Busan port dredge to secure 16m water depth

The water depth of Busan Port is going to deepen to 16m to secure safe arrival and departure of 10,000 TEU-class container vessels.

Busan Port Authority (BPA) announced on February 11 that it was going to place an order to dredge the offing of the Third, the Forth and the Fifth berths of Shinsundae Container Terminal.

The dredging will cost about KRW 33.8 billion and will make the current 15m depth of water more than 16m to secure safe callings for super-container ships by dredging out over 1.8 million tons of earth and rock.

The dredged earth will be used in the construction of North Port Redevelopment.

BPA anticipates that the dredging will begin this month after appointing an agent and that it will be completed in 18 months.

Along with the dredging, BPA is going to check port facilities including mooring posts and pads in preparation for super-container ships, providing for operators various support such as financial aid for purchasing C/C.

Since Francesca of MSC called at Busan Port last December, super-container ships have called at the port. The length of super-container ships ranges from 347~364m in length, with a width of 45.2~45.6m and a full draft of 15.5m.

An official at BPA said that they would implement a timely phased dredging to respond to shippers' demands and secure safe entrance and departure for super-container ships.