The port authority for the Port of Taichung is Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communication. The Ministry's goal is to enhance the entrepreneurialism in and competitive position of Taiwan's commercial ports. The MPB now focuses on maritime and port affairs at the national level. Its former authority over the Port of Taichung and other Taiwan ports has been reassigned to the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), with the Port of Taichung as one of four subsidiaries (along with Keelung, Kaohsiung, and Hualien). The TIPC handles port operations, improves Port of Taichung operations, strive to raise the port's international visibility, and supports regional economic growth.
The Port of Taichung has five primary areas of responsibility. It is the focus of regional container cargo traffic and the central value-added logistics center for the country. The Port of Taichung is the key receiving port in Taiwan for commodity fuels, heavy machinery, and petrochemicals and for receiving, storing, and shipping petroleum products. The Port of Taichung is also the port of call for passenger and cargo ships traveling the Taiwan Strait. The Port of Taichung also supports the growth of industrial manufacturing activities in neighboring districts.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) seeks to develop cross-strait opportunities and to make Taiwan a transportation hub for East Asia. The MOTC is focusing on developing Free Trade Zones and transforming its port evaluation system from one based on volume to one based on service and value added. As part of this effort, the MOTC is developing the Port of Taichung as a regional distribution center by also developing nearby industrial parks.
Taiwan's international commercial ports are critical to the country's economy. In 2009, Taiwan ports handled 11.7 million TEUs of containerized cargo and 605.7 million revenue tons, with total throughput of 235.7 million metric tons. The international ports served 576 thousand passengers in 2009.
During the first nine months of 2012, the Port of Taichung handled a total of 82 million metric tons, and the MOTC expected the third straight year of cargo volume exceeding 100 million metric tons for the Port of Taichung. Growth in cargo volume in the Port of Taichung was in hazardous products, fuel oil, cement clinker, and coal. During the same period, the Port of Taichung Free Trade Zone handled almost 5.9 million tons of trade, representing a growth of more than 305% over the first nine months of 2011 and 7.2% of all cargo handled in the Port of Taichung.
The Port of Taichung is the largest of Taiwan's four international commercial ports, covering a total area of 3793 hectares. The Port of Taichung contains 50 wharves, 16 specialized zones, and three free trade zones. The Port of Taichung has done much to attract investment from the private sector. Between 2003 and 2009, at least nine companies have committed to make investments totaling $272.2 billion that will increase cargo volume by as much as 16 million metric tons and adding over one thousand jobs in the local economy.
The Port of Taichung Free Trade Port Zone (FTZ) opened in 2005. In 2010, 28 free-trade businesses generated cargo volume in the FTZ of over 2.6 million metric tons of imports and exports. This Port of Taichung traffic was the best of the four international commercial ports in Taiwan.
To meet current changes in worldwide marine transportation, the Port of Taichung is focusing on developing in these as a:
- Container feeder port,
- Distribution center for agricultural and indigenous produce,
- Free trade and logistics center,
- Transshipment shipping center for oil, and
- Center for cross-strait passenger and freight services.
The Port of Taichung's entrance channel is 350 meters (1148 feet) wide with a depth of 16 meters (52.5 feet). The North Breakwater in the Port of Taichung is 2818 meters (9245 feet), and the South Breakwater is 1397 meters (4583 feet). The Inner Channel in the Port of Taichung is 400 meters wide (1312 feet) with a depth of 16 meters (52.5 feet).
The North Turning Basin in the Port of Taichung has a diameter of one thousand meters (3281 feet), and the South Basin has a diameter of 1100 meters (3609 feet). Both basins have a depth of 16 meters (52.5 feet). The Industrial Basin in the Port of Taichung is 500 meters (1640 feet) with depths from 16 to 18 meters (52.5 to 59.1 feet).
The Port of Taichung's Harbor-craft Basin covers 10.3 hectares of water area with depths from 3.5 to 4.5 meters (11.5 to 14.8 feet). The Central Pier in the Harbor-craft Basin has alongside depth of seven meters (23 feet). The Fishing Port in the Port of Taichung covers 32 hectares of land and 27 hectares of water. Depths in the Fishing Port range from 3.5 to 4.5 meters (11.5 to 14.8 feet).
