ASIAN Terminals, Inc. (ATI) said on Thursday it is expanding the Batangas Container Terminal (BCT) with the deployment of additional modern equipment.
In a statement, the listed port operator said it added two new ship-to-shore (STS) cranes and four rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes from ZPMC Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy industries Co. Ltd. to boost BCT’s capacity.
“The new STS cranes can reach up to 16 container rows, lift two 20-foot containers simultaneously and handle loads of up to 70 tons. The RTGs, meanwhile, can stack up to six containers high,” it said.
ATI is also purchasing reach stackers, side loaders, internal transfer vehicles and chassis —cargo handling equipment that will improve the terminal’s efficiency.
“ATI’s expansion program in Batangas Port is in response to the growth of Calabarzon industries and in support of government’s efforts to decongest Metro Manila roads,” it said.
The expansion of BCT’s berth and yard space started in 2017, with ATI acquiring new cranes to boost its annual capacity to over 450,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs).
The port operator handled almost 250,000 TEUs in BCT last year, an increase of more than 20% in volume from a year ago. It said this resulted to 125,000 less truck trips in Metro Manila by using the international gateway port in South Luzon. — Denise A. Valdez
