The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is implementing a temporary arrangement in assigning berths for vessels calling the Port of Manila, one of its stopgap measures to ease port congestion.
Signed November 3 and effective immediately, PPA Memorandum Circular No. 16-2014 prescribes temporary arrangements in berthing to “ensure the efficient and orderly utilization of available and existing berths at the Port of Manila (Manila International Container Terminal [MICT]/ South Harbor) and Subic Bay Freeport.”
The circular is, however, not mandatory, according to PPA.
The move is in line with PPA’s mandate under Executive Order No. 172 designating the ports of Subic and Batangas as extension ports of Manila during times of emergency and congestion, as well as under Presidential Decree No. 857, which empowers the port authority to adopt measures to remedy port congestion.
Under MC No. 16-2014, all ad-hoc vessels — carriers designated or arranged to call at the Manila port for a specific purpose and not on a regular basis — including those currently on queue shall be berthed at the South Harbor or Subic port.
On the other hand, a dual-caller — a ship whose ports of loading and unloading are both South Harbor and MICT — will be directed upon arrival at the pilot boarding station to berth at either the South Harbor or MICT, according to the circular.
A PortCalls source, however, said some shipping lines have for some time stopped operating dual calls, preferring to call at one terminal instead.
PPA said the temporary arrangement is valid only until November 30, and will be implemented through working closely with the terminal operators.
In a text message to PortCalls, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Roberto Garcia said while they have yet to be informed of the new circular, Subic is “prepared to receive” any vessel that will be diverted from Manila.
He added that vessels that will unload in Subic will need no special requirements except the usual procedures done at the freeport.
Vessels waiting to berth
As of November 3, around 20 vessels are still waiting at anchorage at the Port of Manila, according to Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines president Ruperto Bayocot. It is not known how many of these are ad-hoc vessels.
Truck turnaround remains an average of three days due to the difficulty in returning empty containers to off-dock container yards.
According to PPA, yard utilization at Manila ports jumped to around 90% due to the November 1 holiday from 82% previously.
The South Harbor empty container yard, however, is showing signs of decongestion, with empties now occupying 70% of the yard compared to the previous 90%, PPA added.
Port operators earlier said that with the indefinite suspension of the Manila truck ban on September 13, truck movements at both Manila terminals have improved by around 20%. – Roumina Pablo
