Govt, ADB Discuss Ports Master Plan
The current situation was that Port of Suva was becoming too small and one-third of the Fiji Ports Terminal in Walu Bay could not contain the heavyladen machinery and containers
The Government is in discussions with the Asian Development Bank to develop a major master plan for Fiji Ports Terminal Limited.
The master plan would include plans to relocate the ports where one-stop-shop, fishing vessels, container ships and other shipping services are all provided in one location.
This was highlighted by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament yesterday, in response to a question by Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka on the progress made so far in making Fiji a major trans-shipment port for the Pacific region.
Weak structure
He said the current situation was that Port of Suva was becoming too small and one-third of the Fiji Ports Terminal in Walu Bay could not contain the heavy-laden machinery and containers.
He said the foundation was quite weak and it would be inexpensive to have a complete relocation. He added that with all this done, Port of Suva could be used for cruise liners.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said before the end of this year, the port of Suva would be equipped with two mobile harbour cranes which would enable the port to receive larger vessels with higher volumes.
Trans-Shipment Hub
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there was no doubt that Fiji must take advantage of its geographical location to become trans-shipment hub, not just in terms of freight or cargo through the sea, but also through air.
Fiji as a trans-shipment hub has seen an increase in the number of containers, he says.
“In 2012 there were 109,856 twenty-foot containers, in 2017 it was 157,430 which was a 43 per cent increase. In 2008, it further increased by another 9000 containers – recording another six per cent increase. Now obviously there’s lot more containers coming directly into Fiji, which makes it a lot more attractive for other containers destined for other destinations to be brought to Fiji and then sent from Fiji to those ports.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said before the end of this year, Port of Suva would be equipped with two mobile harbour cranes which would enable the port to receive larger vessels with higher volumes.