THE Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) expects Berth 6 to be partly operational in August and in full swing by end of next year.
“We are now under budget with the development of the berth but we are okay as we are not under pressure to complete it as soon as possible,” MICT general manager Christian Gonzalez said. “We are also not looking at significantly increasing the budget for this expansion as the budget still looks fine.”
He added, “The current capacity of the terminal as well as part of the berth such as the container yard is enough to accommodate our target volume for the year.”
Behind schedule
Designed to accommodate post-panamax vessels, Berth 6 was originally scheduled for completion this year but the global financial crisis pushed completion to next year after MICT experienced a downturn in volume and revenues.
Based on the original plan, Berth 6 will increase MICT’s area by 14 hectares and offer an additional 375 meters of berth. It will have three more quay cranes and eight rubber-tired gantries (RTGs).
MICT is now 75% saturated. The partial completion of Berth 6 will increase capacity by 20-25% and allow MICT to use a wider range of additional cargo-handling equipment.
MICT has an annual capacity of 1.6 million TEUs. It is equipped with 10 post-panamax and panamax quay cranes as well as 40 RTGs; its berth can handle a maximum of six ships at any one time.
Earlier, Enrique Razon Jr, chairman of MICT operator International Container Terminal Service, Inc, said ICTSI expects brighter prospects this year on the back of a recovering global economy.
