PSA and French partner to double container capacity

SINGAPORE — Port operator PSA and French shipping giant CMA CGM Group have kicked off the second phase of their container terminal joint venture in Singapore, which will double total operating capacity to four million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) with the addition of two more berths.

The event was officiated yesterday by French President Francois Hollande and Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport, Mr Khaw Boon Wan.

The CMA CGM - PSA Lion Terminal (CPLT) started operations with two mega container berths at PSA Singapore’s Pasir Panjang Terminal 5 that had an initial annual capacity of two million TEUs in July last year. CPLT has achieved an average gross berth productivity of more than 160 moves per hour for the mega vessels since the beginning of the year, the two companies said yesterday in a joint media release.

Leveraging the industry-leading port infrastructure and technologies including the state-of-the-art yard automation at PSA’s newest Pasir Panjang terminal expansion, CPLT is well-placed to serve the mega vessels of CMA CGM and the affiliate shipping lines of the group.

This also enhances Singapore’s standing as a premier International Maritime Centre, the two companies said.

In serving as the long-haul Asian hub for CMA CGM, PSA is optimistic about the opportunities it brings to support trade between the ever-growing economies of the Asia-Pacific region and the world, said Mr Ong Kim Pong, regional CEO South-east Asia at PSA International.

Mr Jean-Yves Duval, senior vice- president Asia, CMA CGM Asia Regional Office, said: “This is another exciting milestone for CMA CGM as part of the group’s continuing efforts to make Singapore our main hub in the region, while reiterating the importance of Singapore to our global strategy.”