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.