ICTSI South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT), a subsidiary of global port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), has started operations at the Lae Tidal Basin (LTB) in Lae, the industrial hub of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
SPICT recently received the go signal to begin operations from the Papua New Guinea government, ICTSI said in a statement. As part of its concession agreement, SPICT will begin the transition by immediately rolling out the terminal’s new operating system, Navis N4.
Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI head of Asia Pacific, recently stated, “We know the next few weeks will be a difficult transition, particularly given the quick adoption of N4 to the working environment. Team SPICT is extremely excited and committed, however, to face the challenges of delivering such an upgrade to the way the terminal is managed.”
“With the support of the local port users and our international shipping partners, we believe that the benefits of automating processes and information flow will accrue to each and every one of the ports users very quickly,” he added.
He said they anticipate further benefits once the mobile harbor cranes (MHCs) are delivered to the site, and expect to see a continuous improvement in operations at SPICT when the terminal operating system (TOS) is deployed.
The TOS, the first of its kind in Papua New Guinea and the global standard for container terminal planning and operations management, is expected to quickly streamline the flow of information at Lae’s international container terminal and significantly increase seaside and landside productivity levels.
SPICT’s investment in IT systems and infrastructure is expected to exceed PGK3 million (nearly P48 million) this year.
As part of its operational ramp-up, SPICT will spend most of the coming months rolling out the system’s modules and orienting port users at Lae, while also handling all international cargo at the LTB and the dedicated second berth at Lae’s old wharf. A full and stable suite of modules is expected to be operational and ready in time for the arrival of SPICT’s MHCs in April.
The MHCs will further boost productivity levels at Lae and deliver vessel handling capabilities previously unattained in the country, ICTSI said.
In July 2017, ICTSI signed a 25-year terminal operations agreement with state-owned PNG Ports Corp. Limited to develop and operate the Port of Lae—the largest container handling facility in PNG.
ICTSI is set to expand the port’s facilities and improve its capabilities as part of efforts to position Lae as a gateway to the South Pacific region. The project is closely aligned with Papua New Guinea’s projected economic and trade growth.
