MANILA North Harbour Port, Inc (MNHPI) expects to handle 700,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) at its North Port facility from 650,000 TEUs last year, MNHPI chief operating officer Richard Barclay said.
“Two new quay cranes worth $14 million to $15 million will be delivered this October,” said Barclay at the sidelines of the renewal of partnership between the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and half-way house operator Visayan Forum Foundation Inc.
Barclay, the former chairman of another port operator Asian Terminals, Inc, said once the port agency approves final design for the port’s Phase 1 possibly by end of the month, bidding for construction will be called then actual construction to begin in October.
Phase 1 requires redesign of the 10-pier site into a three-terminal port with wider beds that will raise handling capacity to 28 containers per hour from five.
Phase 2 incorporates construction of an oil port and grains depot for MNHPI part owner San Miguel Corp.
PPA recently denied MNHPI’s request to extend Phase 1 construction deadline from 2015 to 2017.
PPA pointed out that as it is, MNHPI had already exceeded the construction plan by three years. The original plan was for construction to start last year for completion by 2013.
