Thursday, June 26, 2025
Home Port News Taiwan authorities assure that Covid-19 won’t disrupt Kaohsiung’s container operations

Taiwan authorities assure that Covid-19 won’t disrupt Kaohsiung’s container operations

Taiwan’s Maritime Port Bureau (MPB) has sought to allay concerns that the Covid-19 cluster in Kaohsiung Port could affect container handling operations, as media reports have speculated of disruptions similar to those seen in Chinese ports.

Last year, Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shenzhen in China, two of the world’s 10 busiest ports, saw their operations interrupted by lockdowns resulting from Covid-19 infections. Now, with Kaohsiung battling to stem the spread of Covid-19, there are concerns that something similar could afflict Taiwan’s main container port.

MPB asserted that normal operations are continuing and the stepped-up testing regime that saw more screening stations set up across Kaohsiung port after a harbour pilot became infected, is aimed at preventing transmission of the disease.

As of 9 February, Taiwan recorded 638 domestic and 1,626 imported Covid-19 cases in 2022.

Also, Taiwan International Ports Corporation, which manages many of Taiwan’s ports, has mandated that any personnel boarding any ships in Kaohsiung will have to wear personal protection equipment (PPE) and be disinfected prior to embarkation, 24 hours a day.

Regarding the disinfection process, TIPC said that the personnel has to undertake any disinfection themselves, according to prescribed methods. Once the personnel has done the disinfection, they are to move to stipulated inspection booths. If the disinfection is incomplete, the personnel can be punished and suspended from working onboard ships. PPE can only be removed once the personnel has cleared the disinfection checks.

Kaohsiung City Health Bureau will also set up vaccination booths in the port from 11 to 12 February to provide booster jabs to any persons who require added protection. The jabs are also made available to other people who need to enter the port to work, such as truck drivers.

Martina Li
Asia Correspondent





Latest Posts

Kalmar and Cagliari RoRo terminal extend partnership

Kalmar has signed a new agreement with Cagliari RoRo Terminal in Italy to supply eight heavy terminal tractors. The order was booked in Kalmar’s Q2...

BIMCO Shipping Number of the Week: Ship recycling could double to 16,000 ships over the next 10 years

“As the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) enters into force we have updated...

New chapter in ship recycling begins as Hong Kong Convention enters into force

Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships has officially enterred into force, as of 26 June 2025. Adopted under...

StockSpace and Axione Development to establish warehouse facility in KEZAD

Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD) Group, in partnership with StockSpace and master developer Axione Development, has signed a 50-year land lease agreement to...

COSCO SHANGHAI to join AMERIGO service

CMA CGM announced that the vessel COSCO SHANGHAI will be phased into the AMERIGO Service, a key Transatlantic route connecting Southern Europe with the...
error: Content is protected !!