- Container terminals
The Container Wharf in the Port of Taichung has eight berths totaling 2377 meters (7798 feet) in length, all with alongside depth of 14 meters (45.9 feet). The China Container Terminal Corporation operates three berths in the North Pier area (# 9-11), which is equipped with five 35-ton container hoists. North Pier #9 berthing distance of 260 meters (853 feet) long. North Pier #10 and #11 each have berthing distance of 320 meters (1050 feet) long.
Wan Hai Lines Limited rents Container Wharf areas #31, 34, and 35 in the Port of Taichung. Berth #31 has berthing distance of 320 meters (1050 feet) equipped with two 35-ton container hoists. Berth #34 has berthing distance of 250 meters (820 feet) equipped with two 35-ton container hoists. The Port of Taichung's Berth #35 has berthing distance of 337 meters (1105 feet) equipped with two 35-ton container hoists.
Evergreen Line Corporation rents the Port of Taichung's Center Wharf areas #32 and #33, each equipped with two 35-ton container hoists. Berth #32 in the Port of Taichung has berthing distance of 320 meters (1050 feet), and Berth #33 has berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet).
- Bulk and breakbulk terminals
Located at the North Pier area, the Bulk Cargo Wharf in the Port of Taichung has berths totaling 3980 meters (13 thousand feet) with depths from ten to 14 meters (32.8 to 45.9 feet). The Port of Taichung operates Berths 2, 5A, 8A, 15, 16, 21, and 22 as well as the public Berths 29 and 30. Berth 2 has berthing distance of 250 meters (820 feet) with alongside depth of 13 meters (42.7 feet). Berth 5A has berthing distance of 220 meters (721.8 feet) with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet).
The Port of Taichung uses Berths 23, 24, 25, and 26. Chan Hwa Freight Company rents Berths 23 and 24 which each have berthing distance of 180 meters (590.5 feet) and alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Hong Chi Company rents Berths 25 and 26 which are each 200 meters (656.2 feet) in length with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet).
The Port of Taichung's Berth 8A has berthing distance of 260 meters (853 feet) with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Berth 15 has berthing distance of 180 meters (590.5 feet) with alongside depth of ten meters (32.8 feet). Berths 21 and 22 each have berthing distance of 180 meters (590.5 feet). The Port of Taichung's Berth 21 has alongside depth of ten meters (32.8 feet), and Berth 22 has alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Berths 29 and 30, each with alongside depth of 14 meters (45.9 feet), are used by the public. Berth 29 in the Port of Taichung has berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet), and Berth 30 has berthing distance of 320 meters (1050 feet).
The Taichung Harbor Warehousing & Stevedoring Company Ltd. rents Berths 5, 6, 7, and 8 in the Port of Taichung's North Pier area. With alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet), each of these berths has berthing distance of 200 meters (656.2 feet).
The Long Warehousing & Stevedoring Company Ltd. rents Berths 12 and 13 in the North Pier area in the Port of Taichung. Each of these berths has berthing distance of 200 meters (656.2 feet). The company also rents the Port of Taichung's Berth 14 with berthing distance of 180 meters (590.5 feet) and alongside depth of ten meters (32.8 feet). Blite International Marketing & Management Company Ltd. rents Berths 17, 18, and 19.
Located in the Port of Taichung's North Wharf area, the Far Eastern Silo and Shipping Corporation rents two 250-meter (820-foot) berths (#1 and #3) with alongside depth of 13 meters (42.7 feet). The grain suction device at Berth #1 has capacity to process 800 metric tons per hour, and the device at Berth #2 can process 650 metric tons per hour.
