International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) announced that it is continuing to roll out improvements and upgrades at its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), including environmentally sustainable initiatives.
ICTSI said it is fast-tracking the second phase development of MICT’s Berths 7 and 8, which will add full back-up areas for the future Berths 9 and 10. ICTSI is also refurbishing Berths 1 to 5 and their back up areas, including the installation of an additional 450 reefer plugs for 40 footers, and upgrading the yards of Berths 1 to 5.
The port operator is also planning the acquisition of eight new hybrid rubber tired gantries to add to the 32 hybrid RTG fleet acquired starting 2018 in a bid towards more sustainability.
The RTGs ICTSI noted is expected to further improve service levels at the terminal and will further reduce emissions by 50% compared to previous RTGs.
ICTSI said it will also decommission MICT’s first quay crane this year, which will be replaced over the next three years by three new quay cranes – all capable of servicing larger vessels of over 12,500-TEU capacity.
MICT also recently completed upgrading the entire terminal, including its yard and crane lights, to the more energy-efficient LED lighting systems which is expected to eliminate light spills and glare while lowering energy consumption, the terminal expects to save around 1.8 million kWh/year and offset up to 1.09 million tons of carbon dioxide.
"With our strong focus on environmental stewardship, we understand how technological innovation goes hand in hand with our thrust to improve our ports’ air quality, energy consumption, and waste and water management. In line with this, we continually invest in port infrastructure and facilities that enhance our operational efficiency while simultaneously helping minimize our environmental impact," said Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president.
ICTSI noted that a "substantial" part of the ICTSI Group’s 2022 budget has been earmarked for these MICT upgrades that will further strengthen MICT’s capacity to effectively serve the world’s larger box ships and the increasing volume that comes with a recovering economy.
Yard use remains low; ready for impact of ongoing trade disruptions
Meanwhile, despite the knock-on effects of ongoing global supply chain disruptions affecting major hubs, ICTSI noted that yard utilization at its flagship continues to be manageable, citing data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
As of PPA’s September 2021 Performance Report, MICT’s average yard utilization is at 63.02%.
ICTSI said it continues to fast-track the movement of overstaying import containers out of the port of Manila to improve on its utilization rate as more imports loom.
To further improve the mobility of trucks inside the terminal, it said an additional truck ingress, equipped with optical character recognition, was made operational last April with additional automation to further improve gate service.
