2.5. Container Terminal Management and Operation

2.5.3 New Container Terminal Development, Management and Operation

The Council for Ports and Harbors submitted its response to enquiries from the Ministry of Transport regarding the course of future container terminal development and operation in March 1998.
The response represents Japan's current container terminal development philosophy.

1) Current Problems
The method of recouping construction costs through leasing fees from shipping companies for rights of exclusive use under the former "terminal corporation system," led to high leasing fees.
The "public system," which non-designated shipping companies used on a regular basis, was also inefficient since it was impossible to use the entire terminal or its full capacity.
In order to revise the high costs inherent in the Japanese economy, the costs involved in using container terminals, the core of international container distribution, must immediately be reduced.

2) Introduction of the New System
In order to deal with the problems described above, the "new system" was introduced in Port of Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe. Central to the system were the ideas of (1) public development of quay walls, and (2) promotion of shared and intensive usage through common terminal operation. These measures were meant to lower costs and increase efficiency.