The Busan New Port opened Thursday. Three berths are open for business right now, but by 2012 there will be thirty berths with a total yearly capacity of 8.04 million 20 feet containers. When completed, it will be the highest capacity container port in Korea.
Northeast Asia does 30 percent of the world's container volume, and regional competition over freight services is like warfare. The port in Shanghai is expected to eventually be the biggest, and Hong Kong and Singapore are each dreaming about being "hub ports." With this additional port facility in greater Busan, that area has itself the foundation for joining the competition. The experts say that the new port has plenty of potential because it is at the center of shipping lanes between the Pacific and Europe and has cutting-edge facilities and equipment.
It is not off to an assuring. It is open for business but it has not signed on any regular contracts. Some might say there is no need to be impatient, but it certainly does not look good. Building a port well does not mean the cargo comes floating in by itself. It will be hard to surmount the wall of competition unless there are speedy services, good public relations, and systematic operations.
Unfortunately the city of Busan and provincial authorities are wrangling over how to share control, and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries remains unable to exert any mediating authority despite the fact local governments are fighting over what is a national government project. It is also ridiculous how in English they are calling it "Busan New Port" and in Korean just "the new port" without any geographical name. Busan and South Gyeongsang province are supposed to divide up jurisdiction of the berths. Construction on the rear access road is out of step. The area wants to be the logistics center of Northeast Asia and cannot get its house in order, so you wonder how well they are going get regular contracts. That which is visible is not going to work properly if everything is not working right on the inside. Officials need to put an end to the internal disorder.
The Hankyoreh, 20 January 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Busan 'New Port' Must Fix Internal Problems |
