2.5. Container Terminal Management and Operation

2.5.2 Japanese Response to Containerization

1) Forecast of nationwide and regional container freight volumes
The total volume of production and consumption container freight handled in the year 2010 is forecast to reach approximately 18 million TEU. Gateway and subsidiary gateway ports combined are thought to account for almost all (95 %) of the container freight handled nationwide.

Estimates of nationwide and regional handled container freight volumes

2) International Marine Container Terminal Distribution
By 2010, gateway and subsidiary gateway ports will require international marine container terminals with approximately 130 to 145 berths in order to ensure that production and consumption container freight is handled efficiently at the national and local levels.

This means that, by 2010, international marine container terminals will be distributed so that gateway ports will handle about 80% of all container cargo, while subsidiary gateway ports will handle 15%. This layout is designed to reduce distribution costs through the advantage of economies of scale by appropriately concentrating cargo at gateway ports. It also aims to reduce domestic transport costs by having ports in the area (subsidiary gateway ports) handle a certain amount of cargo where it is produced or consumed.

Type of Ports	Description	Number of equipped berths
Gateway Ports	Deepwater, high-standard international marine container terminals will be established at gateway ports in Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay, Osaka Bay and Northern Kyushu (international hub ports). These terminals will accommodate post-Panamax container vessels, which will further enhance the functioning of these already multi-functional international distribution ports. Enhancing these ports will enable them to serve as global shipping channel network hubs, frequently providing port of cal services and connecting each part of Japan with the rest of the world.	110 to 120 berths (including existing berths)
Subsidiary Port	The central ports in Hokkaido, Nihonkai-Chubu, Eastern Tohoku, Northern Kanto, Suruga Bay Coast, Chugoku, Southern Kyushu and Okinawa will be designated subsidiary gateway ports to complement gateway ports. They will serve as bases for a shipping network that connects Japan with Southeast Asia and other regions exhibiting remarkable growth.	20 to 25 berths (no existing berth)

3) Distribution Results
Systematic distribution of terminals will reduce distribution costs by a total of 340 bill/ton yen a year (in 2010).
This will reduce CO2 emissions by the amount equivalent to the emissions from 1.2 million roundtrips between Tokyo and Kobe (the total length of the Tomei-Meishin Highway) by a truck carrying a 20-foot container (in 2010).

Distribution Image of Gateway Ports and Subsidiary Ports
Gateway and Subsidiary Gateway Port Distribution Concept