In 2015, the port recorded 19.45 million TEU of which 9.336 million TEU was local cargo and 10.114 million TEU was trans-shipment cargo – these numbers were up by 0.9% and 7.3% respectively from the year before.

In light of a sluggish shipping market and an average growth rate of around 4% seen by the world’s top 10 ports in 2015, BPA’s ambition for 2016 is challenging. However, the port is confident of achieving this growth by strengthening its customer service activities; subsidising the cost of inter-terminal transportation of trans-shipment cargo; and establishing an empty cargo storage area in the New Port. In addition, BPA will hasten its integration plans at North Port to deliver a single unified terminal operator which will also become a shareholder. Additional terminal construction at New Port will be accelerated to meet current cargo demand and to ease congestion at peak times.

In 2016, more focus will also be directed at the development of the Distripark to attract more multi-national logistics companies as tenants. This will also result in heightened cargo throughout and create additional employment.

To assist growth, BPA also announces the creation of a new International Business Division to boost its penetration of global markets and to react to the rapidly changing shipping and maritime landscape. Key activities of the new division are:
– Global expansion of the port’s logistics network
– Identification and realisation of new business opportunities assisted by BPA’s representative offices in China, Japan and Europe and its world-wide agency network
– Enhanced research and analysis of key markets and trends and the establishment of big data

In addition, BPA will enhance its current cooperation activities with other ports, particularly those in developing countries to share its knowledge and experience in port operation and management. The port believes that these initiatives will drive global port throughput and widen the port’s logistics network.

Making these announcements, Mr Yejong WOO, CEO of Busan Port Authority said: “As one of the world’s largest container ports, we must focus our efforts on the international markets to ensure our continuing growth and development. We are well placed, geographically, to handle domestic, international and transshipment cargoes and our modern terminal facilities and extensive Distripark make us an excellent choice for vessel and cargo owners. We will continue to diversify our portfolio and enhance the service we deliver to our customers in 2016 and beyond”

The Port said vessels will be rerouted to adjacent terminals after the shutdown occurs. Port representatives assured shipping lines and cargo owners that planning is already underway to blunt the shutdown’s impact.

“We’re disappointed that Ports America is leaving,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “But we’re in advanced discussions with our maritime partners here to prevent disruption to the Oakland business.”

Ports America Outer Harbor said today it intends to terminate its 50-year lease in Oakland for business reasons. It said it will continue with business as usual for 30 days, then cease vessel and cargo-handling operations. The company said it will close down the terminal in 60 days.

The Port said it expects Ports America to meet all of its lease obligations until the two sides agree on an orderly transition of the property. The Port added that it has engaged in prolonged discussions with Ports America about the operator’s future in Oakland. It said the decision to terminate the lease was made unilaterally by Ports America.

The Port said the departure of Ports America provides two significant
opportunities:

• Ships and cargo can be redirected to Oakland’s other marine terminals
which have excess capacity; and

• The Port can find new, better uses for Ports America Outer Harbor
Terminal

Options for the land could include uses unrelated to containerized cargo operations, the Port said. That would be new for Oakland, which has been home
exclusively to container ships since the 1960s.

Outer Harbor is one of five marine terminals leased to private operators by the Port of Oakland. More than 2,000 ships, most from Asia, berth at the terminals each year. The terminals load and unload containerized cargo transported by the vessels. More than 2 million containers move annually through the Port.

Port officials said their priority is minimizing customer impact and maintaining Oakland’s cargo volume. There is ample capacity to absorb Outer Harbor’s volume at other Oakland terminals, the Port said. It added that terminal operators are preparing for the cargo migration. For example:

• Oakland International Container Terminal has opened Saturday and
occasional weeknight gates for two months. The extra hours enable harbor
truckers to pick-up or drop-off cargo outside peak hours

• A port-wide Saturday-gate program is expected to launch in the first
quarter of 2016.

“We know we have the terminal capacity to redirect cargo,” said Mr. Driscoll. “Our priority is ensuring that the terminals ramp up to move cargo in a timely
manner.”