The Port of Taichung's Cement Wharf has three berths in the Center Wharf area. Berth 27 has berthing distance of 200 meters (656.2 feet) with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Companies operating at the Port of Taichung's Berth 27 include Tong Yang Chia HSIN, International Corporation, and Asia Cement Corporation. Berth 28 has berthing distance of 145 meters (478.7 feet) with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Companies operating at this Port of Taichung berth include Universe Company Ltd. (Chinese), Tuntex Daewoo Company Ltd., and Huanchung Cement International Corporation. Taiwan Cement Corporation (Chinese) and Lucky Cement Corporation operate at Berth 4A which has berthing distance of 185 meters (607 feet) with alongside depth of nine meters (29.5 feet).
The Coal Wharf in the Port of Taichung is located in the South Wharf area. Taiwan Power Company rents Berths 101, 102, 103, and 104. Each of these Port of Taichung berths has berthing distance of 340 meters (1115.5 feet) with alongside depth of 18 meters (59.1 feet), and they are served by five coal-unloading machines.
Berth 99 in the Port of Taichung's South Wharf area specializes in waste steel cargoes. Berth 99 has berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet) with alongside depth of 12 meters (39.4 feet).
- Oil / Liquid terminals
The Port of Taichung's Non-dangerous Chemicals Wharf contains two berths. Taichung Petroleum Inc. and Taiwan Mobsses Company operate Berth #3 which has berthing distance of 250 meters (820 feet) with alongside depth of 13 meters (42.7 feet). The Port of Taichung's Berth #4 has berthing distance of 200 meters (656 feet) with alongside depth of 11 meters (36.1 feet). Companies operating at Berth #4 in the Port of Taichung include Taiwan Mobsses Company, Public Warehousing & Trading Company Ltd., Lyon Bulk Terminals Corporation, and Vedan Enterprise Corporation Ltd.
The Port of Taichung's Dangerous Chemicals Wharf is located in the West Wharf area and contains 3980 meters (over 12.7 thousand feet) of berths with alongside depths from 12 to 18 meters (30.4 to 59.1 feet). West 1 has berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet) with alongside depth of 13 meters (42.7 feet) and serves the Year Sun Chemitanks Terminal Corporation, Hung Sun Warehousing & Stevedoring Company Ltd., and Chang Chun Petrochemical Company Ltd.
West 2 in the Port of Taichung's Dangerous Chemicals Wharf has berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet) with alongside depth of 14 meters (45.9 feet). Companies operating at West 2 include Pan Overseas Corporation (Chinese) , Young Sun Chemtrade Company Ltd., and Uni-shine Chemical Corporation.
The Chinese Petroleum Corporation rents two berths at the Port of Taichung Dangerous Chemicals Wharf West 1, each with berthing distance of 250 meters (820.2 feet) and alongside depth of 14 meters (45.9 feet). Pan Overseas Corporation rents Berth 5. Zhao Hui Company rents Berth 6, and He Tong Company rents Berth 7.
- Port services
The Working Boats Wharf is located in the Port of Taichung's Submarine Canal area. Used by the Coast Guard Administration, Taichung Customs Bureau, and the Ministry of Finance, the Working Boats Wharf has berthing distance of 310.5 meters (1018.7 feet) with alongside depth of three meters (9.8 feet).
The Port of Taichung fleet contains ten tow boats and a barge. It also includes six ships with gross tonnage from 41.6 to 43.3.
The Port of Taichung Free Trade Zone area covers 635 hectares. Districts 1 and 2 began operating in late 2005. District 1 contains Wharves 1 through 18 and covers 181 hectares, with 115.4 hectares of rentable land. Covering 77 hectares with 10.3 hectares of rentable land, District 3 contains West Wharves 1 through 7. District 2 in the Port of Taichung's Free Trade Zone began operating in 2006. It covers 278 hectares, including 67.5 hectares of rentable land, and contains Wharves 20A through 46.
Domestic vessels over 1000 gross tons and foreign vessels over 500 gross tons using the Port of Taichung must apply for pilotage service. Authorized domestic regular vessels, port working vessels, domestic warships, official vessels, yachts, and ferries are not required to apply for piloting services. The Port of Taichung employs 17 qualified pilots. At all times, there are four pilots on duty, and four pilots are on stand-by at night.
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