Speech by Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry at the official launch of the Containerized Traffic System on Tuesday, 29 January 2008 at 9:30am at PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal Building
Mr Sharafdeen s/o Abdul Rasak, Chairman of the Container Depot Association (Singapore),
Mr Quek Keng Liang, Chairman of the Singapore Logistics Association,
Mr Ng Boon Hong, Chairman of the Singapore Transport Association
Mr Kuah Boon Wee, CEO, South East Asia & Singapore Terminals, PSA
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good Morning,
I am delighted to join you here at the launch of the Containerized Traffic System (CTS) this morning.
Maintaining Lead Position
As globalization deepens its roots, international trade continues to expand. More goods are shipped across international boundaries than ever before. Singapore has done well riding on the growth of world trade. Last year, our port retained the lead as the world’s busiest container port, handling container traffic of 27.9 million TEUs[1] (twenty foot equivalent units).
The growth of world trade has also promoted other ports to grow. For instance, it is a matter of time that some ports in China may overtake Singapore in terms of container volume, owing to the growing manufacturing volume there. On the western front, new ports in the Middle East grow in significance as transshipment hubs serving the African, European and the Central Asian markets. Singapore port’s relevance has been built on a sound and efficient infrastructure with value added services to serve the region as a transshipment hub. Going forward, our port can only retain its relevance to its customers if they continually enhance their infrastructure and capabilities as world trade pattern evolves, and the needs of customers change. In addition to volume competition, we ought to enhance our value propositions too.
Integrating All Ports for Greater Efficiency and Service
Against this backdrop, further and full integration amongst our hauliers, customers and government agencies makes great sense. With all key players fully integrated, we could establish a seamless operations raising efficiency and reducing costs.
This is the vision for our land logistics industry. We now have about 300 hauliers, employing about 30,000 workers and operating some 3,000 prime movers and 15,000 trailers in Singapore[2].The ports and hauliers are each equipped with their own manual systems, comprising of pagers
Implementing the Containerized Traffic System (CTS)
The $3m CTS, supported by SPRING Singapore, is the brainchild of three associations – the Container Depot Association (Singapore), the Singapore Logistics Association and the Singapore Transport Association. These three associations came together and embarked on the first joint LEAD proposal under SPRING Singapore in 2006, with the aim to strengthen the land logistics sector. I applaud their determination and spirit to grow their industry together.
The CTS seeks to replace the current complicated planning, scheduling and communication processes faced by land logistics players. After implementation, the CTS is expected to achieve some 30 per cent savings for all due to faster processing and turnaround times. To-date, some 900 prime movers have been linked to the CTS. 200 drivers and traffic controllers are being trained to operate the system. In the end, we hope all prime movers would be linked to CTS, and all drivers trained to operate the CTS-linked vehicles.
Conclusion
Encouraged by the initial success of the CTS, the 3 associations and SPRING are working together on the next phases of CTS. This would include messaging communications with other ports and integration with yard management systems for enhanced pre-gate scheduling. The enhanced system may even allow connection with relevant government agencies for regulatory tracking of cargo.
Obviously, the associations and SPRING have taken the right steps in the right direction. I wish them all the best in this journey of excellence.
Thank you.
[1] Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, 10 Jan 2008
[2] Source: Container Depot Association (Singapore)