Digital Collaboration with Global Shipping Companies
Strengthening Transshipment Competitiveness and Promoting Sustainable Growth
Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sangkeun) announced that on the 7th, Hiroki Tsuji, Vice President of ONE (Ocean Network Express), visited the Busan Port Authority to share future development plans for Busan Port and ONE, and to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation.
ONE is the world's sixth-largest shipping company, operating a total of 253 vessels, and was established in 2018 through the integration of the container divisions of Japan's three major shipping companies (NYK, MOL, K-Line). As a major customer, ONE ranked second in cargo volume handled at Busan Port last year, and its annual throughput at Busan Port is comparable to the total cargo volume of Incheon Port (3.56 million TEU), the second-largest port in Korea, processing a significant amount of cargo every year.
Busan Port Authority has agreed to further strengthen digital cooperation with ONE to activate 'Busan Port Port-i', a real-time transshipment monitoring system currently in pilot operation.
Port-i is a system designed to help shipping companies process transshipment cargo at Busan Port easily and quickly. It offers various features such as real-time monitoring of vessels and cargo, anomaly detection, and providing integrated berth operation status across all terminals.
BPA plans to enhance the efficiency and punctuality of transshipment processing through data sharing and operational linkage between ONE and Port-i. This will improve visibility into the transshipment process at Busan Port and increase vessel loading rates, raising the reliability of Busan Port and boosting transshipment cargo volumes.
Hiroki Tsuji, Vice President of ONE, expressed his commitment to actively participate in the operation of the Busan Port Port-i system and thanked BPA for introducing digital solutions to improve transshipment efficiency at Busan Port.
Despite the challenging global shipping market, ONE introduced its long-term growth strategy. The company has prepared large-scale plans, including fleet expansion and terminal infrastructure investment, to prepare for the future. Recently, ONE announced an expansion plan to invest approximately $20 billion (about 29 trillion KRW) by 2030 to build eco-friendly ultra-large container ships and invest in key global terminal hubs.
Notably, last month, ONE's first newly built company-owned vessel, "ONE Sparkle," was constructed in Korea and held its naming ceremony. Such active investment is expected to create new opportunities for Busan Port as well. If ONE, which has used Busan Port as a major hub, expands its fleet to open new routes or increase transshipment cargo, it is expected to significantly contribute to increased cargo volume and port revitalization at Busan Port.
Busan Port Authority plans to further solidify cooperation with global shipping companies following this visit by the ONE executive team.
Song Sangkeun, President of BPA, stated, "We will continue to enhance communication with our customers and provide innovative port services to further elevate the status of Busan Port," expressing his commitment to Busan Port's continued growth.
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