decarbonisation.
“MPA is taking the lead to help build a robust digital maritime ecosystem for Maritime Singapore, with fast, secure and high capacity 5G connectivity as one of the cornerstones to support real-time data exchanges in the maritime domain.”
Elsewhere in the port, MPA’s incident response management and safety enforcement capabilities across the full spectrum of operations will be further strengthened through the development of the Integrated Port Operations C3 (Command, Control and Communications) system (IPOC system).
The system is developed in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and will enhance situational awareness and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of incident responses.
The IPOC system will be progressively phased in from 2023 to 2026 as MPA upgrades its systems.
The port will also further develop its online booking and clearance platform, digitalPORT@SG.
The second phase of the port will include the Active Anchorage Management System (AAMS).
The AAMS taps on various data sources to optimise allocation of limited anchorage space for vessels. It ensures that the vessel is anchored safely taking into consideration various conditions including the wind, tide, depth and proximity to hazards.
The AAMS is scheduled to be launched in in the third quarter of 2023.
South Carolina Ports is making bold investments in freight infrastructure to support port-dependent businesses throughout the Southeast and beyond.
In the past few months, work has either wrapped or commenced on several of SC Ports’ long-planned infrastructure projects. Smart infrastructure investments bring greater efficiency and capacity to port operations for a more fluid supply chain.
SC Ports’ multiyear effort to modernize Wando Welch Terminal culminated in August with taller cranes, a stronger wharf and an enhanced container yard — all designed to handle the biggest container ships calling the East Coast.
Also in August, SC Ports launched its new SMART Pool, which will add 13,000 chassis into the Southeast port market. SC Ports’ new fleet will improve the availability, reliability and quality of chassis for motor carriers, ocean carriers and cargo owners.
SC Ports broke ground on the Navy Base Intermodal Facility in October, thanks to a $400 million investment from the state. This critical infrastructure project will bring near-dock rail to the Port of Charleston and speed goods to market when it opens in 2025.
The expansion of Inland Port Greer hit a big milestone in November with the completed rail expansion. The next phase of construction will double cargo capacity of the container yard, helping to move more goods for manufacturers, automakers, retailers and solar companies.
Charleston Harbor is now 52 feet deep, giving South Carolina a significant competitive advantage. SC Ports seamlessly handles fully loaded mega container ships any time, any tide.
SC Ports serves as a critical partner to companies that rely on importing goods to stock shelves, build homes, make products or run hospitals. SC Ports also supports businesses, such as soybean farmers and global automakers, that need to send their products to overseas markets.
In November, SC Ports handled 213,073 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and 117,662 pier containers at Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal and Leatherman Terminal.
Fiscal year-to-date, SC Ports has handled nearly 1.14 million TEUs and 627,784 pier containers at the Port of Charleston.
Containers flowing through the Port of Charleston are filled with retail goods, home goods, electronics, clothing, furniture, refrigerated foods, medical supplies, paper and wood products, and manufacturing parts.
SC Ports also had 11,142 vehicles roll across the docks of Columbus Street Terminal in November. SC Ports supports South Carolina’s automakers by importing parts and materials and exporting finished vehicles to global markets.
In November, Inland Port Greer and Inland Port Dillon reported a combined 12,989 rail moves, which account for every time a container is moved on or off a train. SC Ports’ two rail-served inland ports extend the Port of Charleston’s reach into the state, enabling more goods to quickly flow to and from the port via rail.
Inland Port Dillon had a particularly strong month with 2,858 rail moves in November. Volumes were boosted by retail imports and agricultural exports.
SC Ports also had 25,754 cruise passengers come through the Passenger Terminal last month.
About South Carolina Ports Authority
South Carolina Ports Authority, established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942, owns and operates public seaport and intermodal facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown and Greer. As an economic development engine for the state, Port operations facilitate 225,000 statewide jobs and generate nearly $63.4 billion in annual economic activity. SC Ports is soon to be home to the deepest harbor on the U.S. East Coast at 52 feet. SC Ports is an industry leader in delivering speed-to-market, seamless processes and flexibility to ensure reliable operations, big ship handling, efficient market reach and environmental responsibility.
The US has the largest economy in the world, and this has largely been fuelled by the operations of its ports. Still dealing with the remnants of COVID-19, America has continued experiencing tremendous surges in consumer demand which is clearly reflected by the corresponding container handling figures.
With the complete annual figures yet to be released, we have taken data from the first 10 months of the year to give us an indication of what the final yearly figures could look like.
This involves converting a total area of 100 acres at BTP in Bayport East End not only to increase container volume, but to also enhance terminal efficiency and cut emissions.
