BNCT powers on with expansion project
Korea’s BNCT is pushing ahead with development works despite having 400,000 teu of spare capacity available.
The terminal at Busan’s New Port has embarked on phase 2 of its expansion plan which will provide 700,000 teu additional capacity by March 2015 and the operator has not ruled out further expansion after that.
BNCT’s chief commercial officer Peter Slootweg told Port Strategy: “We are confident volume and vessel size growth in New Port will see our additional 700,000 teu capacity utilised soon after completion. Steady growth in trade, continued increases in vessel size and BNCT’s unique position in Busan Port mean we must do what we can to support Busan Port’s continued growth and success.”
BNCT opened in 2012 and remains the newest terminal in the port. Its current capacity of 1.8m teu will increase to over 2.5m teu with additional yard construction and delivery of three new, super-post-panamax cranes by March 2015. It pitches itself as the most advanced terminal in Korea and the first vertically-automated in Asia, with the ability to berth four of the world’s largest container vessels simultaneously.