International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has completed a berth expansion project at its flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), that effectively raises the MICT’s annual capacity to over 3.3 million TEU.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]The project included a number of crucial works, foremost of which is the berth expansion that adds another 150m to Berth 7, creating a 600m contiguous berth together with the adjacent Berth 6 to accommodate vessels of over 8,000TEU capacity. The two berths currently have five quay cranes, with a design for up to six quay cranes.
The berth expansion is complemented by the extension of the container yard by another 55,000m2 in area – 30,000m2 designated for laden containers and 25,000m2 for empties. This will add an estimated 200,000TEU capacity for laden containers and 150,000TEU for empties.
Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, believes that “the added berthing capability and yard space will enable the country to easily handle the added volume that is expected as the country gears up for an economic reboot following last year’s trade flow facilitation complications.”
The additional berth space was completed on time and on budget despite some limitations caused by the pandemic, with strict health and safety protocols implemented throughout the project construction and completion, according to an ICTSI announcement.
“We will continue to invest in terminal facilities to improve our capacity, infrastructure and environmental footprint to provide the highest level of service,” said Anders Dommestrup, MICT executive director and CEO.
To keep improving service levels, the MICT, under its equipment replacement programme, plans to acquire another eight environmentally friendly hybrid RTGs next year, to add to the 32 hybrid RTGs acquired in 2018.
Part of the replacement programme includes the dismantling of the MICT’s first quay crane this year which will be replaced over the next three years by three new quay cranes all capable of servicing larger vessels of over 12,500TEU capacity.
Meanwhile, MICT is also refurbishing Berths 1 to 5 and their back up areas in preparation for the next 25 years of operation, according to ICTSI, and these include the installation of an additional 450 reefer plugs for 40 footers, expected to be operational by April this year, refurbishment of Berths 1 to 4 by September this year, and the upgrade of the yard infrastructure of Berths 1 to 5 by the end of 2022.
MICT will also upgrade the entire terminal this year to the newest and more environmentally friendly light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system. This is expected to eliminate light spills and glare while lowering energy consumption by as much as 75%. The new lighting system will also provide a safer traffic environment with improved lux levels of five to eight times.
By April this year, an additional truck entrysystem, equipped with optical character recognition, will be operational with additional automation to further improve gate services.
ICTSI added that MICT continues to engage with the Bureau of Customs to improve services in relation to the unimpeded and online release of cargo that includes reduced releasing times from filing of entry and more seamless X-ray and inspection procedures.[/s2If]
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