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Manila International Container Terminal is carrying out Phase 2 development of its Berth 8
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Berth 8 has a design depth of 15 meters that will enable the terminal to handle foreign ultra-large container vessels with maximum capacity of 18,000 TEUs
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Berth 8 will operate with a minimum of four quay cranes, two for delivery in 2025
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The expansion will increase MICT’s annual capacity by 200,000 TEUs to 3.5 million TEUs
Berth 8 of Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) is undergoing Phase 2 development, according to port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
The berth has a design depth of 15 meters that will enable MICT to handle foreign ultra-large container vessels with capacity of up to 18,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), ICTSI said in a statement.
MICT can handle neo-Panamax ships on Berths 6 and 7, which are serviced by five quay cranes. 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 quay cranes, two of which will be delivered in 2025.
ICTSI had said earlier that, along with port equipment, the expansion would cost about P15 billion.
READ: ICTSI expanding MICT with Berth 8
“We are optimistic of 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,” ICTSI executive vice president Christian R. Gonzalez said.
“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 [Philippine Ports Authority] for supporting our initiatives to continuously raise the standard of ports and maritime trade in the country.”
The expansion will increase MICT’s annual capacity by 200,000 TEUs to 3.5 million TEUs, which will be key to addressing the expected growth in cargo volume as the country’s economy fully reopens, the company said.
The new berth will also add 400 meters of quay length along with 12 hectares of yard space that will be built in phases.
Aside from infrastructure developments, ICTSI said it continues to invest in technology to make MICT’s operations more efficient.
ICTSI launched a mobile app last year that grants port users real-time cargo visibility. 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, and Mindanao Container Terminal. 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 said.
