Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority Strengthens Gwangyang Port Competitiveness with Follow-up Support after Container Terminal Integration

67 Billion Won Budget Allocated This Year for Operator Stabilization and Cooperation Enhancement

Continuous Discovery of Support Projects to Preemptively Block Safety Hazards

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority (President Cha Min-sik) announced on the 18th that it is making continuous efforts by implementing various support projects to enhance the competitiveness and efficiency of the Gwangyang Port container terminal.

In particular, the authority, which led the launch of the integrated operator last November, is promoting support measures for the stable operation of the integrated operator, plans to strengthen cooperation among operators, and safety accident prevention measures.

▲ Transfer and Addition of Handling Equipment for the Integrated Operator

As a follow-up task to the integration of operators, 16 handling equipment including 2 container cranes (C/C) and 14 transfer cranes (T/C) of SMGT (SM Shipping Gwangyang Terminal) were successfully transferred and reallocated last September, and the costs incurred for the transfer and related foundation construction were supported.

Additionally, with the help of Gwangyang City and Jeonnam Province through a handling equipment support agreement, 5 reach stackers (R/S) were purchased and are being leased free of charge for two years?2 units to KIT (Korea International Terminal) and 3 units to GWCT.

Accordingly, the integrated operator’s core handling equipment such as C/C, T/C, and R/S increased by 157%, improving productivity, and the handling fees rose by about 30% compared to the previous year, leading to increased sales. Visible results are expected by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, due to the global pandemic causing a shortage of shipping space and an increase in cargo storage rates at ports, the authority is responding to the shortage of storage yards by additionally securing a temporary storage yard of 300,000㎡ (capable of storing 10,000 TEUs).

▲ Promotion of Cooperation Enhancement Projects between Container Terminal Operators

To strengthen cooperation between the two container terminal operators, the authority is building infrastructure for cargo entry and exit within the yard between KIT and the integrated GWCT and is promoting the expansion of container inspection, cleaning, and repair facilities.

An ITT gate was installed within the yard to allow shuttle cargo to move freely between the two operators, and the container inspection, cleaning, and repair facilities will be relocated outside the yard to port-related land to secure yard storage space.

Port-related land of 12,000㎡ was secured to operate the inspection, cleaning, and repair facilities, and four companies (4 cleaning facilities, 3 repair facilities) were selected. The plan is to complete the detailed design for infrastructure construction by the end of the year.

▲ Confirmation of Safety and Eco-friendly Port Support Project Discovery

The authority plans to continuously discover and support safety port projects to prevent safety accidents by preemptively blocking operational safety hazards in the work areas within the terminal.

Detailed projects such as attaching drowsiness prevention devices to operators’ handling equipment, supporting safety ladders for inspection, and line marking for pedestrian zones and no-parking zones within the terminal to prevent safety accidents will be selected and implemented.

The authority will continue to support the replacement of aging handling equipment and various support projects to create a safe port next year. In particular, through the eco-friendly energy conversion project for handling equipment, 23 diesel-powered transfer cranes (T/C) will be converted to electric and hybrid power to contribute to the creation of an eco-friendly port.

Kim Seon-jong, Vice President (Head of Operations Headquarters) of the authority, said, “We will inspect to ensure that the support projects to strengthen the competitiveness of Gwangyang Port are carried out without delay by the end of this year,” and added, “We will continue to promote win-win tasks with both operators and the authority based on importance, urgency, and improvement effects from an operational perspective.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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