ASIAN Terminal Inc (ATI) has officially opened the PHP2.5 billion (US$48.27 million) expansion of the Batangas Container Terminal at Manila port in the Philippines. The facility now has an annual container handling capacity of 500,000 TEU, up from 350,000 TEU previously.
Cabinet officials, who witnessed the inauguration of the expanded facility, highlighted its various potential benefits to the economy, reported The Philippine Star.
'The economy here will certainly boom. From 350,000 TEU to 500,000, imagine the effect of that to the economy,' Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was quoted as saying.
'With berth two inaugurated today, it enables this port facility to handle 50 per cent more than the previous capacity. This is more than sufficient now to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Calabarzon manufacturing and agricultural sector,' Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.
Mr Dominguez went on to say that the expansion of the Batangas Container Terminal would 'spare Manila the curse of congestion' experienced lately.
'With this additional berth, the Batangas port complements the port of Manila. This would provide a good alternative gateway to a rapidly expanding trade. This would service domestic routes to the southern islands as well as handle cargo to and from the regional hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia and our other global trading partners,' he said.
According to ATI, the expansion includes more berths for international containerships spanning 600 metres at 13 metres deep, as well as two new quay cranes and four new yard cranes.
In 2018, ATI said the Batangas Container Terminal achieved a record throughput of 250,000 TEU, representing a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent.
The terminal now has 11 weekly ship calls deployed by major shipping lines.
'In the first three years of operation, BCT only saw minimum cargo of 11,000 TEU. By 2014, cargo volume had increased by over 700 per cent. Since then, cargos destined for southern Luzon have naturally gravitated towards Batangas, generating momentum marked by double-digit growth year after year,' ATI executive vice president William Khoury said.
ATI has earmarked capital investment of PHP14.7 billion (US$283.87 million) from 2019 to 2020 to develop more berths and storage spaces in Manila and Batangas ports, additional container yards outside the port zones, acquire more cargo handling equipment, and invest in innovations to boost efficiencies and create a safer port environment for stakeholders.
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Cabinet officials, who witnessed the inauguration of the expanded facility, highlighted its various potential benefits to the economy, reported The Philippine Star.
'The economy here will certainly boom. From 350,000 TEU to 500,000, imagine the effect of that to the economy,' Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was quoted as saying.
'With berth two inaugurated today, it enables this port facility to handle 50 per cent more than the previous capacity. This is more than sufficient now to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Calabarzon manufacturing and agricultural sector,' Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.
Mr Dominguez went on to say that the expansion of the Batangas Container Terminal would 'spare Manila the curse of congestion' experienced lately.
'With this additional berth, the Batangas port complements the port of Manila. This would provide a good alternative gateway to a rapidly expanding trade. This would service domestic routes to the southern islands as well as handle cargo to and from the regional hubs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia and our other global trading partners,' he said.
According to ATI, the expansion includes more berths for international containerships spanning 600 metres at 13 metres deep, as well as two new quay cranes and four new yard cranes.
In 2018, ATI said the Batangas Container Terminal achieved a record throughput of 250,000 TEU, representing a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent.
The terminal now has 11 weekly ship calls deployed by major shipping lines.
'In the first three years of operation, BCT only saw minimum cargo of 11,000 TEU. By 2014, cargo volume had increased by over 700 per cent. Since then, cargos destined for southern Luzon have naturally gravitated towards Batangas, generating momentum marked by double-digit growth year after year,' ATI executive vice president William Khoury said.
ATI has earmarked capital investment of PHP14.7 billion (US$283.87 million) from 2019 to 2020 to develop more berths and storage spaces in Manila and Batangas ports, additional container yards outside the port zones, acquire more cargo handling equipment, and invest in innovations to boost efficiencies and create a safer port environment for stakeholders.
WORLD SHIPPING