The Sea-Port Improvement Plan (PIP) Outline: Naha Port International Container Terminal
Abstract
Naha is an old port of Okinawa. It has been in existence since the 12th C. Okinawa has seen its trade volumes increase exponentially in the recent past. The government of the Okinawa prefecture is under pressure to expand Naha port in order to cope with the fast-changing business demands. The changes are urgent and necessary if Okinawa is to tap into the ever flourishing port business. In 2004, Naha handled over 1, 360 000 tons of international cargo. The port hosted an impressive 115 cruise ships in 2015 and saw the number rise in 2016 to 187. The cargo volumes keep rising. The attraction for tourists is remarkable. Okinawa economy is growing fast and calling for proactive measures to harness all the potential that the port has; to earn foreign exchange. Already, the government has pumped resources into the port to boost its capacity to handle cargo. The Naha expansion and development program is hoped to address the complex metrics of a port of international stature that the port of Naha is meant to be. Naha is often crowded in the peak seasons such as the main public holidays and the festive seasons. Owing to the surging numbers of visitors during such times, Visitors are forced to report to the airport way before their departure time. The latter scenario, therefore, necessitates a re-planning and re-designing of the operations at the port of entry and exit. There is room for the prefecture administration to make such operations efficient.
Introduction
Naha is Okinawa’s logistical center. It started in 1264 at a time when the King of Chuzan who was in charge of the hinterland of mainland Okinawa put up an official mansion called Tomari Goten and a temple referred to as Seigenji within the port of Tomari. The 14th C saw trade between Okinawa and Japan pick up. When the Ryukyu Kingdom was established by Shohashi, trade flourished between Okinawa Korea, Japan, China and a couple of other Kingdoms (Naha Port Authority, 2006).
The year 2004 saw a cargo volume of 1, 360, 000 tons in international transactions recorded, and 8,730, 000 tons handled at the domestic level. The cargo of international container-type constituted 73, 000 tons. Cruise...
The year 2016 saw 187 cruise ship visits; which was a further 1.6 times increase.
Strategic goals
NPA which is the short form of Naha port Authority of Japan has picked on a Philippines based subsidiary of the international Container Services and the Naha international Container Terminal Inc to manage a container terminal in the city of Naha. The company, which operates as a joint venture and the operator, seeks to lay in place competitive and efficient services. Nevertheless, the central objective is to participate in the growth of the economy of the Prefecture of Okinawa. It is meant to serve the local industry and to bolster economic activity by claiming a share of the transshipment economic returns. The NICTI is lined up to operate the 9th terminal which has a 14 meter controlling depth. And a 300 meter berth length. Terminal 10 will have a 15 meter controlling depth and a berth of 300 meters after completion (World Port Source, N.D.).
Strengths of the port
There is significant movement domestically between the city of Okinawa and Japan. The fast-growing trade between mainland Asia and other global players is a sufficient catalyst to propel the Naha port towards carving off a share of the services of the port that automatically increase in demand because of the surging cargo volumes. Okinawa’s island and the port are strategically placed to the shipping lines of the world. The port has the capacity to offer such shipping lines with a container port operated and managed as competitively as other ports that provide such service across the globe. The economy of Okinawa’s Prefecture is significantly strong. The flying goose pattern manifested in the economic growth pattern in China and Asia in, general, has triggered an increase in the number of tourists, foreign investment and companies slated to set base in Okinawa.
Weaknesses
The island of Naha is mainly a tourist attraction destination. It does not generate a lot of cargo volumes because it does not have many industries. The island is usually crowded during major holidays. Travelers moving from Naha port to the mainland need to be cautious. They arrive at the airport, drop…
