Serious Congestion Rate Due to Negligence in Port Operation Management at Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority

Assemblyman Ju Cheol-hyun: Yeosu Industrial Complex Wharf Cargo Volume Exceeds Handling Capacity by 20%

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Sim Kyung-taek] The negligent port operation management by Jeonnam Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority has been pointed out as the cause of a severe congestion rate dozens of times higher than that of major domestic ports.

According to Joo Chul-hyun, a member of the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee (Democratic Party, Yeosu City Gap, Jeonnam), the total number of staff at the Yeosu office of Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, which manages the cargo volume at the Yeosu Petrochemical Complex wharf, is 11. Among them, only 2 are responsible for port management tasks.

The number of Yeosu Port Authority employees managing the cargo volume at Gwangyang Port is 170, and when including the integrated stevedoring operators and shipping company terminal personnel who jointly manage wharf operations with the authority, the difference is significant.

The total handling capacity of the state-owned wharves within the Yeosu Petrochemical Complex was 31 million tons as of 2019, while the cargo volume exceeded this by 37 million tons, surpassing capacity by 19.4%.

From 2016 to 2021, the average congestion rate at four wharves (Jungheung, Nakpo, Sapo, Petrochemical) within the Yeosu Petrochemical National Complex was 26.68%. The congestion rate at the wharves in the Yeosu Petrochemical Complex is more than 25 times higher compared to major domestic ports such as Busan.

Companies in the Yeosu Industrial Complex and the port industry point out that while the lack of wharf handling capacity is a cause of congestion, inadequate port operation management such as operation control and berth allocation by the port authority is also one of the reasons for the high congestion rate.

Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun stated, “The ‘berth allocation, cargo handling management, and other port operation management services’ for cargo ships at the wharves within the Yeosu Petrochemical Complex are the responsibilities and public duties of Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority,” and urged, “The authority’s responsibility and role in operation management must be further strengthened.”

He added, “The damage caused by congestion directly leads to a decrease in cargo volume, an increase in product prices, and a decline in the competitiveness of related port industries,” and urged, “The government and the port authority must build a network with companies in the Yeosu National Complex and spare no effort in establishing measures and investing to improve port services.”

Earlier, on the 7th, Assemblyman Joo Chul-hyun pointed out at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ audit that the congestion rate at the wharves in the Yeosu Complex being 20 to 40 times higher than that of major national ports is “a result of the government’s unbalanced port investment,” and called for active expansion of investment.

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Sim Kyung-taek simkt7@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.