Cargo flow further speeds up at Manila South Harbor

March 15, 2019

The movement of commodities through international gateway port Manila South Harbor has further accelerated in recent weeks, its operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) said Friday, as multisectoral efforts to expedite cargo flow have delivered positive results.

“Yard utilization is currently at an optimum 60 percent from high 90s in February, brought about by the synergy of our shipping line partners, port authorities and stakeholders,” ATI senior vice president Sean Perez said at the sidelines of the signing of the manifesto of support for the efficient utilization of Philippine ports, an event hosted by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

He added that as of Thursday, port production has peaked to 32 gross moves per crane per hour(gmph), from its average of 25 gmph, reflective of the port’s operational efficiency. GMPH is a measure of how many boxes cranes could move from ship to shore in an hour.

In mid-February, ATI and major international shipping lines agreed to share vessels and optimize terminal resources to immediately evacuate empty containers from Manila and surrounding areas through Manila South Harbor.

Last week alone, CMA-CGM Group,T.S. Lines, Evergreen, Yang Ming Lines, Wan Hai Lines and Hyundai Merchant Marine have loaded out over 14,000 teus (twenty-foot equivalent units) for recirculation other Asian destinations, higher than their committed weekly load out of 10,000 teus.

The withdrawal of laden containers from Manila South Harbor has also increased by 13 percent, following the directive of PPA on March 1 to move Customs-cleared overstaying boxes to outside depots.

To sustain port efficiency, ATI has earlier announced that it is developing more container yard facilities outside the Port of Manila. Among these, a new five-hectare yard facility is expected to be operational by the second quarter.Expansion programs are also in full swing in Manila South Harbor in support of future cargo growth.

ATI has likewise expanded the role of its Sta. Mesa container yard to accommodate cleared overstaying laden boxes, in accordance with recent directives of PPA.

Meanwhile, expansion works at Batangas Container Terminal (BCT), which now features four quay cranes, eight rubber-tired gantry cranes and additional mobile handling equipment, will be fully completed by end-April, bringing its capacity to handle over 450,000 teus annually. Last year, BCT handled nearly 250,000 teus, up by 25 percent than the previous year.

Side-by-side, ATI’s Manila South Harbor and Batangas Container Terminalwill play bigger roles in efficiently moving economic goods in Metro Manila andsouthern Luzon, respectively, in support of the country’s growing economy.