International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Monday it is investing P15 billion to build another berth at the Manila International Container Terminal.
It said Berth 8, to be constructed in phases, would add to the MICT’s capability to service foreign ultra-container vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), a trend that has been growing in the past years.
The new berth will create another 400 meters of quay along with 12 hectares of yard space that will bring an additional annual capacity of 200,000 TEUs.
It said that when completed, MICT would have an annual capacity of 3.5 million TEUs, making it the Philippines’ largest international gateway. The full build will give MICT a total berth length of 2,300 meters, a 21 percent increase in berthing capacity.
“We are excited to announce the development of Berth 8, which enables us to be in the same league as the world’s top terminals. More importantly, this will bring significant economic benefits to the Philippines as we have the added capacity to handle growing trade volumes,” said ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonzalez.
MICT is capable of handling neo-Panamax ships through Berths 6 and 7, which are operated by five quay cranes. A sixth crane, scheduled to arrive in July 2023, will be operational within the year. Berth 8 will operate with a minimum of four QCs, including two that will be delivered in 2025.
Since taking over the MICT in 1988, ICTSI has remitted in excess of P96 billion to the government through the PPA. Over the same period, ICTSI has remitted to its host government–the city of Manila—over P3 billion in taxes.
The company has invested in excess of P40 billion to modernize the MICT, handling over 47 million TEUs since 1988.
ICTSI said that aside from the construction of Berth 8, it commenced the modernization of Berths 1 to 5 and their backup and yard areas. The project includes the installation of additional reefer racks to accommodate about 300 TEUs of reefer cargo.
ICTSI continues also to invest in technology to make MICT’s operations more efficient.