ICTSI prepares for 13,000 teu ships on intra-Asia trades
International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) is preparing for an enlarged set of boxships operating on the intra-Asia trades. The Philippine terminal operator has placed orders for a raft of massive new equipment for its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) including dive post-panamax quay cranes capable of handling ships of up to 13,000 teu.
The purchase, along with an order for 20 rubber tired gantry cranes and the construction of another berth, is part of ICTSI’s $80m capital equipment program for MICT.
“Hitting the two-million mark last year is a clear indication that we need to further expand our operation in response to the direction of the market. We also have to address the growing consolidation trend happening with major carriers that have them deploying larger capacity vessels,” commented Christian Gonzalez, an SVP for ICTSI. “We need to ensure expansion is ahead of the curve in terms of being prepared for an increase in vessel sizes,” he added.
ICTSI has several other projects in the pipeline for its Philippine operation. These include the revival of the rail link between MICT and the recently opened Laguna Gateway Inland Container Terminal in Calamba. It has also recently submitted a proposal to build a roll on-roll off barge terminal in Cavite, south of Metro Manila.
With intra-Asia trade growing steadily and there being far too much capacity on the Asia-Europe tradelane carriers are preparing a significant trickledown of tonnage whereby the average size of carriers on the regional trade will grow fast this year.