Maersk Opens Fully Automated World Gateway II — $200M Singapore Logistics Hub Runs on Robots

A.P. Møller–Maersk officially opened World Gateway II on March 18, 2026, a 1.1 million square foot fully automated distribution centre in Singapore representing an investment of more than S$200 million — the largest automated logistics facility the company has opened in Asia Pacific and a significant signal that the world's leading shipping integrator is putting its money behind physical automation at scale. The facility was developed with support from the Singapore government and sits 16.8 kilometres from Tuas Mega Port, positioning it as a critical link between sea freight and regional e-commerce fulfilment across Asia Pacific. What's inside: The warehouse deploys a suite of advanced automation systems operating in concert — a Multi-Shuttle System for high-density vertical storage and retrieval, an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) managing inventory without manual intervention, Autonomous Case-handling Robots (ACR) sorting and moving cartons, and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) navigating the floor to handle pick-and-place operations. These systems work together to enable faster order fulfilment, shorter lead times, and significantly improved accuracy by reducing human handling at every stage. Commercial context: The facility has already reached approximately 70% occupancy at launch — covering lifestyle, FMCG, retail, wellness, and technology verticals — and is expected to create around 500 jobs in digitalisation and automation. It is located adjacent to Maersk's existing World Gateway distribution centre, effectively doubling the company's warehousing footprint in Singapore. Vincent Clerc, CEO of Maersk, described the launch as a reflection of Asia's growth trajectory and the company's integrated logistics strategy. The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore highlighted the facility's role in allowing companies to co-locate logistics, manufacturing, and distribution within the port ecosystem. Why this matters for ship managers: World Gateway II is not just a logistics story — it is a demonstration that the largest names in global shipping are deploying physical automation at a scale that directly affects how cargo flows through the supply chain. Port-adjacent automated warehousing changes the dynamics of port call planning, cargo handling sequencing, and just-in-time delivery for importers and exporters across Asia Pacific. For fleet operators serving Singapore and Tuas, understanding how automated inland logistics infrastructure connects to vessel scheduling and berth productivity is increasingly relevant as port ecosystems become more digitally integrated. [Maersk / Container News / EDB Singapore]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 5 April 2026.

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