2010 and Beyond

On 1 January, 2011, Jurong Port will celebrate its 10^th Year Anniversary since corporatization.

2000s: Multi-Purpose Gateway to the Region

Jurong Port was corporatized on 1 January 2001 and became a fully-owned subsidiary of JTC Corporation. This allows the Port to generate greater dynamism, flexibility and responsiveness to the fast-changing maritime trends.

The Port officially started the Container Terminal in mid-2001, fully-equipped with 16-row quay cranes and 4 to 7 high rubber-tyred gantries. In the same year, Jurong Port also launched Jurong Logistics Hub (JLH), a S$220m multi-storey, common-user warehousing complex providing best-in-class warehousing facility. JLH was subsequently placed successfully into a REIT in 2006 with Mapletree Logistics Trust Management Ltd.

In 2005, Jurong Port embarked on an intensive programme to build and upgrade facilities and services to accommodate future throughput growth and business requirements. This was in preparation for the relocation of general cargo volumes from the Pasir Panjang Wharves, a conventional cargo facility operated by PSA Corporation. In addition, Jurong Port focused on IT development to enhance productivity and better management of operations through integration of the Port’s Berth Planning System, Container Terminal Management System and the General and Bulk Management System.

Throughout the rest of the decade, Jurong Port picked up many industry accolades such as the Best Emerging Container Terminal Operator – Asia at the Asian Freight and Supply Chain Award (AFSCA) consecutively from 2003 to 2007. Jurong Port continued to be recognized for its industry leadership as it received the 2008 Award for the Best Container Terminal – Asia (under one million TEUs per annum) and the 2009 Lloyd’s List Achievement in Safety Award.

In 2008, Jurong Port hit a new corporate milestone when it started the Penjuru Terminal for the lighterage and ship-chandling operators. At the same time, the Port opened a S$12m new 12-lane Main Gate, equipped with automated gate system capabilities, to further enhance operational efficiency.

In 2009, Jurong Port Cement Terminal hit a record high throughput of 3.3m tons per annum, the first time it crossed the 3m mark.

1990s: Charting New Paths

In 1992, the reclamation of Pulau Damar Laut (PDL), was completed and operations officially started in 1993, focusing mainly on bulk and general cargo operations. Subsequently, in 1995, the Port joined other strategic partners in the North China Ports Consortium to invest in the Dalian Container Terminal, one of the key container ports in North East China. This signified the starting point in Jurong Port’s strategic aspiration to move into the container business, paving the way for its transformation into a multi-purpose port operator.

By 1996, Singapore completed its land intensification programme to increase land utilization. A notable highlight is the Jurong Port Cement Terminal located in PDL which today still remains one of the world’s largest common-user cement facilities. The facility has two dedicated berths, equipped with three cement screw unloaders and linked to a sophisticated enclosed air-slide non-pollutive conveyor system. This conveyor system is linked to 13 silos, operated by six cement companies, enabling a more efficient handling system for the cement importers.

1980s: Growing Beyond our Shores

Not contented with local development, Jurong Port embarked on its first overseas foray when it announced in 1984 the investment into Shenzhen Chiwan Petroleum Supply Base, which specialized in port services to offshore oil exploration, development and production in the Pearl River Delta area.

In 1988, Jurong Port secured approval and certification from the London Metal Exchange to operate warehousing facilities within its port for the storage and trading of metal ingots, signifying a new milestone in expanding our portfolio of port services.

Meanwhile, the company continued to grow aggressively, developing additional port capacity was to cater to the anticipated increase in cargo throughputs. To ensure long-term sustainability, the Port announced in 1989, the S$200m construction and reclamation of PDL, a 21 hectare islet off the coast of Jurong Port’s mainland terminal, including the construction of a 1km deep-water berth and a causeway linking PDL to the mainland. The completion of PDL would create additional land area of 40 hectares and create more deepwater multi-purpose berths for handling a diversified cargo mix.

1970s: Early Development Years

Jurong Port continued to hit new traffic heights in line with the rapid growth of industries in JTC. In 1970, total cargo handled passed the million ton mark for the first time, supporting some 249 factories located at the Jurong Industrial Estate. That year, the Port also started Jurong Marine Base (JMB), where it provided supply and services to support the growing offshore oil, gas and marine industries.

In 1971, JP embarked on a S$34m expansion programme that provided for four additional deep water general purpose berths, extension of an existing berth and the addition of warehouses and transit sheds. This was in anticipation for the estimated 500 factories expected to operate in Jurong by the time the project was completed in 1974.

Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Jurong Port continued to develop its port infrastructure culminating in the further extension of five berths around the Selat Damar Laut channel in 1978.

1960s: Supporting the building of a Nation

In 1963, Jurong Port was set-up by the Singapore Economic Development Board as part of its National Industrial Estate Infrastructure Development Program, to support the growth of Singapore’s first and biggest industrial township, Jurong Industrial Estate.

In 1965, the Port officially started operations with two berths. Three years later in 1968, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) was set-up to drive the industrial estate development in Singapore and Jurong Port became a business division under JTC, operating as an industrial port to support the industrial clusters in Jurong.

During then, the port was handling a diverse range of cargos to serve a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing and many more. Examples of cargo included steel plates, copper slag, clinker, raw sugar, potash, grain, beans, seeds, industrial chemicals, scrap iron, timber and livestock.