ATI, DP World invest P5.7-B to boost capacity of MSH

May 02, 2025

The Manila South Harbor (MSH), the Philippines’ premier international trade gateway, received a major operational boost as Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and its strategic partner, DP World has completed milestone projects poised to promote long-term economic growth and trade for the Philippines and Southeast Asia growth corridor.

ATI and DP World invested Php5.7 billion on projects whichinclude the extension of Pier 3 berth to over 600 meters, yard expansion toaccommodate 20,000 TEUs, the addition of two new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes,and purchase of eco-friendly landside equipment.

An official ceremony was held earlier in the day at MSH,to celebrate this significant development. Led by Department of TransportationSecretary, Vince Dizon, the event was attended by DP World’s senior leadershipled by His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO,Philippine Ports Authority’s General Manager Jay Santiago, Bureau of CustomsCommissioner Bienvenido Rubio, ATI President Eusebio Tanco as well as majorstakeholders, customers, and industry partners.

In all, the recent development projects bring MSH’s annualthroughput capacity to over two million TEUs, growing capacity by over 25% from1.45 million TEUs, previously. This enables the terminal to accommodate morecargo volume and bigger ships deployed by international carriers, providingfaster and safer turnaround times to support the country’s international trade.

The two neo post-panamax STS cranes, manufactured byShanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries, are the largest among MSH’s 11 quay-sideequipment and among the biggest ever deployed in the Philippines. With anoutreach of 58 meters, each STS crane can handle vessels carrying up to 20containers wide. Each crane is equipped with modern safety and operationalfeatures such as intelligent sensing systems for monitoring speed, vibration,and temperature, trailer positioning, anti-collision, and automateddiagnostics.

Plans are also underway to deploy electric and hybridlandside equipment, including yard tractors, container loaders and rubber-tiredgantry cranes in support of MSH’s carbon reduction initiatives.

His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, DPWorld Group Chairman & CEO, commented:

“DP World is honored to be partnering the Philippinegovernment in modernizing and advancing its critical trade infrastructure, byworking closely with our local partner ATI. Investment in ports and logisticsbrings greater value down the value chain and prosperity to communities, acommitment which we embody in DP World as a trade enabler and leader in smartlogistics.”

“Building on our strong partnership, and seeing hugeeconomic potential, we are lining up more investment projects in the comingyears to future-proof the gateway terminals in Manila, Batangas, Cavite, andLaguna in support of the resilient growth of the Philippine economy.”

Hon. Vince Dizon, Department of TransportationSecretary, commented:

“The modernization projects at MSH are a testament to thelong-standing private-public-partnership to enhance the country’s tradefacilities and capabilities, which are crucial in sustaining the country’seconomic growth momentum. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. values the importanceof the role that the private sector plays as a driving force of the Philippineeconomy. We extend our gratitude to our partners from ATI and DP World forbringing in the operational knowledge, expertise, and resources, to make robusttrade happen in the Philippines as an emerging economic powerhouse in the AsiaPacific region.”

Jay Daniel Santiago, Philippine PortsAuthority General Manager, commented:

“With bigger and more efficient facilities, through ourpartners in the private sector, we are elevating the capacity and capability ofthe country’s ports, particularly the Manila South Harbor, to connect thePhilippines with the rest of the world, and serve as catalyst to long-termgrowth and prosperity, in support of port stakeholders.”

Eusebio H. Tanco, ATI president, commented:

“We are very pleased to inaugurate these major developmentprojects that collectively enhances our capacity and capability in deliveringcomprehensive and market-responsive services to our customers and stakeholders.ATI, alongside our partners from DP World, stands proud of our contribution topowering economic progress by ensuring supply chain efficiency through ATI’sstrategic ports and logistics assets.”

In 2024, ATI handled almost 1.6 million TEUs in cumulativecontainer volume, over 4% higher as compared to 2023. Of this, MSH handledaround 1.3 million TEUs, nearly 8% higher than the total volume it handled theprevious year, reflective of the expansion of the country’s economy.

For the first quarter of 2025 alone, MSH handled over350,000 TEUs of international container boxes, over 25% higher compared to thesame period in 2024, signaling the strong and resilient growth of the economy.

ATI is the local partner of DP World in the Philippinesoperating Manila South Harbor, the Integrated Batangas Port, Cavite BargeTerminal, and strategic inland logistics terminals which bring cargoes closerto beneficial cargo owners. The partnership leverages the local expertise ofATI and DP World’s global network and expertise to deliver comprehensive andinnovative trade solutions for a more robust Philippine supply-chain.