The New Container Terminal 1 (NCT-1) in Subic Bay, north of Manila, recorded a 7.84% increase in cargo volume to 27,671 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2011 from 25,661 TEUs in 2010.
Despite the increment, the 2011 figure is still way below target because it represents only 8% of the total capacity of the terminal, according to Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).
Opened in 2007, NCT-1 is operated by Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI).
In 2010, the port handled 25,661 TEUs, up 17.14% from 21,906 TEUs in 2009.
NCT-1 is a 14-hectare terminal with a 280-meter berth and a controlling depth of 13 meters.
As of December 31, 2011, SBITC put in place at the terminal two post-panamax cranes, three reach stackers, five forklifts, nine prime movers, four manual spreaders, and 15 chassis.
Shipping lines calling NCT-1 include APL and Wan Hai, and Greek shipping line Tiger Lines, a joint venture company between Avin International S.A. and Zeniba Shipping.
Tiger Lines deploys a 750-TEU to 1,000-TEU capacity vessel for its bi-weekly service plying Subic, Singapore and Malaysia.
Aside from NCT-1, SBMA also oversees NCT-2, another 14-hectare terminal with a 280-meter berth. NCT-2 has an annual capacity of 300,000 TEUs. It is also managed and operated by SBITC.
NCT-1 and 2 are the primary components of the $215-million Subic port modernization program funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
There is currently a move by government to divert cargo from Manila ports to Subic to address congestion. A maritime conference drumming up Subic’s advantages as a pot will be mounted in July by SBMA.
Photo from http://www.ictsi.com/uploads/Image/gallery/sbict_big_08.jpg
