IT is imperative for the Hong Kong Government to provide back-up land and barge berths to avoid steady decline, said Jessie Chung, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Container Terminal Operators' Association (HKCTOA). 

"Hong Kong's container terminal industry is on the verge of a watershed moment as there is a real risk of our falling further in the world ranking among leading ports," she told an HKCTOA luncheon attended by high government officials. 

"Terminal operators at Kwai Tsing have been making substantial investments. Yet, to turn the tide of slipping competitiveness, we need the Hong Kong Government's support in the area of land policy," she said.

More land is needed because of changing trends in shipping, "the growing deployment of mega container vessels and increasing reliance on barge-transported transshipments ?both of which have greatly undermined the handling capacity of the port," she said.

Transshipment volume handled at the Kwai Tsing terminals, including both vessel-to-vessel and barge-to-vessel throughput, has increased 66.3 per cent in the past 10 years. 

Twelve barge berths, she said, can be integrated with the existing container terminals, and if given the government's blessing, could greatly enhance the port's efficiency and productivity in a short time.

In 2014, transshipment volume accounted for 72.9 per cent of the annual throughput at Kwai Tsing. Transshipment throughput stays longer in the port and takes up land. The situation is further exacerbated by the shortage of port back-up land, which is currently 45 per cent below international standards. 

In terms of barge volume, there was an increase of over 32 per cent in the past 10 years, which has translated into much longer waiting time, she said. 

The lowest average barge waiting time in 2008 was two hours; now it can take more than two days for service during peak periods. 

Barge traffic also has a knock-on effect on waiting time for container vessels, which has gone up from one hour to as many as some 20 hours during congested periods, Ms Chung said.

Additional back-up land can provide large container storage depots that are connected to the port, which can effectively alleviate congestion and reduce external truck trips as well as associated noise and emissions.

Said local Maersk chief Tim Smith, also chairman of Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association (HKLSA): "We need to face up to the realities with intelligent, considered actions to keep HK's port competitive, and in the process support the overall maritime industry cluster, which is a vitally important component of Hong Kong's economy."

His HKLSA, he said, was convening, together with the HKCTOA, a joint task force to work to improve efficiency in the port's operational procedures, IT systems and EDI connectivity. 

Also addressing the luncheon was HKG Transport Secretary Anthony Cheung, who said: "Port infrastructure remains an important pillar of Hong Kong's economy. Government will continue to work with the industry to work out feasible measures to enhance the overall capability and efficiency of the Hong Kong Port and carry out the improvement measures in the pragmatic but forward looking manner."