Subic port seen to handle 55.8% more cargo in 2015

0
471

Subic_NCT1The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) expects to see cargo volume at Subic port increase by 55.8% this year following the robust container volume recorded in 2014.

The target volume for 2015 is 120,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), or 20% of the 600,000-TEU combined annual capacity of New Container Terminals (NCT) 1 and 2, according to SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia, in a March 18 presentation at the Philippine International Seafreight Forwarders Association, Inc. (PISFA) general membership meeting.

This is 55.8% more than the 77,000 TEUs handled in 2014 which, in turn, is 105% higher than 37,469 TEUs reported in 2013.

Garcia said the increase in volume last year was fuelled by cargoes being transferred to Subic by shippers avoiding the congested Manila port, as well as by the addition of more shipping lines to Subic last year.

He said that of the 3 million TEUs passing through Manila Port, 450,000 TEUs are destined for or originate from North and Central Luzon. This volume should not have to clog Metro Manila roads, the SBMA chief stated.

Moreover, Garcia said SBMA is anticipating further growth with continued progress of the country’s economy.

To prepare for the expected surge in volume, he disclosed plans to construct NCT 3 and 4. The new terminals will double Subic port’s annual capacity to 1.2 million TEUs.

Landside, Garcia said there are plans to build an P11.5-billion bypass road that will directly connect Subic port to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, skipping the congested Tipo, currently the port’s main gateway.

There is also a plan to expand Tipo road to become a two-lane road from just one-lane, added Garcia.

Since the start of the year, the average monthly cargo volume at Subic is now 10,000 TEUs. In January, the facility handled 14,892 TEUs, up 433% year-on-year.

Moreover, carriers K Line and Evergreen have expressed interest in calling at Subic port, Garcia said. Currently, APL, Wan Hai, Swire Shipping, SITC, NYK Line and Maersk Line regularly call the Northern Luzon port.

Meanwhile, the One-Stop Shop (OSS) that will allow shippers to transact with port operator Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), the SBMA seaport division, and Bureau of Customs-Subic, among others, in one location will open on April 15 at the SBITC premises. The OSS addresses the concern raised by port users inconvenienced by the need to travel around the Freeport zone to have their documents processed in separate offices.

Garcia said the temporary OSS will be equipped with fiber optic Internet connection, and snacks and coffee are to be made available to waiting customs brokers and forwarders. He noted that if documents are complete and correct, processing can be done within four hours if the queue is short.

Moreover, Garcia said SBMA has already removed “all the other burdensome requirements” for accreditation to encourage customs brokers, freight forwarders, and truckers to service the port.

He noted that the one-day processing of a temporary accreditation will only require the business registration, names of employees, and the company license. As for PISFA members, an endorsement from the organization is needed. – Roumina Pablo