With a possible doubling of global trade by 2030 shipping could face significant infrastructure challenges warns Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew.

Speaking at the opening of the Danish Maritime Forum in Copenhagen Lui said that they were optimistic on the outlook for global trade with it growing at 4 – 5% annually, which would see global trade possibly doubling by 2030.

“It will require a significant development in port infrastructure,” he said.

Lui noted that the world was already seeing larger ships such as Maersk Line’s 18,000 TEU Triple E vessels, “it is really changing the face of shipping across the world”.

With bigger vessels ports would need to invest in longer berths, more advanced cranes, and more intensive operations. This will see a conundrum where “shipping lines will require volume discounts as they are bringing more volumes to the ports while ports will require heavier investment infrastructure”.

When it comes investment in infrastructure Lui noted that there would be competing demand for the infrastructure money from areas such as hospitals, schools, housing and public transportation.

“Will port infrastructure command that same level of attention or are we faced with significant bottlenecks in ports around the world, and that’s really important.

“Will the development take place in a timely manner or will we see as we have in recent years that infrastructure growth will lag somewhat behind demand.”