BPA celebrates early complete recovery from typhoon Maemi

Busan Port Authority (BPA) and Pusan Regional Maritime Affaires & Fisheries Office held a memorial ceremony for its perfect recovery from typhoon Maemi with 110 people including MOMAF minister Jang Seung Woo, acting Pusan mayor, Oh Geo Don, and personnel from stevedoring companies at the Singamman wharf on March 30.
Singamman wharf lost stevedoring capabilities when 6 cranes were destroyed by typhoon Maemi last September. This stuck a serious blow to cargo handling capacity in Pusan Port. Pusan Regional Maritime Affaires & Fisheries and the Korea Container Terminal Authority achieved perfect capacity restoration after only 6 months, no small feat considering the original estimates said that they would need over a year to return to normal. The final crane at the wharf became operational the day of the ceremony.
At the time, Singamman wharf lost 6 cranes, Jasungdae wharf lost 25% of Pusan Port's entire stevedoring facilities when 2 cranes fell and 3 more were damaged. Singamman wharf set up 3 cranes originally destined for Gwangyang Port from October to December last year, and returned to normal operating capacity by introducing another 3 cranes from Mitsubisi Heavy Industries in February 2004. Jasungdae wharf received 3 cranes originally destined for the Bahama terminal from the Huchison head office. The wharf also repaired another 2 cranes, returning to normal operating capacity at the end of 2003.
The aftermath of the rebuilding period looks quite good for Pusan Port as it has increased its productivity with 1 more crane while all the new cranes are larger than their predecessors. Singamman wharf and Jasungdae wharf will handle 980,000 TEU, 1,790,000 TEU respectively.
Chu Jun Seok, BPA president said, "Pusan Port is regaining the faith of the shipping companies. This is a new take-off for the port."