Port of Singapore just won't sink

Vessel arrival tonnage and container throughput grew in 2011 despite recession woes.

In fact, all four port indicators including cargo throughput and bunker sales expanded, some to new all-time highs.

"In particular, Singapore cemented its global leading position in terms of annual vessel arrival tonnage and bunker sales. Annual vessel arrival tonnage crossed the two billion gross tons (GT) mark for the first time in 2011, while bunker sales reached a new record high," said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore in a release announcing its advanced estimates.

"Annual vessel arrival tonnage reached 2.12 billion GT in 2011, an increase of 10.5 per cent from the 1.92 billion GT achieved in 2010. Container ships and tankers were the top contributors, accounting for 31.0 per cent and 30.8 per cent of the total vessel arrival tonnage respectively," it added.

"Container throughput in 2011 totalled 29.9 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs), a 5.3 per cent increase over the 28.4 million TEUs recorded in 2010. This is the highest ever recorded for the Port of Singapore, marginally surpassing the previous record set in 2008. Total cargo throughput also increased by 5.4 per cent to 530.5 million tonnes from 503.3 million tonnes in the previous year, also a new record for the Port of Singapore," it said further.

"The total total bunkers sold in the Port of Singapore grew 5.6 per cent to register another record high of 43.2 million tonnes, compared to 40.9 million tonnes in 2010. The Singapore Registry of Ships grew by 17.6 per cent or 8.6 million GT in 2011. As of end December 2011, the total tonnage of ships under the Singapore flag was 57.4 million GT, putting Singapore among the top 10 ship registries in the world," MPA ended.