Taiwan’s island nature and strategic location have long been catalysts for prosperity. Located at the nexus of the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe shipping routes, the country is an ideal commerce hub, with ports on the northern, western, southern, and eastern coasts of Taiwan. The vital nature of maritime commerce is reflected in achieved and updated government policy every five years since the 1990s, with the most recent government Master Plan for Future Development and Construction of International Commercial Ports earmarking NT$49.5 billion (US$1.58 billion) for infrastructure from 2022 through 2026.
It was just over a decade ago that a model of forward-thinking and unified administration resulted in meeting the challenges of a fast-dawning new era in the maritime industry. A decision to separate business management from administration was made with reference to the management systems of other marine nations, and the four port authorities of Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien were consolidated into the Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) and the Taiwan International Ports Corp. (TIPC). The former is the government body in charge of port-related public planning and administration, while the latter acts as an independent business in charge of entrepreneurial management and development. The work undertaken mutually by these bodies is indicative of Taiwan’s flexibility and responsiveness to global market evolution, raising not only the international competitiveness of the country’s ports but also the quality of marine recreation and port environs for citizens.
TIPC is a national enterprise that is wholly owned by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and is headed by a board of directors and supervisors. Its core businesses are shipping logistics, vessel services, free trade zone operations, cruise tourism and port recreation services. TIPC administers the ports of Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung and Hualien, managing all aspects of their business to fuel growth, raise efficiency and build in flexibility, thereby stimulating local economic and industrial prosperity. TIPC ports are world-class, high-tech facilities, connected directly into efficient national road and rail networks. Today 90 percent of the country’s import-export cargo is handled by marine ports: those in Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung and Taipei ports handle container ships; while those in Anping, Hualien and Suao move bulk cargo. As a member of the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ World Ports Sustainability Program, TIPC links five areas of focus to U.N. Sustainable Development Goals: climate and energy; community outreach and city-port dialogue; resilient infrastructure; governance and ethics; and safety and security.
The MPB for its part drives innovative planning for maritime resource use with particular attention to a sustainable industry environment and net-zero goals. In response to the offshore wind energy industry, MPB prioritized smart navigation safety by integrating resources for international standard management systems. The body’s international purview comprises studying treaty information for feasibility of domestic implementation and drafting legislation for vessel management and maritime affairs. On the domestic front, it oversees the essential operations of personnel training, examination and licensing, which are increasingly vital as the maritime sector readies itself to staff ports that are expanding to accommodate supersized container ships and diversifying into recreation and tourism services.
The MPB’s remit also includes exciting sectors in domestic tourism via the development of marinas and yacht berths, fast and luxurious new ferries to outlying islands and the revitalization of building heritage. One of the most anticipated projects is the Gaomei Wetlands Lighthouse, famous for its romantic sunset views, which is being renovated as a B&B and is set to open at the end of the year