Philippine publicly-listed port operator Asian Terminals, Inc. (ATI) has completed ahead of schedule its South Harbor infrastructure projects for the year.
At the core of the investments are terminal-wide developments and acquisition of new equipment, which are part of ATI’s P1.4-billion capital expenditures for 2012. These include expansion of the container stacking area along Muelle de San Francisco and conversion of Warehouse 11 for container storage which has resulted in a buffer capacity of 2,500 twenty-footer equivalent units in October. Once other blocks within the South Harbor expanded port zone are developed by next year, additional capacity for 4,080 TEUs is expected to go online.
The truck-holding area has also been expanded along the Tacoma area to accommodate more trucks serving Manila South Harbor.
ATI’s yard developments are aligned with ongoing expansion at Pier 3, where the extension of crane rails will be completed by year-end to provide additional berth. Pier 3’s rails are being retrofitted to increase stacking capacity to 1,960 TEUs by mid-2013.
The port operator is also awaiting delivery by next year of an additional quay crane, two rubber-tired gantries and other container-handling equipment to complement expanded vessel and yard operations at South Harbor.
ATI will employ two strategic off-dock yards as added back-up areas to cope with seasonal swings in volume and the impact of inclement weather on port operations. Early this year, ATI opened a yard at Sta. Mesa, Manila which has since given truckers greater flexibility and ease in pre-positioning their boxes prior to vessel arrival.
Meanwhile, ATI together with the Philippine Ports Authority and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is implementing measures to free up more space and further improve flow of trucks and cargoes at the port, especially during the holiday season.
BOC has earlier authorized the extension of work at South Harbor, including those for its agent banks, to allow processing of shipments beyond office hours during weekdays and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm during weekends in December.
ATI is likewise offering free container deliveries and deliver-by-appointment during Saturdays and Sundays, where the number coding scheme is suspended.
Photo courtesy of Asian Terminals, Inc
