Port Of Singapore, Singapore

The Port of Singapore is located on the southern end of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia about 30 kilometers southwest of the Port of Johor in Malaysia and about 250 nautical miles north-northwest of the Port of Palembang, Indonesia. Containing Singapore Island and about 60 islets, the parliamentary republic of Singapore's constitution establishes a representative democracy with a president and a prime minister. Since 1959, the People's Action Party has dominated the political process. It is the largest of three surviving sovereign city-states in the world, the other two being Monaco and Vatican City.
Most of the residents of the Port of Singapore are of Chinese descent, and the remaining population contains mostly Malays and Indians. The Port of Singapore's official languages are English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, and most major religions are practiced in the Port of Singapore (Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, and Islam). In 2005, almost 4.3 million people called the Port of Singapore home.
Singapore Island is less than 15 meters above sea level, and about two percent of the land is highly productive cropland. Located just 137 kilometers north of the equator, the Port of Singapore is hot and humid. The Port of Singapore has long been an important duty-free trading post for the British Empire, and it is today a major international trade center. It boasts Southeast Asia's most advanced economy, housing major finance and industry sectors.

The port is the world's busiest port in terms of shipping tonnage handled, with 1.15 billion gross tons (GT) handled in 2005. In terms of cargo tonnage, Singapore is behind Shanghai with 423 million freight tons handled. The port retains its position as the world's busiest hub for transshipment traffic in 2005, and is also the world's biggest bunkering hub, with 25 million tonnes sold in the same year.
Singapore is ranked first globally in 2005 in terms of containerised traffic, with 23.2 million Twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled. High growth in containerised traffic has seen the port overtaking Hong Kong since the first quarter of 2005, and has led the race ever since, with an estimated 19,335 TEUs handled in the year up to October, compared to 18,640 TEUs handled in Hong Kong in the same period. A rise in regional traffic consolidating the port's position in Southeast Asia, and increases in transshipment traffic using the strategic East Asia-Europe route via Singapore helped the port to emerge tops at the end of the year, a title it had not held since overtaking Hong Kong once in 1998.
Singapore port played vital role in emerging economy.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is the port authority for the Port of Singapore. The MPA licenses and regulates port and maritime services and facilities in the Port of Singapore and manages vessel traffic. The MPA maintains a website with up-to-date information on Port of Singapore regulations and tariffs available for all seafarers. The goal of the MPA is the development and promotion of the Port of Singapore as a world-class international center and the preservation of Singapore's maritime interests.

Lying at the crossroads of international ocean-going trade routes, the Port of Singapore receives an average of 140 thousand vessels per year carrying about 30 million containers, 500 million tons of cargo, and a million cruise passengers. The Port of Singapore is proud of its advanced technology, allowing the MPA to provide reliable, efficient, and secure services 24 hours a day.

The MPA also plans the Port of Singapore's development, including the use of both sea and waterfront areas. The MPA is working to meet increasing future demands by deepening channels and developing modern next-generation terminals for the Port of Singapore.

The Port of Singapore engaged in worldwide discussions about climate change, including participating in the 2008 World Ports Climate Conference in Rotterdam. The Port of Singapore's MPA also hosted the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Secretary-General spoke at the Second Singapore Maritime Lecture on the issue of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by shipping.