The 10,256,829 teu handled through the Port of Kaohsiung during 2007 represents a 4.93% (482,159 teu) increase over 2006. In addition, the throughput broke through the 10m teu barrier for the first time and exceeded the government’s goal of 10.2m teu for the port. Furthermore, the 915,300 teu handled in December 2007, a 7.15% (61,100 teu) increase on the previous year, set a new all-time monthly record.

Contented Kaohsiung

Last year also saw the final completion of long-delayed work to relocate the adjacent fishing village of Hongmaokang and the successful signing of a landmark BOT contract to begin construction on phase one of the port’s new International Container Terminal (ICT).

Gaoming Terminal and Stevedoring Company, a subsidiary of Yang Ming Marine Transport and the BOT concessionaire, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future ICT on December 31st. The Kaohsiung Harbour Bureau (KHB) transferred project land rights to Gaoming ahead of schedule, on the first day of the New Year.

According to KHB, ICT phase one has now shifted into high gear with berths to be completed in stages between 2010 and 2013. Once operational, each berth will be capable of handling vessels of more than 10,000 teu and higher, and when fully completed ICT is expected to add at least 2m teu handling capacity to the port.

ICT is an essential component in KHB strategies to fuel major advances in Kaohsiung’s competitiveness and to bolster the port’s competitiveness as an Asia-Pacific regional transhipment centre.