Southeast Asia · Case study

Port of Singapore, Tuas Port Development and Consolidation Strategy

Singapore2013 to 2040s (plan announced 2013; phased delivery from 2021)

The Port of Singapore's Tuas Port development, operated by PSA Singapore, represents a strategic consolidation of Singapore's container terminal operations into a single next generation facility at Tuas on the western coast (MPA, n.d.; PSA Singapore, n.d.). The first Phase 1 berths started operations in December 2021 and the full development is planned for completion in the 2040s, with progressive consolidation of terminal operations from the city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Brani by 2027 and from Pasir Panjang in the 2040s (MPA, n.d.).

The consolidation sets a long-dated timeline for retiring the city terminals. The older city port terminals, some of which have operated since the 1970s, will be progressively retired as their leases expire from 2027 and the land made available for urban redevelopment under the Singapore Greater Southern Waterfront master plan, which envisages transformation of the former port lands into mixed use waterfront precincts (Prime Minister's Office Singapore, 2013; 2019). This staged consolidation and redevelopment requires coordinated end of life planning for multiple terminal sites over an extended period.

Transferability

For other ASEAN ports, Singapore's Tuas consolidation shows how a long lead time can be set for retiring several terminal sites while a new facility is built. Transferable elements include, among others, phased consolidation coordinated with urban redevelopment strategy, published timelines for retiring existing terminals, and coordination across government agencies for former port land futures.

Sources

All information used for this case study was based on publicly available resources.