Part of Busan North Port container terminal will be reconfigured to a cruise terminal.

BPA stated on the 12th at the that Gamman Container Terminal or the New Gamman Container Terminal will be reconfigured to a cruise terminal after integrating the North Port Container operators. MOF and BPA plan to complete the integration of 4 container terminal operators by August, which have suffered decreases in cargo volume since the opening of Busan New Port, including Jaseongdae, New Gamman, Gamman, and Shinsundae terminals. When the operators are integrated, BPA will use the New Gamman or Gamman Terminal as a cruise terminal.

When the container terminal is reconfigured to a cruise terminal, it will be able to accommodate two mega-sized vessels(over 200,000t) at the same time, thanks to a long quay, and secure enough space to park buses for tourists. BPA stated “This will resolve problems such as the long arrival and departure process and budget waste due to constructing separate terminal buildings and parking lots.” Currently, cruise terminals including Int’l Cruise Terminal at Dongsam-dong Youngdo and Gamman Terminal are dispersed throughout the Busan North Port Redevelopment area.

In this regard, the arrival and departure process for passengers were often delayed due to insufficient number of immigration employees when several cruise ships enter the terminal at the same time. There will be 40 days when more than two cruise ships will enter the port this year and there will be 54 days next year. In particular, the number of passengers will be up to 10,000 if three large cruise ships such as Quantum of the seas and Ovation of the seas(4600 passengers) call at the port simultaneously.

The economic effect on the local tourism industry has decreased as passengers spend less time in Busan due to being delayed from the immigration process. BPA plans to construct infrastructure so that cruise ships can use this converted cruise terminal as their home port.