The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and PSA Singapore have successfully concluded a four-month experiment with six barge operators, enabling line-towed container barges to and from Pasir Panjang Terminal (PPT) during nighttime.
Previously, night transit for line-towed container barges was only authorised at the Brani and Keppel Terminals, where navigational traffic is less complicated than in PPT.
The new efforts are focused on optimising the night window for transferring containers on barges to and from the Port of Singapore and nearby ports, including those for transshipment.
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By enabling more frequent barge deliveries at PPT throughout the day, this approach aims to strengthen regional port connections, improve efficiency, reduce berth times, and minimise the need for land terminal transfers.
Each line-towed barge has an average capacity of 300 TEU. To guarantee the safe transit of line-towed container barges at PPT at night, MPA will apply additional safety measures that were successfully evaluated with barge operators and PSA during the trial period.
These include mandatory pilotage for barges, towing line length limitations, and thorough surveillance of barge movements by the MPA’s vessel traffic management system.
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All night movements of line-towed cargo barges to and from PPT require MPA clearance. PPT has informed barge operators of the safety precautions and approval process for night movements of line-towed cargo barges.
