ICTSI allots $22 M for RTGs

MANILA, Philippines — International Container Terminal Services Inc. is spending $22 million to deploy hybrid rubber tired gantries (RTG) at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) to boost operations.

The listed port operator said in a statement the amount being spent for the 16 RTGs is part of the $80 million capital equipment program for ICTSI’s flagship terminal.

Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI senior vice president and head of Asia Pacific and MICT, said the new RTG, which is the first of its kind in the country’s ports, would be beneficial in improving operations and in providing a safe working environment for both employees and clients.  

“The new RTG will improve terminal efficiency and allow us to match demand in terms of operational performance.  Terminal utilization currently remains exceptional, and we see no signs of congestion despite the volume influx,” he said.

He also said the RTGs would allow ICTSI to reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent and to have up to 60 percent better fuel economy.

The RTG, manufactured by Japanese shipbuilder and equipment maker Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., can stack one over five containers high and six containers wide, including truck roadway. 

It has a rated load of 40 metric tons.

ICTSI expects the delivery of the first batch of RTG in November next year, while the remaining eight would be turned over by October 2019.

It is also set to commission five additional quay cranes by 2019, including a pair of neo-Panamax cranes.

Once completed, MICT will become the only terminal in the Philippines that can serve neo-Panamax boxships with capacities of up to 13,000-twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs).

“We are preparing for the era of super-sized ships.  All the development we have in the pipeline will ensure MICT, the country’s premier container terminal, will be able to cope with the pressing demand and volume increase,” Gonzalez said.

MICT hit a milestone in December last year after handling two million TEUs.

The achievement triggered a multi-billion peso capacity improvement commitment with ICTSI set to commission additional equipment and construct at least another berth by 2019.

Established in 1988 in Manila, ICTSI is in the business of port operations, management and development.

The firm has terminals and projects in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa.