BATANGAS port is looking at handling 400,000 TEUs by 2008, upon completion of its Phase II development project.
“The Batangas port is designed to cater even to post-panamax vessels. Such ships cannot dock at the port of Manila because of its shallow waters. Considering this, the target volume for international cargoes is a possibility,” said Batangas Port Development Phase II Project director Tomas B. Carlos.Package I of Phase II requires dredging to achieve a 15-meter draft.
The port is also eyeing to service vessels carrying goods bound for the manufacturing plants in the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batnags, Rizal and Quezon) area.
Two years ago, the port handled 0.81 metric tons (MT) of domestic cargoes, 0.24 MT foreign cargoes and 2.61 million passengers. This was lower compared with figures in 2000 when domestic cargoes were at 0.86 MT, foreign at 0.26 MT, and passengers, 2.8 million.
