THE Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) on Thursday received new port handling equipment, which expands its capacity by allowing it to accommodate the world’s biggest container ships.
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) said in a statement that MICT took delivery of two Neo-Panamax quay cranes and one Post-Panamax quay crane from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. Ltd. (ZPMC). It expects two more quay cranes to arrive next year.
“Currently the largest port handling equipment in the country, existing or planned, the Neo-Panamax cranes allow MICT to handle up to 14,000-twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEUs) boxships — the largest in the intra-Asia trade. This puts MICT at par with the major ports in developed markets in terms of facilities and equipment capacity,” ICTSI said in a statement.
The company said the Neo-Panamax quay cranes will be placed at Berth 6, while the Post-Panamax crane at Berth 5. The acquisition is part of the Razon-led company’s $80-million capital equipment program for its Manila port.
“By investing in state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, we are strengthening MICT’s position as one of the best-equipped and most technologically advanced terminals serving the intra-Asia trade,” Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI head of global corporate and regional head of Asia Pacific and MICT, was quoted in the statement as saying.
ICTSI is hoping to increase productivity and reduce port stays, following the delivery of the new cranes. This has also increased MICT’s fleet to 16 cranes, making it the biggest in the country now.
“The new cranes, along with other planned improvements at the MICT, will further boost the port’s already efficient turnaround times. This will redound to economic benefits benefiting the entire Philippine supply chain,” Mr. Gonzalez added.
The port operator also said it is looking to complete by the third week of June its construction of a barge terminal in the south, the Cavite Gateway Terminal. It is part of the company’s $380-million capex for 2018.
ICTSI reported a 15% decline in its first quarter earnings to $44.1 million from $51.7 million during the same period in 2017, due to the drag from its new terminals. — Denise A. Valdez

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