International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said it is adding another berth in its operation in the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).
ICTSI said in a statement yesterday under MICT’s phase two development, berth 8 has a design depth of 15 meters that will enable the terminal to handle foreign ultra large container vessels with capacities of up to 18,000 TEUs.
“MICT is capable of handling neo-Panamax ships through berths 6 and 7, which are operated by five quay cranes (QC). A sixth crane is scheduled to arrive in July and will be operational within the year. Berth 8 will operate with a minimum of four QCs — two of which will be delivered in 2025,” ICTSI said.
The expansion will increase MICT’s capacity by 200,000 TEUs to 3.5 million TEUs, ICTSI said.
The new berth will add 400 meters of quay along with 12 hectares of yard space that will be constructed in phases.
“We are optimistic of the prospect of welcoming ultra large container vessels at the Port of Manila and are preparing to accommodate the added volume that these more efficient ships will bring. With these developments, our goal is to outpace demand and ensure the efficient flow of trade from the port to the local supply chain. We thank the PPA for supporting our initiatives to continuously raise the standard of ports and maritime trade in the country,” said Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president.
ICTSI meanwhile said it will soon roll out its ICTSI app launched last year to other ports it operates around the country.
The mobile app grants port users visibility over their cargo. It enables customers to monitor the status of their shipment across ICTSI’s network of terminals in the Philippines, which include MICT, NorthPort, Subic Bay International Terminals (SBITC), and Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT).
“Giving our customers visibility over their cargo empowers them to make better business decisions. It also enhances stakeholder coordination, which could help us further improve the services that we offer,” Gonzalez said.
In a related development, ICTSI South Pacific, ICTSI’s business unit in Papua New Guinea (PNG), welcomed the maiden call of the newly launched PNG Express service by Meratus Line, one of Indonesia’s leading maritime and logistics operators.
The PNG Express is the first Indonesian service to operate in Papua New Guinea. It offers direct connections to Indonesia via Jakarta and Surabaya, Malaysia, Singapore, China, and East Timor via Dili, and launches every 28 days.
“This new service highlights the strategic importance of our ports in facilitating both regional and global trade for Papua New Guinea,” said Robert Maxwell, ICTSI South Pacific chief executive officer.
He added: “We look forward to enhancing our partnership and cooperation with Meratus Line to provide PNG importers and exporters with increasingly frequent vessel connections to our neighbors in Indonesia and East Timor.”
The Meratus Gorontalo, the first vessel to sail under the PNG Express service, made its inaugural calls to Motukea International Container Terminal (MIT) in Port Moresby on February 22, and to South Pacific International Container Terminal in Lae on February 26 .
SPICT recently commissioned two new post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes, the first of its kind and the largest port equipment in PNG. MIT, on the other hand, added another mobile harbor crane to enhance capacity and productivity.
Meanwhile, Contecon Guayaquil (CGSA), the Ecuadorian business unit of ICTSI and concessionaire of Puerto Libertador Simón Bolívar, has introduced Port to Door — an automated cross-docking service that allows customers to receive their cargo directly at their doorsteps.
Port to Door eliminates the need for customers to go to the terminal to retrieve their shipment. The innovative service can be requested and tracked online, making the process efficient and hassle-free.
CGSA is the first terminal to offer automated cross-docking services in Ecuador.
The cost of the new service will vary based on cargo volume and distance between the port and delivery location. Customers may also avail of the express option for same-day delivery of their cargo.
The Port to Door service will be initially available to Guayaquil-based customers via perimetral and Durán, and will be expanded to cover more areas in the coming months.
