HONG KONG: BMT Asia Pacific has recently completed its Hong Kong Port Study for the confirmation of the Strategic Development Plan for Hong Port 2030, which has been announced by BMT, on behalf of the government. This study will have enormous importance in the port’s future development and planning investment.
Following an in-depth review of the containerised cargo market in Hong Kong, BMT developed a plan to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s port sector via a series of staged improvements to the existing container terminals and facilities, through the allocation of more berths, barging sites and back-up land.
“We want to make sure we spend money wisely. Considering global shipping trends affecting Hong Kong, as well as the capital costs associated with various development options, the most viable path for meeting the future growth anticipated over the next 15 years is clearly to focus enhancements on the existing container terminal facilities,” notes Dr Richard Colwill, Managing Director of BMT Asia Pacific.
“Growth in container throughput is expected to continue in the coming years, but with a greater proportion coming from International/Regional transhipment, and more frequent calls from ‘mega’ vessels. Measures currently underway, such as channel dredging, together with the development steps set out in our study can ensure that Hong Kong is capable of supporting this trade growth well into the next decades.”
BMT Asia Pacific led a consortium of port specialists who forecast market demand, productivity and capacity of port facilities, as well as the regional competitiveness of Hong Kong’s port sector. The study involved extensive consultation with key industry stakeholders, including terminal operators, midstream operators, shipping lines, river trade operators, truck operators, shippers and consignees.
Director and Chief Economist of BMT Asia Pacific, Dr Simon Su added:
“BMT is honoured to have been involved in a study so vital to Hong Kong’s future port development. As Hong Kong’s neighbours in the Pearl River Delta make significant headway in the port sector, it is crucial that HKP continues to evolve and upgrade along the value chain. We believe that the HKP2030 study outlines the most rapidly deliverable, sustainable and cost-effective solutions to achieve this.”