Over the first 10 months of 2022, the port handled 4,986,489 TEU demonstrating a considerable year-on-year increase from 4,652,463 TEU handled at the same time in 2021.
The GPA also placed an order for 12 Konecranes Rubber-Tyred Gantries for the Port of Savannah in an effort to assist the tremendous growth and increased productivity the port has experienced.
3. The Port of Long Beach
Aerial image of containers in the Port of Long Beach, California.
Although the Port of Long Beach has had an incredibly busy year, surpassing handling totals from the previous year and setting new records, it has nonetheless slid to third on the list.
During the first 10 months of 2022, the Port of Long Beach handled 8,000,811 TEU, an increase of 1.5 per cent from the 7,884,565 TEU per cent handled during the same time in 2021.
In October, 658,428 TEU of cargo containers were handled by dockworkers and terminal operators, a 16.6 per cent decrease from October 2021. Exports fell 2 per cent to 119,763 TEU while imports fell 23.7 per cent to 293,924 TEU. 244,743 TEU fewer empty containers were carried through the port, a 13.4 per cent decrease.
Solidifying its status as the second busiest port in America, the year-to-date container volumes at the port have reached 8,157,584 TEU, an increase of 7.3 per cent from the 7,455,786 TEU handled in the same period in 2021.
As the number of containers passing through the US West Coast ports continues to decline, the Port of New York and New Jersey continued to hold the top rank as the busiest in the nation for a third consecutive month.
The port carried approximately 19 per cent more cargo in October 2022 than it did in pre-pandemic October 2019.
1. The Port of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Ca, USA – June 21, 2015: San Pedro, California/USA June 2015. Container ship Agusta Kontor transporting cargo at The Port of Los Angeles with the Vincent Thomas Bridge in background
Securing its spot at the top of the list is the Port of Los Angeles.
Similar to the Ports of New York and New Jersey, consumer demand has pushed Los Angeles’ container handling figures to new highs. In the first 10 months of 2022, the Port of Los Angeles handled 8,542,944 TEU, a 6 per cent decrease from last year’s record pace when 9,079,561 TEU were processed.
When compared to October 2021, the Port of Los Angeles handled 678,429 TEU, a 25 per cent decline in cargo volume.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, Gene Seroka, cited that shippers awaiting the conclusion of labour contract negotiations have been largely responsible for cargo shifting away from the West Coast.
This explains why the Port of New York and New Jersey saw a considerable rise in cargo handling that ultimately helped it surpass the Port of Long Beach.
The two-year period of a containership backup has now come to an end due to decreased traffic in both Californian ports. Throughout the pandemic, with a peak of 109 on 9 January 2022, containerships lining up outside the major US West Coast ports was a common sight.
Currently, there are just a handful of vessels at anchor outside of the ports, as opposed to 81 containerships on 22 November 2021.
Port Newark Container Terminal is committed to reducing emissions with propane
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is pleased to announce the commitment of Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) to reduce emissions by using propane equipment at its location in Newark, New Jersey.
After seeing initial success with a prototype propane-powered port tractor, PNCT has decided to move ahead with replacing its entire diesel-powered port tractor fleet and convert to propane.
During the month of December, PNCT is conducting a side-by-side analysis of MAFI’s demonstrative propane port tractor with the terminal’s current diesel models. The comparison will account for fuel efficiency, run time, torque, power, and emissions output, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
The MAFI port tractor is powered by PSI’s 8.8-liter propane engine that is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) for use in mobile, off-road applications. The engine emits .02 grams of NOx per brake horsepower, making it one of the cleanest propane engines available on the market. The engine also offers 270 horsepower with 565 lb-ft of torque. MAFI is an international heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer.
About PERC
The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.
South Carolina Ports’ ongoing expansion of Inland Port Greer supports the supply chains of port-dependent businesses and drives economic growth in the Upstate.
SC Ports’ teammates, elected leaders and community partners gathered today to celebrate the completed rail expansion at Inland Port Greer. They also touted the next phase of expansion that will double cargo capacity at the rail-served inland port.
Launching the state’s first inland port
Inland Port Greer opened in 2013 with BMW Manufacturing Co. as the launch customer. The inland terminal quickly surpassed initial design capacity estimates.
In fiscal year 2022, Inland Port Greer handled more than 150,000 rail lifts — meaning 150,000 containers were moved on or off Norfolk Southern trains.
Inland Port Greer extends the Port of Charleston’s reach 212 miles inland with Norfolk Southern’s daily, overnight rail service, enabling imports and exports to quickly flow between Charleston and the Upstate.
