THE flagship operation of International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI), the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), has been given the go-ahead from the Philippine Ports Authority to expand capacity with the construction of berths 7 and 8.
The second phase, slated to begin in February 2019 pending final approvals, will add a full back-up area for future berths 9 and 10. All of the berths will have a depth of between 13.5 and 14.5 metres to serve the world's largest containerships.
'The construction of these berths is our response to the need for an increase in capacity and increased productivity over the longer term. We also need to accommodate system changes, such as the steady increase in vessel size, the consolidation of major shipping players and the introduction of rail services,' said ICTSI global corporate head Christian Gonzalez.
The additional yard space with the construction of the back-up area for berths 9 and 10 will also give the terminal substantial flexibility to deal with the impact of adverse weather conditions and changes to the regulatory environment.
Complementing these capacity improvements will be the arrival of 16 new rubber tyre gantries (RTG) in 2019, with the first eight RTGs available by April next year.
At the quay, two more super postpanamax quay cranes are expected to be delivered by next year. Three cranes were delivered earlier this year and are already operational.
For 2018 alone, the ICTSI group has allocated US$380 million for capital expenditure, including the expansion of the Manila flagship terminal.
The second phase, slated to begin in February 2019 pending final approvals, will add a full back-up area for future berths 9 and 10. All of the berths will have a depth of between 13.5 and 14.5 metres to serve the world's largest containerships.
'The construction of these berths is our response to the need for an increase in capacity and increased productivity over the longer term. We also need to accommodate system changes, such as the steady increase in vessel size, the consolidation of major shipping players and the introduction of rail services,' said ICTSI global corporate head Christian Gonzalez.
The additional yard space with the construction of the back-up area for berths 9 and 10 will also give the terminal substantial flexibility to deal with the impact of adverse weather conditions and changes to the regulatory environment.
Complementing these capacity improvements will be the arrival of 16 new rubber tyre gantries (RTG) in 2019, with the first eight RTGs available by April next year.
At the quay, two more super postpanamax quay cranes are expected to be delivered by next year. Three cranes were delivered earlier this year and are already operational.
For 2018 alone, the ICTSI group has allocated US$380 million for capital expenditure, including the expansion of the Manila flagship terminal.