What if I told you that the Johor Port you see before you is more than just a place for ships? It is a vital organ in Singapore’s economic body. It pulsates with the energy of global trade.
The Port of Singapore, including Johor Port, has always been key to Singapore’s economy. It started as a small harbor and grew into a transshipment hub. Today, it connects to many ports worldwide. The Port of Singapore is now the world’s second busiest port regarding container volume.
Trading activities existed on the Singapore River’s northern banks as early as the late 13th century. A prince from Palembang established a port settlement there. Singapore was then Temasek. It was one of many port cities along the Strait of Melaka. Chinese ships started calling at Southeast Asian countries for goods. Singapore acquired and exported products from South Johor and the Riau Archipelago. It also distributed goods from China, Southeast Asia, and India. However, this port settlement declined when Melaka became the key port.
In 1819, Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore. He wanted to establish a trading post. One of his first tasks was to survey the port. This resulted in the first chart of Singapore Harbour in 1820. The Singapore Strait became a main shipping channel. More surveys led to more admiralty charts. In 1851, Horsburgh Lighthouse began operations on Pedra Branca.
Raffles made Singapore a free port. Fees were not collected. Ships from all over the world could trade freely. Customs duties were only on tobacco, opium, alcohol, and petroleum. This policy and Singapore’s location attracted many vessels. Within five years, Singapore’s port became a regional entrepot.
By the mid-1800s, steamships needed coal. They called at the port for refueling. Coal was stored in warehouses on the Singapore River. It was then transported to the steamships. This caused congestion. A deep-water berth was needed. New Harbour now Keppel Harbour was the natural choice.
In 1852, a wharf opened at New Harbour. Ocean shipping preferred this wharf. The Singapore River was used for coastal shipping. Cargo was transported overland to Boat Quay or New Harbour. Soon, wharves, warehouses, and coal stores opened around New Harbour. The first dry dock was built. Shipping traffic increased quickly.
The Suez Canal opened in 1869. This reduced the journey from Southeast Asia to Europe. The number of steamships calling at Singapore increased. They came for repairs, refueling, and cargo handling. In 1874, mechanical installations replaced manual labor. Land reclamation started in 1879. This provided land for new roads. The new roads helped with congestion.
In 1932, the Port of Singapore had wharves at the Singapore River, Telok Ayer Basin, and Keppel Harbour. Enhancements were made to the facilities. Oil storage facilities were set up on Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sebarok. Ship-repair facilities opened in Sembawang.
During the Japanese invasion in 1942, port facilities were damaged. Machinery and equipment fell into disrepair. The Harbour Board rebuilt and restored the port. Shipping tonnage climbed. In 1964, the Singapore Harbour Board became the Port of Singapore Authority PSA.
Port developments in the 1960s and 1970s linked to industrialization. Jurong Port opened in 1965. It handled bulk cargo. The PSA converted the former British Naval Base Store Basin into Sembawang Wharves in 1971. Pasir Panjang Wharves began operations in 1974.
In the late 1960s, the PSA built Southeast Asia’s first container terminal. The Tanjong Pagar Container Terminal opened in 1972. Container shipping grew in the 1980s. More container berths were built. Computerization was adopted.
In 1996, the PSA’s port regulatory functions went to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. In 1997, PSA was corporatized and became PSA Corporation Limited. The company still manages and operates the port.
To meet the shipping industry’s needs, new Pasir Panjang Container Terminals opened in 2000. In 2012, Phases 3 and 4 of the Pasir Panjang Terminal were launched. That year, a decision was made to consolidate container terminals into one mega port in Tuas.
In August 2017, the Tanjong Pagar terminal ceased operations. The Port of Singapore now includes terminals at Keppel, Brani, Pasir Panjang, Sembawang, and Jurong.
So, the next time you see a ship at Johor Port, remember its rich history. Remember its contribution to Singapore’s success. It is a story of vision, adaptation, and relentless pursuit of excellence.