Visayas Container Terminal (VCT), a business unit of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) in Iloilo, welcomed the first gearless vessel to dock in Western Visayas, paving the way for enhanced trade opportunities, more efficient operations and strengthened global connectivity.
Operated by Regional Container Lines (RCL), MV Otana Bhum made its inaugural call at VCT on January 9, signifying a new era in port operations and trade connectivity for the Visayas.
“The arrival of RCL’s Otana Bhum not only highlights our port’s world-class capabilities but also demonstrates our commitment to fostering economic growth in the region. This development positions Iloilo as a key player in the Visayas, offering enhanced connectivity and efficient services for shipping lines and stakeholders,” John Largo, VCT chief executive officer, said in a statement yesterday.
The call underscores VCT’s enhanced capabilities following the September 2024 delivery of two brand-new mobile harbor cranes (MHC) as part of ICTSI’s commitment to expanding and upgrading the terminal’s facilities. The MHCs are designed to handle the latest shipping requirements, enabling VCT to serve the larger gearless vessels, ICTSI said.
The MV Otana Bhum has a length of 147 meters and a capacity of 1,022 twenty-foot equivalent units.
It sails under the RCL Singapore-Philippines 6 (RSP6) service, which rotates through the ports of Singapore, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cebu and Tagoloan and provides critical connections across key regional and international trade hubs.
ICTSI said VCT’s modern facilities and its continuous investments reflect a shared vision of transforming Iloilo into a premiere international gateway, reducing reliance on transshipment ports and creating direct access to global markets.
In January last year, ICTSI secured the 25-year concession contract to develop and operate the Iloilo Commercial Port Complex in Western Visayas.