Pusan lags far behind other Asian competitive ports

Foreign container liners calling at Port of Pusan regard Pusan to be behind other Asian ports, such as those in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kaohsiung in Taiwan, citing port facilities and port operating systems, the Korea Shipper's Council reported.

The Korea Shipper's Council (KSC) unveiled its survey results from around thirty foreign shipping companies with vessels deployed at the Port of Pusan. The survey was conducted over a one month period starting April 25, and questioned foreign shipping companies about their levels of satisfaction in using the Port of Pusan.

"Foreign container liners answered that the berths and port equipment at the Port of Pusan stood at no more than 77 percent that of Singapore, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, or Kobe," stated an official at the KSC. "Even though new container terminals in Uam wharf and Kamcheon Wharf have been recently introduced, the Port of Pusan still suffers from a lack of facilities compared to its cargoes handled," he added.

"Also, many foreign companies pointed out that the service which the administration office in the Port of Pusan offered is inferior to that of other Asian ports, and the cargo handling times are the longest amongst Asian ports," he added.

The major causes of discontent arose from two areas. Forty percent of companies surveyed cited the container tax as the greatest cause of discontent, and another forty percent cited insufficient on-dock facilities not being able to handle cargoes

Excessive storage fees (39%) and high charges for using the on-dock system (30.5%) were also pointed out as major problems at the Port of Pusan.

"More than 80 percent of foreign shipping companies responded that they would change their ports of calling to Kwangyang, or another Korean port, or shrink callings at Pusan in two to three years unless the situation is quickly resolved. It will be difficult for the Port of Pusan to settle as a hub port in Northeast Asia if it fails to revitalize its on-dock system and simplify entrance procedures at the port," the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said.