Two recently released studies have found that container throughput in Hong Kong will continue to grow in the coming years, requiring the enhancement of capacity at existing container terminals and related infrastructures to cope with the growth.
The Study on the Strategic Development Plan for Hong Kong Port 2030 (HKP2030) and the Preliminary Feasibility Study for Container Terminal 10 at Southwest Tsing Yi were released December 1 at a joint meeting of the Port Development Council and Maritime Industry Council.
The Hong Kong Port 2030 study forecasts that total container throughput will grow at an average annual rate of 1.5% up to 2030, to reach 31.5 million 20-foot-equivalent units (TEUs).
The HKP2030 notes that in 2001-2011, throughput at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals (KTCT) grew faster than the total HKP throughput due to cross-boundary transport shifting from trucking to river transport, the increasing size of ocean-going vessels, and surge in international transshipment throughput mainly at KTCT.
The study proposes a series of enhancement measures including upgrading Stonecutters Island Public Cargo Working Area to a modern container-handling facility for ocean-going or river-trade vessels to improve its efficiency.
It also proposes to enable the River Trade Terminal to become a terminal for both ocean-going and river-trade vessels, and to make better use of land and other facilities around the terminals to accommodate future transshipment growth.
On the development of Container Terminal 10 (CT10) at Southwest Tsing Yi, the study found that while it is technically feasible, the project is not financially or economically viable.
But since the HKP2030 anticipates that measures expanding the handling capacity of existing container terminals will be sufficient to cope with future growth, “planning for CT10 before 2030 is not recommended,” said a government statement.
Industry representatives at the meeting generally agreed with the findings and proposals. They requested that the government implement the enhancement measures as soon as possible to provide more port backup land and berthing facilities to relieve congestion at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals.
Secretary for Transport & Housing Anthony Cheung said the government will continue to work closely with the trade community and follow up on the various enhancement measures for improving the port facilities.
The HKP2030 also recommends that the port cargo forecast be reviewed in about five years’ time to monitor the development of the Hong Kong port sector and ensure timely provision of port facilities and port-related infrastructure.
To enhance land utilization around KTCT, the administration commissioned in June this year a consultancy study on a site in Kwai Chung currently used for port backup purposes to explore its development into a multi-story car park for container trucks and medium/heavy goods vehicles. Its development is seen to free up sites currently used as open-air car parks for port backup uses. The study is expected to be completed by around mid-2015.
Photo: Photnart
