International Container Terminal Services Inc. is close to ordering five post-Panamax quay cranes and 20 rubber-tyred gantry cranes for the Manila International Container Terminal.

According to ICTSI, the purchase, together with the construction of another berth, is part of a US$80 million investment programme for MICT, which will enable the terminal to handle ships with a capacity of up to 13,000 TEUs.

“Hitting the 2-million mark last year is a clear indication that we need to further expand our operation in response to the direction of the market,” said Christian R. Gonzalez, senior vice president and regional head of Asia Pacific and MICT at ICTSI. “We also have to address the growing consolidation trend happening with major carriers that have them deploying larger-capacity vessels.”

Two of the new cranes will be deployed at Berth 5, while each of the other three will be deployed at Berths 3, 6 and 7. Three will be delivered by 2018 and the remaining two by 2019, according to ICTSI.