Port wait time falls, but the Red Sea crisis causes delays

The average wait time at the port has declined to two days at most.

New berths reduced the average wait time at Singapore port to two days, the PSA Singapore reported.

The Red Sea crisis, however, has disrupted port activity, with 90% of container vessels arriving off-schedule, compared to an average of about 77% in 2023.

Vessel port stays at PSA have increased by 22% compared to H1 2023. This rise is due to higher demand and increased container re-handling, where some containers are unloaded and reloaded to optimize port discharge, weight, and vessel stability.

Container re-handlings on mega vessels berthed at PSA have also increased by 8% year-on-year (YoY) in H1 2024.

PSA plans to expand Tuas Port and continue hiring frontline workers. This year, PSA has hired 1,500 frontline workers to enhance the port’s operational capabilities and capacity.