THE Manila North Harbour Port, Inc (MNHPI) will soon adopt the Synchronized Planning and Real-time Control System (SPARCS) to streamline procedures at the North Port, formerly known as North Harbor.
SPARCS provides continuous cargo tracking, cargo and vessel location, and allocation of yard support for proper handling of cargoes. In addition it provides for a green lane for cargoes that need immediate release such as perishables and livestock, and segregates cargoes for proper handling and monitoring.
Along with SPARCS, MNHPI will also soon introduce in coordination with the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) a single document containing all relevant cargo information. Right now there are far too many documents needed to release cargo.
According to MNHPI, the single document together with the use of SPARCS will reduce cargo release and deposit at the North Port to within the day compared to more than 24 hours currently.
Meanwhile, MNHPI has been making the rounds at the port to present its detailed engineering design for North Port after the Philippine Ports Authority approved the facility’s conceptual design. Construction is tentatively scheduled for October.
MNHPI — a joint venture between Harbour Centre Port Terminals, Inc (HCPTI) and San Miguel Corp — earlier committed to sink in P14.5 billion into North Port, particularly to reconfigure existing ports by expanding operational area from 52 hectares to 70 hectares and improving facilities.
MNHPI is also planning to increase the port’s capacity to 5 million twenty-foot equivalent units a year from the current 1.5 million TEUs.
In another development, Sultan 900 Capital, Inc owned by HCPTI — MNHPI majority owner – recently acquired 95.22% of Mic Holdings, Inc for P175 million from businessman Antonio Cojuangco.
Mic will be used by the Romero group, owner of HCPTI, as the holding company for its port business.
Under initial plans, Mic will acquire additional ports in the Philippines then later consolidate operations of these ports. It will also be the vehicle for the group’s global port expansion.
