Final Piece in North Harbor Container Terminal Reorganization Policy Completed
BPT to Integrate Operations of Eight Berths, Creating Busan Port’s Largest Terminal
Sinsundae Gamman Terminal Co., Ltd. has been finally selected as the operator for Berth 2 at Gamman Terminal in Busan Port North Harbor. This marks the completion of the last piece in the policy to reorganize the container terminal functions of the North Harbor.
On November 12, Busan Port Authority (BPA, President Song Sangkeun) announced that it had signed a lease agreement with Sinsundae Gamman Terminal (BPT) for Berth 2 at Gamman Terminal in Busan Port North Harbor.
Berth 2 at Gamman Terminal, which had been temporarily operated as a general terminal during the North Harbor redevelopment project, will now be converted back into a container terminal under this contract. The general terminal functions of the North Harbor will be handled by the replacement terminal at Gamcheon Port, which is scheduled for completion in November 2025.
With this agreement, BPT will operate an additional berth in addition to the existing five berths at Sinsundae Terminal and two berths at Gamman Terminal, making it possible to handle eight 50,000-ton vessels simultaneously along a total quay length of 2,550 meters. This will establish the largest container terminal in Busan Port.
Since the opening of the New Port and the launch of the North Harbor redevelopment project in 2006, the government and BPA have gradually implemented policies to reorganize the container terminal functions of the North Harbor, including integrating operators, relocating general terminals, and closing Jasungdae Terminal.
As a result, BPT was established in 2016 by integrating five operators in Busan Port North Harbor, which previously had a fragmented, small-scale terminal system. For the operation of Gamman Berth 2, BPT plans to efficiently utilize the workforce and equipment inherited during the previous integration process to achieve early stabilization.
Currently, North Harbor serves as a hub for intra-Asia shipping lines, handling 27% (6.51 million TEUs) of Busan Port’s total cargo volume and 40% (4.2 million TEUs) of its import and export cargo. This is higher than the combined cargo volumes of Incheon Port (3.56 million TEUs), Gwangyang Port (2.01 million TEUs), and Ulsan Port (400,000 TEUs). In addition, most cargo from domestic shipping lines such as Korea Marine Transport and Sinokor Merchant Marine passes through North Harbor, supporting the stable fleet operations of Korean carriers.
Currently, Sinsundae Gamman Terminal, which is invested in by domestic companies including Korea Hutchison Terminal Co., Ltd.-the world’s sixth-largest global terminal operator-and Sinokor Merchant Marine, operates three terminals (Shingamman, Gamman, and Sinsundae) on the outer side of Busan Harbor Bridge.
In line with the second phase of the North Harbor redevelopment project last year, Korea Hutchison Terminal ended its operation of Jasungdae Terminal-the nation’s first container terminal-after 46 years, and successfully relocated large-scale cargo handling equipment and over 500 workers to Shingamman Terminal. As a result, it has maintained greater stability and operational efficiency than at the previous terminal.
BPA plans to maintain North Harbor as a stable core hub for Asian and domestic shipping lines and to promote tailored facility and equipment upgrades that reflect the characteristics of North Harbor, which primarily serves small and medium-sized vessels.
Song Sangkeun, President of BPA, stated, "We will reorganize outdated infrastructure into efficient terminals tailored to vessel size and operating conditions, and implement phased improvements to link operations across the three North Harbor terminals, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency and competitiveness of shipping lines."
He added, "Through resource sharing among terminals and the establishment of a phased integrated operation system, we will realize economies of scale and operational synergy, further strengthening the overall operational competitiveness and port service quality of North Harbor."
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