This has proved crucial for just-in-time manufacturing operations and retailers’ supply chains. The bustling logistics hub now moves cargo for numerous companies, including BMW, Michelin, Adidas, Eastman, First Solar, TTI Floorcare and Visual Comfort & Co.
Inland Port Greer operates 24/7 and runs similarly to a container terminal, with operators moving containers on and off trains instead of ships.
SC Ports’ two rail-served inland ports also generate environmental benefits for South Carolina. The S.C. Energy Office estimated that use of both Inland Ports Greer and Dillon in 2021 minimized carbon emissions by roughly 11,500 tons and saved an estimated 970,000 gallons of diesel fuel, compared to using only trucks to move an equivalent amount of cargo.
Expanding Inland Port Greer
The consistent growth of port customers spurred the expansion of Inland Port Greer, while global supply chain challenges reinforced the need for more capacity.
The first phase of expansion involved building an additional rail processing track and two rail storage tracks within the terminal. The addition of 8,000 feet of new rail will meet cargo demands through 2040.
The next phase of expansion involves expanding the container yard by 15 acres to the east and the west to handle 50% more cargo.
The expansion also involves doubling the size of the existing chassis yard capacity and building new facilities for heavy lift maintenance and terminal operations. The full project is slated for completion in winter 2024.
The more than $30 million expansion is funded by both SC Ports’ revenues and a portion of a $25 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant. The grant was awarded to the S.C. Department of Transportation for its Upstate Express Corridor Program.
Building key port infrastructure
With the support of the SC Legislature, SC Ports is also building the Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston. This rail-served cargo yard will move more cargo to and from Inland Ports Greer and Dillon, efficiently transporting goods throughout the state.
The Navy Base Intermodal Facility will be served by Norfolk Southern, CSX and Palmetto Railways when it opens in July 2025. The modern cargo yard will sit one mile from Leatherman Terminal to ensure speed-to-market for port-dependent businesses throughout the Southeast.
South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) has celebrated the rail expansion at Inland Port Greer to support the supply chains of port-dependent businesses in the Upstate.
SC Ports’ employees, elected leaders and community partners gathered on 18 November to mark the event.
“Nine years into operations, we are thrilled to be expanding the cargo capacity and rail capabilities at Inland Port Greer to better serve our customers’ supply chains,” said SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin.
“We are proud to play a role in supporting Upstate companies’ success. The growth of Inland Port Greer has truly been on the fast track.”
The first phase of expansion involved building an additional rail processing track and two rail storage tracks within the terminal.
The addition of 8,000 feet of new rail will meet cargo demands through 2040 according to SC Ports.
The next phase of expansion will involve expanding the container yard by 15 acres to the east and the west to handle 50 per cent more cargo.
The expansion also involves doubling the size of the existing chassis yard capacity and building new facilities for heavy lift maintenance and terminal operations.
The full project is slated for completion in winter 2024.
The more than $30 million expansion is funded by both SC Ports’ revenues and a portion of a $25 million BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) grant.
The grant was awarded to the S.C. Department of Transportation for its Upstate Express Corridor Program.
“The expansion of Inland Port Greer adds more space for containers and trains to meet the capacity needs of our customers,” said Ed Stehmeyer, SC Ports’ general manager of projects and design.
“The goal of the terminal expansion is to bolster the Upstate intermodal infrastructure supply chain and further develop the inland terminal to handle more cargo for our customers.”
Inland Port Greer opened in 2013 with BMW Manufacturing Co. as the launch customer.
In fiscal year 2022, the terminal handled more than 150,000 rail lifts — with 150,000 containers moved on or off Norfolk Southern trains.
Inland Port Greer extends the Port of Charleston’s reach 212 miles inland with Norfolk Southern’s daily, overnight rail service, enabling import/export flow between Charleston and the Upstate.
The port authority reported 9 per cent container growth year-over-year as 256,879 TEU moved through Wando Welch Terminal, North Charleston Terminal, and Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal in October.
The Port of Houston has enjoyed a 13 per cent year-on-year container growth in October, continuing its positive trend seen throughout 2022.
The port moved a total of 371,994 TEU during the month.
Loaded container TEU reached the highest volume ever, up 21 per cent compared to the same month last year.
Overall, container volume is up 18 per cent year-to-date at Port Houston’s terminals and has surpassed the 3 million mark thus far, with 3,333,924 TEU.
“We are handling record amounts of cargo and remain focused on aggressive infrastructure development to optimise capacity and efficiently handle current and future demand through our port.”
The port had long considered the introduction of a fee as containers keep flowing in at its terminals with no signs of imminent softening in import loads.
