Speaking at the Committee of Supply Debate 2019, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health, Dr Lam Pin Min, talked about how Singapore continues to invest in quality infrastructure to provide the needed capacity and strengthen Singapore’s global connectivity.
Singapore is currently building currently building Tuas Terminal, which is expected to be the largest container terminal in the world, with a facility that will be able to cater to mega-vessels. In addition, the mega-terminal will also have a total capacity of up to 65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), more than the combined 50 million TEUs capacity of the current city terminals. It will also be a smarter port, with a higher degree of automation to improve efficiency, safety and service levels. Construction is on track to commence the first phase of operations in 2021.
Similarly, the development of T5 (terminal 5) at Changi Airport is expected to commence operations around 2030. Current airport infrastructure is also being enhanced. Terminal 1’s upgrading is nearing completion. Jewel, a mixed-use development with gardens, attractions, retail, dining, a hotel and facilities to support airport operations, will also open on 17 April. Its aviation facilities will improve the travel experience for passengers, such as early check-in facilities, integrated ticketing and baggage services for fly-cruise and fly-coach transfers.
Upgrading works on Terminal 2 are going to start soon. Terminal 2 will be expanded and refreshed, with automated check-in kiosks, biometric-enabled bag-drops and automated immigration gates, to offer passengers greater convenience from check-in to immigration to their flight.
Ways to leverage technology to augment human capabilities are also being explored. For instance, with support from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), SATS, the largest ground handler at Changi, is experimenting with Autonomous Container Trailers. If successful, it would mean less physically straining jobs, and more higher-skilled jobs such as Autonomous Vehicle Operators and Fleet Managers. Sea port are being automated to raise productivity. Jurong Port previously used traditional forklifts and flatbed trailers to unload steel, which constitutes more than half of their handled cargo. It now deploys customized side-loaders, which has helped to reduce its manpower requirement for steel unloading by 60%.
(Sources: Ministry of Transport, Singapore)
