The International Container Terminal Services Inc. on Monday bared plans to spend P15 billion for the construction of a new berth at its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) .
To be constructed in phases, Berth 8 will add to the MICT’s ability to service ultra-large foreign container vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), an expansion that has steadily grown the past several years.
The new berth will create another 400 meters of quay and a 12-hectare yard space bringing an additional annual capacity of 200,000 TEUs.
When completed, the MICT will have an annual capacity of 3.5 million TEUs, making the MICT the Philippines’ largest international gateway. The full build will give the 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,” ICTSI executive vice president Christian R. Gonzalez said.
MICT is capable of handling neo-Panamax ships through berths 6 and 7, which are serviced by five quay cranes (QC). A sixth crane is scheduled to arrive in July and will be operational within the year. Berth 8 will operate with a minimum of four QCs two of which 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.
Aside from the construction of Berth 8, ICTSI has 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 approximately 300 TEUs of reefer cargo.
Aside from infrastructure developments, ICTSI continues to invest in technology to make MICT’s operations more efficient.
