"For several years now, Singapore has been the World's Busiest Port in terms of shipping tonnage. Our port contributes 5 % to our Gross Domestic Product, by no means a small contribution."

- Minister for Communications, Mr. Mah Bow Tan at the Launch of MPA (23 April 96)

The Port of Singapore has played a critical role in the Republic's transformation into a global trading power. Its strategic geographical location is one of the crucial factors that have made Singapore into the global hub for shipping that it is today. Other contributory factors include a strong and stable government, good infrastructure, a transparent legal system and state-of-the-art telecommunications.

The port's location at the crossroads of the main shipping routes has facilitated the Republic's development into a principal centre for shipping activities in Southeast Asia. It is a focal point for some 400 shipping lines linking Singapore to more than 700 ports in 130 countries worldwide. There are about 1,000 ships in the port at any one time.

These ships can look forward to a variety of services, including cargo handling, warehousing, distribution, bunkering and ship supplies. Where necessary, the port also provides pilots and tugs to ships who may not be familiar with Singapore's waterways. The Port also provides round the clock security, environmental control and fire-fighting services at its six terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel, Brani, Pasir Panjang, Sembawang and Jurong. These terminals can accommodate all types of vessels - container ships, bulk carriers, cargo freighters, coasters and lighters.

Depending on their cargo, these vessels will either call at the oil terminals run by the petroleum companies or the terminals managed by the PSA Corporation Limited and the Jurong Port. PSA Corporation operates the terminals at Brani, Keppel, Pasir Panjang, Sembawang and Tanjong Pagar, which deal in container and conventional cargo. It also runs the Singapore Cruise Centre, the cruise hub of the Asia Pacific for passenger liners as well as regional and domestic ferries. Jurong Port, which handles conventional and bulk cargo, comes under the purview of the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC). The Port of Singapore is overseen by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), which acts as the sole regulatory body for the Republic's port and maritime affairs.


TOTAL CONTAINER THROUGHPUT (in '000 TEUs)

Period                Total

1998                 15,135.6
1999                 15,944.8
2000                 17,086.9
2001                 15,571.1