A potential rail strike from US railroad workers in December could have dire impacts on an already unstable economy during the peak season, experts have forecasted.
Earlier this week one of the US’s largest railroad labor unions, The Transport Division of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART-TD), voted against a tentative five-year collective bargaining agreement with the nation’s Class 1 railroads.
Voting concluded midnight Sunday 20 November for members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) as well as the SMART-TD on the proposed agreements.
SMART-TD train and engine service members have voted to reject the proposed contract, while SMART-TD yardmaster members voted to accept.
BLET members voted to accept a tentative agreement reached on 15 September, however have agreed to join the picket line should strikes go ahead.
A status quo agreement between SMART TD and management is in effect until 8 December.
Beginning 9 December, SMART-TD would be allowed to go on strike or the rail carriers would be permitted to lock out workers — unless national Congress intervenes.
BLET and SMART-TD are the two largest rail unions, accounting for half of the unionized workforce on the nation’s largest freight railroads.
Glenn Koepke, General Manager of Network Collaboration at supply chain data firm FourKites, said that the timing of rail unions returning to the negotiation table could have significant impacts on US supply chains at the tail end of the year.
Agriculture, automotive, chemical, packaging and industrial parts would be most severely impacted.
Many of these products are the lifeblood of the American economy and are often critical components for products that are manufactured for consumers, whether food stuffs or hard goods.
“The timing of rail unions coming back to the table to negotiate has two major implications. The first is peak holiday season and what could significantly impact sales in the final month of the calendar year. Second would be a major blow to the economy, which remains in extreme uncertainty,” Koepke said.
Koepke noted that this is “a very opportunistic time” for the rail strike to occur for those looking for changes to happen.
“This would shake the US economy to its core and magnify the spotlight on the national supply chain. Unlike a port disruption or a terminal strike, there are only seven major, Class 1 railroads in the US that link all of North America — shifting this much volume to another mode of transport isn’t feasible even with unlimited capital.
“Could a rail strike happen? Absolutely. But the federal government has a very close eye on the negotiations.”
The US trucking capacity “could never fully cover the amount of rail cargo moved on a daily basis,” Koepke noted, sending the trucking market into a frenzy and put the upper hand back on the carrier and 3PL side.
“It’s difficult to predict the future, but if I were to take a guess I’d say this will get settled without a major disruption – though continued threats and noise will loom.”
Hutchison Ports BEST terminal has installed 1,832 solar panels on almost half a hectare of its buildings.
This is an auto-supply installation capable of generating 1.18 Gigawatts/hour of electricity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 200 homes.
The installed power is almost 1 Megawatt/hour (833.56 Kilowatt hours).
Solar Profit will oversee the installation process.
“These efforts contribute to further reducing the terminal’s carbon footprint, with BEST’s emissions being 65 per cent lower than conventional manual terminals,” said Estefanía Soler, Head of Sustainability at BEST.
BEST is one of the most sustainable terminals in the Mediterranean, with an operation model based on semi-automation and the use of mostly electric cranes.
This solar panel initiative is part of BEST’s sustainability strategy and reinforces its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda on “Affordable and Clean Energy”.
BEST was inaugurated 10 years ago and is a benchmark in terms of sustainability within the terminals of the Hutchison Ports group, which operates 52 terminals in 26 countries.
The General Authority of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) and Suez Canal Container Terminal (SCCT) have signed a $500 million concession contract to establish a second container terminal in East Port Said.
Waleid Gamal El-Dein – Chairman of the General Authority for SCZONE, and Steven Yoogalingam – CEO and Managing Director of SCCT signed the contract on 15 November during on the side line of the UN climate summit (COP27).
Under the contract, SCCT will be responsible for “financing, design, construction, management, and operation” of the new terminal.
The terminal is currently operating with a berth length of 2,400 metres and a handling yard of 1.2 million square metres, with an annual throughput of 4 million TEU.
The project aims to expand the existing SCCT’s Container Terminal at East Said Port to a length of 955 metres and a handling yard of 510,000 square metres, for an additional annual capacity of 2 million TEU.
“This project comes within the framework of SCZONE’s consistent eagerness with Egypt’s economic strategy, which aims to develop the Egyptian ports to maximise their role in the global maritime trade movement and to exploit the various investments to create job opportunities,” said Waleid Gamal El-Dei.
“This is exactly what the project offers, as it aims to expand the existing container terminal in Port Said East Port with cumulative investments estimated at $500 million, providing 1,000 direct and indirect job opportunities, especially for the residents of Port Said and North Sinai cities.”
