Kwangyang upgrades operating efficiency

As a feeder wharf of 22,000 tons with 2 berths will soon open in Kwangyang this year, operating efficiency is expected to improve there.

According to Kwangyang city and the Kwangyang branch of the Korea Container Terminal Authority (KCTA), the KCTA is pushing to complete construction of 4 berths, two berths for 20,000 tons and two berths for 50,000 tons by the end of this year. This construction project is currently 98% complete. With only electrical work and container cranes remaining to be installed in the terminal, the terminal should begin operations next March.

The terminal is designed to help easily transport coastal cargoes or transit cargoes from Northern China.

"All vessels through the Kwangyang container terminal have been allowed to use only 50,000 ton wharves regardless of their size, causing inefficiencies. If a feeder terminal opens, small container vessels will be led there," said Park Noh-young, manager of logistic operations at the KCTA Kwangyang branch.

The KCTA planned to build all the wharves for 50,000 tons in its beginning stage. In a bid to handle Northern China cargoes and domestic coastal cargoes, however, it changed its plan to build all four berths for 20,000 tons, instead; two are scheduled for completion by the end of the year, while the remaining two won’t be finished until the end of 2003.

After construction is complete, the Port of Kwangyang's cargo handling capacity will jump from 960 thousand to 1.68 million TEU annually.