ICTSI says more upgrades at MICT next year

LISTED International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) on Wednesday said it will carry out more upgrades at its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) next year.

MICT’s yard utilization is at 63.02% as of September, ICTSI said, noting that this remains “manageable” in light of the pandemic crisis.

“A substantial part of the ICTSI Group’s 2022 budget has been earmarked for [the] MICT upgrades that will further strengthen MICT’s capacity to effectively serve the world’s larger box ships and the increasing volume that comes with a recovering economy,” the company said in an e-mailed statement.

The second phase development of MICT’s Berths 7 and 8 is being fast-tracked, it noted.

“ICTSI is likewise refurbishing Berths 1 to 5 and their backup areas, including the installation of an additional 450 reefer plugs for 40 footers, and upgrading the yards of Berths 1 to 5.”

There is a planned acquisition of eight new hybrid rubber-tired gantries (RTGs) as part of the company’s goal to have an “eco-friendlier” port operation.

“Expected to further improve service levels at the terminal, the new RTGs will further reduce emissions by 50% compared to previous RTGs,” it said.

It also plans to decommission MICT’s first quay crane this year, “which will be replaced over the next three years by three new quay cranes — all capable of servicing larger vessels of over 12,500-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) capacity.”

Moreover, ICTSI reported that its social responsibility arm, the ICTSI Foundation, is leading two environmental initiatives.

“Cameras have already been installed at the mouth of the Pasig River…, as part of preliminary work for the foundation’s partnership agreement with Finnish NGO RiverRecycle to pioneer a sustainable river waste collection system for MICT’s immediate communities,” it said.

“To address the potential issue of ballast water contamination from foreign ships, the foundation and the Diliman Science Research Institute continue to test prototypes for the foundation’s Water Ballast Treatment System Project, which, upon completion, can easily be carried on and off large cargo vessels visiting MICT to decontaminate ballast water prior to release into the sea,” the company added. — Arjay L. Balinbin