Tamsui, Taiwan
Tamsui, Taiwan: Historic port city with rich cultural heritage and scenic riverside charm.
Port Overview
Tamsui is a coastal district in northern Taiwan, located at the mouth of the Tamsui River where it meets the Taiwan Strait, within New Taipei City. Historically, Tamsui was Taiwan’s largest port in the 19th century but lost prominence as silt accumulation shifted major shipping to Keelung. Today, it is not ranked among Taiwan’s top container ports and does not have significant annual TEU capacity. Its strategic importance now lies in tourism, local commerce, and its proximity to Taipei, rather than international maritime trade.
Facilities & Infrastructure
Tamsui Port features a main wharf area with dedicated terminals for general cargo, bulk cargo, and passenger vessels. The port includes warehouses, open storage yards, and a 150-meter-long customs wharf. Cargo handling equipment consists primarily of mobile cranes and forklifts; there are no automated guided vehicles (AGVs) or large container gantry cranes, as the port mainly handles smaller vessels and regional trade. The facilities support both commercial and tourism activities.
Container Terminals
Tamsui, Taiwan, is served by the Taipei Port Container Terminal (TPCT), the largest container facility in northern Taiwan. TPCT features four linear berths totaling 1,377 meters, with a design capacity exceeding 2.3 million TEUs annually. The terminal is equipped with 13 gantry cranes and 40 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes, indicating a high level of automation. Major operators include Evergreen Marine, Yang Ming, and Wan Hai Lines, who jointly back the terminal. The port’s 16-meter draft allows it to handle ultra-large container vessels.
Port Services
Main services at Tamsui, Taiwan:
- Cargo operations: Limited general cargo and small-scale bulk handling, primarily supporting local trade.
- Ship services: Basic berthing, mooring, and provisioning for fishing vessels, small cargo ships, and ferries.
- Warehousing: Historic warehouses exist, mainly for small-scale storage and tourism-related uses.
- Customs: Historical customs facilities; modern customs services are minimal and focused on local trade.
- Container handling: No dedicated container terminal; container operations are not a primary service.
Global Connectivity
Tamsui, Taiwan is primarily a regional port serving the Greater Taipei area, with connectivity to nearby ports such as Taipei Port and Keelung. It facilitates coastal shipping and river transport, linking northern Taiwan with local destinations like Bali and Fisherman’s Wharf. While not a major international hub, Tamsui supports feeder routes and regional cargo movement, with access to broader shipping networks via Taipei and Keelung for connections to major Asian and global markets.
Port Statistics
Tamsui, Taiwan – Key Port Statistics (2025):
- TEU Throughput: Tamsui is not listed among Taiwan’s main container ports and does not handle significant container throughput.
- World Ranking: Not ranked among the world’s top container ports.
- Number of Berths: Tamsui is a minor port; berth numbers are not officially published, but it is considerably smaller than major ports like Taipei or Keelung.
- Area: Specific port area figures are not published; Tamsui is primarily a river port with limited commercial facilities.
- Shipping Lines: No major international container shipping lines call at Tamsui; it mainly serves local and regional traffic.
Tamsui functions mainly as a historical and local river port rather than a major commercial or container port. For international container operations, nearby Taipei and Keelung ports are used.
