Subic port takes in overstaying containers kicked out congested Manila
THE Philippines government has started transferring overstaying containers at Manila to Subic 45 nautical miles away to help decongest the capital's ports ahead of the peak cargo shipping season.
The 8,666-dwt Asterix chartered by International Container Terminal Services Inc(ICTSI) left Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) on August 28 carrying 1,154 TEU to Subic. It then returned to the port to pick up the remaining overstaying containers, reported Rappler.com.
The government, through the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and port operators ICTSI and Asian Terminals Inc (ATI) have identified about 3,000 TEU that could be relocated. ATI operates the Manila South Harbour (MSH).
The effort will be complemented by an increase in storage fees to discourage shippers from using the ports as their virtual warehouses, PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana was quoted as saying.
Mr Sta Anna added that while ports would remain a bit congested in terms of yard capacity, the productivity and efficiency of the two Manila ports are slowly returning to normal in time for the expected spike in cargo volume.
"While it seems that we have a shortage in yard space, it doesn't mean we don't have enough capacity. We have the capacity, we just have to work at a slower pace compared to last year," he explained.
The MICT has an annual capacity of 2.5 million TEU. Between January and July it handled 1.24 million TEU. With an annual capacity of 1.3 million TEU, MSH's throughput in the first seven months of the year amounted to 584,598 TEU.
The PPA, along with the port operators, meanwhile, are trying to maintain the number of empty containers inside the ports at 12,000 TEU.
THE Philippines government has started transferring overstaying containers at Manila to Subic 45 nautical miles away to help decongest the capital's ports ahead of the peak cargo shipping season.
The 8,666-dwt Asterix chartered by International Container Terminal Services Inc(ICTSI) left Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) on August 28 carrying 1,154 TEU to Subic. It then returned to the port to pick up the remaining overstaying containers, reported Rappler.com.
The government, through the Bureau of Customs and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and port operators ICTSI and Asian Terminals Inc (ATI) have identified about 3,000 TEU that could be relocated. ATI operates the Manila South Harbour (MSH).
The effort will be complemented by an increase in storage fees to discourage shippers from using the ports as their virtual warehouses, PPA general manager Juan Sta. Ana was quoted as saying.
Mr Sta Anna added that while ports would remain a bit congested in terms of yard capacity, the productivity and efficiency of the two Manila ports are slowly returning to normal in time for the expected spike in cargo volume.
"While it seems that we have a shortage in yard space, it doesn't mean we don't have enough capacity. We have the capacity, we just have to work at a slower pace compared to last year," he explained.
The MICT has an annual capacity of 2.5 million TEU. Between January and July it handled 1.24 million TEU. With an annual capacity of 1.3 million TEU, MSH's throughput in the first seven months of the year amounted to 584,598 TEU.
The PPA, along with the port operators, meanwhile, are trying to maintain the number of empty containers inside the ports at 12,000 TEU.