Asian Terminals joins Naval Supply Depot bidding

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ASIAN Terminals, Inc (ATI) is challenging Harbour Centre Port Terminals, Inc’s (HCPTI) offer to operate Subic’s Naval Supply Depot (NSD).

“The company purchased the Request for Proposal (bidding by Swiss challenge) for the development, operations and management of the NSD, Boton, Alava, River and Bravo Wharfs,” said ATI corporate secretary Rodolfo Corvite, Jr.

While HCPTI, which had earlier submitted an unsolicited offer to manage NSD, already signed a 25-year joint venture agreement with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the operation of the facility last month, SBMA kept the door open for other interested parties.

ATI will have to make a counteroffer on or before April 4, the deadline of bid submission under the Swiss challenge.

Over the years, ATI and HCPTI have found themselves on opposite sides of the fence, sometimes competing head on for privatization bids.

An ongoing saga is HCPTI’s petition to secure a permit from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to handle container cargo even for non-locators of its flagship terminal adjacent to the North Harbor. ATI is opposing the petition, claiming it has sole jurisdiction over container cargo under a contract it signed with PPA in 1988.

Up to now, there has been no decision on the issue.

In 2008, ATI and HCPTI battled for the right to operate the Mindanao Container Terminal. The contract was later awarded to a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

ATI and HCPTI then fought over the North Harbor. HCPTI bagged the contract after ATI failed to submit the necessary documents.

P1.2B capex

In another development, ATI said it was allocating P1.2 billion in capital expenditures this year to improve operations.

Earlier, the South Harbor operator ordered two new ship-to-shore cranes, manufactured by Liebherr. Operational next year, the cranes are capable of twin lifts of up to 60 tons.

In 2009, ATI posted a 36.6% growth in net income to P1.162 billion from P851 million in 2008.

For the same period in review, total revenues grew 6.4% to P4.212 billion from P3.959 billion due to higher port tariff and cargo volume.

Revenues from port operations also increased 3.6% to P3.695 billion from P3.568 billion. The 12% vessel-related cargo-handling rate hike approved last year by the Philippine Ports Authority resulted in a 2.9% growth in South Harbor revenues.

Non-port operation revenues jumped 32.4% to P517.6 million from P391 million.

International container volume handled at the South Harbor rose 0.7% in 2009 from 2008 while international non-container volumes were 30.3% lower.

Domestic terminal volume dropped 11.4% for the period in review.