According to Chen Xuyuan, board chairman of SIPG, phase four will focus on the construction and operations of a fully automated quay and will take an estimated three years to complete once official approval is granted.
Yangshan terminal, which started operation in 2005, was able to handle a total of 14.15 million TEU in 2012 and its’ existing quays has been expanded and renovated over the years. The 2012 figure is 52% above its initially designed capacity and without the proposed fourth phase, the terminal will not cope with rising demand.
Taking into consideration the throughput of Shanghai’s other terminals including Waigaoqiao, Shanghai port will handle a total of 33.5 million TEU by the end of the year – up 3% compared to 2012.