Shipping lines and forwarders dissatisfied with Port of Pusan

Terribly low service satisfaction levels from shipping liners and international forwarding companies were pointed out, giving reasons to prepare alternatives.

According to the Pusan Development Institute on December 21, a survey of 90 managers working at shipping agencies and forwarding companies in Pusan showed service satisfaction levels gave the port only 60 out of 100 points. Especially, satisfaction scores from shipping liners, 59 points, were lower than scores from forwarding companies, 63 points.

Satisfaction levels with hardware systems such as port facilities, berths, Container Freight Stations (CFS) and On-Dock systems reached 70 points, while satisfaction with pricing system including price discrimination, electricity, and long-term contract discounts marked 64 points, a little higher than the 60 point average.

However, satisfaction with hinterland usage and feeder transportation networks and logistic systems marked 59 points while marketing scored an abysmal 49 points.

A researcher at the institute pointed out, "These results show an absence of efficient marketing activities by the Port of Pusan and concerned organizations, and the low satisfaction levels from shipping companies came directly from them neglecting marketing, which is an important factor to draw cargoes. So obviously, the port needs to strengthen its marketing activities for the shipping companies."

He also said that marketing activities for the port have been primarily done independently by individual organizations, but now need to be integrated together with combined participation from the concerned organizations such as the City of Pusan, Pusan Regional Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the Korea Container Terminal Authority (KCTA), and other container terminal operation companies.