Hong Kong geared up to handle growth to the end of the decade

OFTEN promoted as a blueprint of efficiency,
the Port of Hong Kong is not resting on its
laurels – particularly with ports like Shanghai
making significant inroads.
The Hong Kong Container Operators’
Association was established in 1999 by terminal
operators of Kwai Chung Port of Hong Kong to
promote the port as the key container hub for
the region.
Its current chairman is Alan Lee, former
managing director of CSX World Terminals Hong
Kong, who told FTW in Hong Kong recently
that with the completion of the new Container
Terminal No. 9 at the end of 2004, the port
now offered nine container terminals at Kwai
Chung container port, with a total of 24 berths.
“All terminals are financed, built, owned and
operated by five private operators. The largest
of the five ranks as the biggest independent
container terminal operator in the world,” says
Lee.
The operators include Hongkong
International Terminals, Modern Terminals, DP
World, Cosco-HIT Terminals and Asia Container
Terminals.
During 2006, the Kwai Chung container
terminals handled 16.04 million teus,
representing roughly two-thirds of the total
throughput of the entire port, and recorded a
growth compared with the terminal throughput
of 14.28 million teus in 2005.
With a total quay length of 8 532 metres,
a maximum water-depth of 15.5 metres and
modern state-of-the-art quay gantry cranes
capable of lifting containers at 22-rows across,
the Kwai Chung terminals can accommodate
the latest generation of container ships already
in service and under construction.
With the additional capacity of Container
Terminal 9 , the current capacity of the Kwai
Chung container port is estimated at 24 million
teus and is expected to be adequate to handle
Hong Kong’s container throughput until the end
of this decade.
In terms of port security, all the container
terminals have been certified as fully compliant
with the International Maritime Organisation’s
International Ship and Port Facility Security
(ISPS) Code.
“A fully automated terminal management
system integrates all terminal activities
including gate, yard and vessel operations.
Container terminal operators in Kwai Chung are
equipped with real-time monitoring systems
to ensure accurate and efficient services,” he
added.