Yokohama Kawasaki International Port Corp. (YKIP) has announced a trial to transport empty containers by barge as part of efforts to improve coordination among the Keihin Ports of Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama.
The trial will test operational procedures ahead of any broader deployment.
Empty containers imported through the Port of Tokyo, which are typically transported by truck to Yokohama, will first be moved overland to Kawasaki.
In mid-March, the containers will then be transferred by barge from Kawasaki to Yokohama’s Honmoku Pier.
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The exercise will assess information-sharing processes, handover procedures between road and barge transport, contractual requirements, and cost allocation.
YKIP said the trial will also examine whether barge transport could support emissions reduction, ease pressure on truck capacity, and provide an alternative transport option during disruptions such as natural disasters.
For more information:
Japan International Freight Forwarders Association – JIFFA – Japan International Freight Forwarders Association Inc
