Marina South Warves lighter terminal begins operation

See which operator was hand-picked for the newly opened, $16m terminal.

The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has appointed Jurong Port Pte Ltd to operate Marina South Warves (MSW) in additon to its existing responsibilities as the operator of Penjuru Terminal.

Developed by MPA at a cost of $16 million, MSW will complement the existing lighter terminal at Penjuru, said the maritime government agency in a release.

"MSW will be particularly useful for lighter operators serving ships in the Eastern anchorages, given the shorter travelling distances and thus lower operating costs," the MPA added.

“The lighter industry provides a vital service and is an integral part of Maritime Singapore. The lighter facilities serve as a conduit for the delivery of critical ship stores and supplies to vessels in the Port of Singapore. MSW will provide quicker access to Singapore’s Eastern anchorages and this will allow for cost savings while boosting service levels," said Mr Lam Yi Young, Chief Executive, MPA.

“We look forward to operating MSW to the highest level of efficiency through the innovative use of IT and other technologies," added Mr Matthew Chan, Chief Executive Officer, Jurong Port Pte Ltd.

MPA noted that lighter terminals are used by lighter operators to ferry goods to ships in the anchorages. Lighter operations involve the use of small lighter craft to deliver a wide range of goods to ships. These include household items, edibles, medicines, ropes, lubricants, ship machinery and other spare parts.

The government agency said Jurong Port Pte Ltd has implemented a new Lighter Wharf Management System (LWMS) at MSW to streamline transactions. "The system reduces paper consumption and eliminates manual processes. MSW is also equipped with wireless internet coverage to enable mobile transactions via the LWMS," it added.