PHILIPPINE President Benigno Aquino has inaugurated the new Berth 6 at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), which parent company International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI), developed in response to growing demand.

ICTSI has invested US$200 million in constructing Berth 6 with the aim of boosting and raising MICT's terminal handling capacity from the existing 1.9 million TEU to 2.5 million TEU by expanding the port facility. MICT, which is the only dedicated container handling facility in the Philippines, currently controls 65 per cent of the containerised cargo market in the Port of Manila.

We proudly open for business MICT's sixth berth expansion after two years of construction and development. We are doubly proud and honoured that President Aquino has taken the time to be with us on this special occasion," said ICTSI chairman and president Enrique Razon.

With Berth 6, MICT now has an available quay of 1,600 metres, which can accommodate five to seven container vessels at one time including the largest ships deployed in global trade lanes. To date the container terminal is equipped with a total of 12 quay cranes and 45 rubber tyre gantries, and has a total terminal area of 75.4 hectares. There is adequate space to develop a seventh berth in the event that container volumes increase further at the Port of Manila.