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The Port of Cagayan de Oro welcomed its first foreign container ship on March 14
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This is the first time in 11 years that a foreign box liner has sailed into the port
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Portuguese-flagged AS Romina carried 2,961 TEUs, of which 2,808 TEUs were import containers and the rest, exports
The Port of Cagayan de Oro on March 14 welcomed its first foreign container ship, 11 years after international box operations at the Macabalan port stopped.
Portuguese-flagged AS Romina sailed into the port from China carrying 2,961 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), 2,808 TEUs of which were import containers and the rest, exports, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said in a Facebook post.
The vessel contained various products like buttermilk, dry veneer, frozen products, truck parts, appliances and furniture, among others, according to the Bureau of Customs-Port of Cagayan de Oro.
Vessel operator CMA CGM estimates arrival of three to four international containerized shipments in Cagayan de Oro every month. The Port of Cagayan de Oro hopes the arrivals will increase with potential entry of other carriers to spur revenue generation capability of the port.
The arrival of the maiden voyage was witnessed by customs officials led by Deputy Collector for Operations Elizabeth Delas Llagas, Deputy Collector for Administration Atty. Roswald Joseph Pague including port cargo handler Oroport Cargo Handling Services officials led by its Vice President Lindsey Bernacer, Executive Secretary Bong Pelones and Port Services Division Manager Ruby Gumapon.
District Collector Atty. Elvira Cruz said the resumption of international calls is expected to boost the business and economic climate in Northern Mindanao.
PPA for its part said international containerized operations at the Port of Cagayan de Oro is seen as a big boost to the country’s drive to become one of the major players in the global containerized market as the world recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
