New landmark for Singapore’s lighter & ship-chandling operators

Brigadier-General (NS) Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport officially opened the Penjuru Terminal this morning. The terminal, operated and managed by Jurong Port, is the new landmark for Singapore’s lighterage and ship-chandling business.

Also at the opening were Brigadier-General (NS) Tay Lim Heng, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Mr. Barry Desker, Chairman of Jurong Port.

The occasion marked a significant milestone for the operators, who since Singapore’s earliest days, have been providing a basic but essential service to ocean going vessels passing through Singapore. They make timely deliveries of sea-stores and ship-spares to these vessels moored at the eastern and western anchorages.

Choi said, “Lighter operations are an essential part of Singapore’s maritime sector.

As our port continues to grow, we can expect the scale of the lightering and ship supply operations to grow in tandem as well. The opening of Penjuru Terminal demonstrates our commitment to work in close collaboration with our key stakeholders to upgrade our lighter terminal infrastructure, to support the continued success of Singapore as a port.”

Jurong

Mr. Desker added, “The growth of Singapore as a maritime hub is intertwined with the dynamism of our lighterage and ship-chandling companies from the early days when their operations were concentrated in Telok Ayer basin. Their services form a crucial link for the operational efficiency of the Port of Singapore today.”

Having operated from the Pasir Panjang Lighter Wharves since 1983, the lighter and ship-chandling operators relocated and started their operations at the new Penjuru Terminal in June 2008. This relocation was necessitated by the need to provide higher standards of service and efficiency to keep pace with the growing expectations of the shipping industry.

Jurong Port was entrusted with the task of developing and operating the Penjuru Terminal along Sungei Jurong in mid-2006 by the MPA. In May 2008, the terminal was completed. The new and bigger infrastructure, with 150 meters of berth and 10,000 sqm of land area, is purpose-built with first-class mooring facilities, biometric-based security, canteen and dedicated on-site facilities to improve efficiency and convenience in a safe and healthy working environment.

The Penjuru Terminal is testimony of the collaboration among Government agencies like MPA, JTC Corporation, Urban Redevelopment Authority, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs, the Singapore Ship-Chandlers Association, terminal users and Jurong Port.

Currently, there are about 20 lighter operators in Singapore; of which, 11 operate from Penjuru Terminal. The Singapore ship-chandling trade has about 300 ship-chandlers; of which, about 225 operate from the Penjuru Terminal. By end 2008, about 15,000 lighter calls handling over 365,000 metric tons are expected at the Penjuru Terminal.

Over 100 guests attended the Opening Ceremony. These included Jurong Port’s Board Members and Management, terminal users and representatives from the Singapore Ship Chandlers Association and the Singapore Shipping Association.