International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is adding another berth at its flagship, the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) — the Philippines' major gateway for international trade.

Currently, under phase two development, ICTSI said MICT's berth 8 has a design depth of 15 meters that will enable the terminal to handle foreign ultra-large container vessels with capacities of up to 18,000 TEUs.

MICT is capable of handling neo-Panamax ships through berths 6 and 7, which are operated by five quay cranes (QC).

In its announcement, the port operator noted that a sixth crane is scheduled to arrive in July and will be operational within the year. Berth 8 will operate with a minimum of four QCs — two of which will be delivered in 2025.

"We are optimistic about the prospect of welcoming ultra-large container vessels at the Port of Manila and are preparing to accommodate the added volume that these more efficient ships will bring," said Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president.

"With these developments, our goal is to outpace demand and ensure the efficient flow of trade from the port to the local supply chain. We thank the PPA for supporting our initiatives to continuously raise the standard of ports and maritime trade in the country," he added.

The expansion will also increase MICT's capacity by 200,000 TEUs to 3.5 million TEUs, which will be key in addressing the increase in cargo volume as the country's economy fully reopens.

In addition, the new berth will add 400 meters of quay along with 12 hectares of yard space that will be constructed in phases.

Aside from infrastructure developments, ICTSI continues to invest in technology to make MICT's operations more efficient.

ICTSI said in a statement that it launched a mobile app in 2022 that grants port users visibility over their cargo.

The ICTSI App enables customers to monitor the status of their shipment across ICTSI’s network of terminals in the Philippines, which include MICT, NorthPort, Subic Bay International Terminals (SBITC), and Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT). Other ICTSI terminals in the country will soon be covered by the app.

"Giving our customers visibility over their cargo empowers them to make better business decisions. It also enhances stakeholder coordination, which could help us further improve the services that we offer," Gonzalez added.