<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published August 8, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Lim Hwee Hua gives thumbs-up to PSA cost cuts
By JAMIE LEE
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COST-CUTTING measures at PSA International yesterday got the thumbs-up from Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.
Speaking at PSA's National Day observance ceremony, she said: 'PSA has done well in coping with these difficult times. Excess equipment such as quay cranes, yard cranes and prime movers were mothballed to reduce equipment maintenance costs.
'Staff, unions and management have worked closely together on adjustments to work rosters and deployment so as to provide greater flexibility for coping with the downturn while continuing to meet its business needs and customer demands.'
PSA has also reviewed and improved processes, and is re-skilling and upgrading its staff. It is cross-training staff to handle new equipment or to undertake different functions.
'For example, yard crane and quay crane operators have the opportunity to be trained to drive prime movers and to perform the role of wharf operations supervisors,' said Mrs Lim.
PSA stays as the top port operator but continues to face intense competition, she added.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>'Neighbouring ports are constantly improving service standards, adding new capacity and improving their cost effectiveness to attract customers. The proliferation of mega vessels has increased the demands on productivity,' Mrs Lim said.
'PSA must therefore continue to innovate and anticipate customer demands and expectations.'
PSA said separately that container volumes at its Singapore port fell 17.8 per cent in the year to June compared to the same period a year ago.
Singapore's container terminals handled nearly 2.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in June, down 17 per cent from the same month last year, preliminary estimates by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore showed.
'The silver lining is that throughput appears to have stabilised in recent months,' said Mrs Lim. 'We all hope that the worst is over.'
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Lim Hwee Hua gives thumbs-up to PSA cost cuts
By JAMIE LEE
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Email this article</TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Print article </TD></TR><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>COST-CUTTING measures at PSA International yesterday got the thumbs-up from Lim Hwee Hua, Minister in Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.
Speaking at PSA's National Day observance ceremony, she said: 'PSA has done well in coping with these difficult times. Excess equipment such as quay cranes, yard cranes and prime movers were mothballed to reduce equipment maintenance costs.
'Staff, unions and management have worked closely together on adjustments to work rosters and deployment so as to provide greater flexibility for coping with the downturn while continuing to meet its business needs and customer demands.'
PSA has also reviewed and improved processes, and is re-skilling and upgrading its staff. It is cross-training staff to handle new equipment or to undertake different functions.
'For example, yard crane and quay crane operators have the opportunity to be trained to drive prime movers and to perform the role of wharf operations supervisors,' said Mrs Lim.
PSA stays as the top port operator but continues to face intense competition, she added.
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'); } //--> </SCRIPT><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>
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'PSA must therefore continue to innovate and anticipate customer demands and expectations.'
PSA said separately that container volumes at its Singapore port fell 17.8 per cent in the year to June compared to the same period a year ago.
Singapore's container terminals handled nearly 2.1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) in June, down 17 per cent from the same month last year, preliminary estimates by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore showed.
'The silver lining is that throughput appears to have stabilised in recent months,' said Mrs Lim. 'We all hope that the worst is over.'
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