Korea Needs Discriminating Policy to Develop New Ports

The two top port management handling systems, the Port of Pusan and th
e Port of Kwangyang, are now requested to change their strategies, kee
ping pace with new port development plans, especially the new Pusan Ka
dok Harbour plan now under development in the Port of Pusan. On the we
st coast of Korea, the Port of Pyoungtaek is busily under development,
while the Port of Kunjang and the Port of Inchon are progressing with
additional port development plans. All these development plans provok
ed the need for each port to be competitive and discriminating.
Authorities said that the Kwangyang container terminal operates four b
erths, which were built on the basis of 50,000-ton calling vessels, bu
t are too small to be called 10,000 TEU (equivalent to 100,000 tons) v
essels, the type of the future. Hence it needed discriminating plans t
o draw future vessels into Korea. It is necessary to be at least 21 me
ters deep to be called a 100,000-ton vessel, but the berths at Kwangya
ng are well qualified to meet this condition, authorities said.
Blue prints for specialized ports are important for a competitive edge
against Japanese and Taiwanese ports, and to maintain two top managem
ent port systems.
It is time to discuss these issues, gathering all port authorities, sp
ecialists, and businessmen. It is time to get some ideas for domestic
ports to be competitive and turn a profit in their business through ef
ficient ports.