The Tuas Terminal development - a testament to Singapore’s commitment to retain its lead as a global maritime nation and to invest in port infrastructure - entered Phase 1 of its construction today. When completed, the 21 deep-water berths under Phase 1 will be able to handle 20 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) per annum. The entire mega-terminal will have a total capacity of up to 65 million TEUs.
The Tuas Terminal will be developed in four phases over a span of 30 years, with Phase 1 scheduled for completion in the early 2020s. Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan marked the initiation ceremony today by launching the first caisson. In total, 222 caissons will form the permanent wharf structure. With each caisson standing 28 metres tall - the equivalent height of a 10-storey tower block - the caissons for the new terminal are one of the largest in the world. In February 2015, the MPA appointed the Dredging International Asia Pacific (DIAP)-DAELIM Joint Venture to carry out the land reclamation and related works for the Tuas Terminal Phase 1 project. Works will include reclaiming 294 hectares of land, dredging the Tuas Basin and Temasek Fairway, as well as constructing the wharf.
A major component of Singapore’s Next Generation Port Vision was that the Tuas Terminal should incorporate new features such as optimising land use by utilising both above and underground spaces for complementary purposes like storage facilities; enhancing the safety and security of the port waters with a state-of-the-art traffic management system and increasing productivity and reducing labour costs through the use of technology like automated yard cranes and port equipment.
About the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was established on 2 February 1996, with the mission to develop Singapore as a premier global hub port and international maritime centre (IMC), and to advance and safeguard Singapore's strategic maritime interests. MPA is the driving force behind Singapore's port and maritime development, taking on the roles of Port Authority, Port Regulator, Port Planner, IMC Champion, and National Maritime Representative. MPA partners the industry and other agencies to enhance safety, security and environmental protection in our port waters, facilitate port operations and growth, expand the cluster of maritime ancillary services, and promote maritime R&D and manpower development.
About the DIAP - DAELIM Joint Venture
Dredging International Asia Pacific Pte Ltd - in short DIAP - is the Asian arm of the DEME Group, incorporated in Singapore in 1996. DEME, the market-leading Belgian dredging, environmental and marine engineering group, owns one of the most modern, high-tech and versatile fleets for dredging and hydraulic engineering activities. Building on 140 years of experience and know-how and driven by several worldwide challenges, the Group is a global solutions provider.
DAELIM Industrial Co., Ltd., headquartered in Seoul, Korea, is a global developer and contractor and has three core businesses: Civil, Building and Housing, and Plant. DAELIM has successfully accomplished many landmark projects, both inside Korea and overseas, in no small part with its more than 6000 top-notch engineers and staff. The company first entered the Singapore market in 1972. Since then, DAELIM has become one of the major players for Singapore’s infrastructure projects, such as the Marina Coastal Expressway, Thomson-East Coast MRT Line and Tuas Terminal Port Project.