Dredging to deepen Mactan Channel, even bigger bulk carriers in CIP soon?

CEBU, Philippines - Bulk carriers of at least 50,000 metric tons may soon be able to use the Mactan Channel, this after the completion of the P580-million dredging project at the Cebu International Port which is set to start this month after almost two years of delay.

Cebu Port Authority general manager Edmund Tan made the announcement yesterday following the acquisition of bulk handling facilities with four bagging equipment to accommodate bulk carriers at the CIP.

The Department of Transportation and Communication already approved the dredging project. However, President Benigno Aquino III ordered the reevaluation of lined-up projects by the legal department last year.

Tan said during the 888 New Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday that the legal department found the bidding to be above board and there was no reason to rebid the project.

"The winning bidder might sue if we rescind the contract, it is an advantage for the government to continue the project," Tan said.

Tan said that it would take 11 months to finish the project and before bulk carriers could enter CIP.

In the same forum, Oriental Port and Allied Services Corporation president and general manager Tomas Riveral reported that the each bagging equipment can fill eight bags per minute or about 350 bags per hour.

This means that a vessel can now unload cargo such as grains and pellets in a day using this technology, instead of four days with manual labor.

Reportedly, if a vessel delivering imported goods to CIP will be delayed even for just one day, the shipping lines will charge an additional service fee to the consignee.

Riveral said that due to the draft of the present port, it can only accommodate bulk carriers weighing 7,000 metric tons and up to 10,000 metric tons during high tide. Other foreign ports can already accommodate bulk carriers around 50,000 metric tons.

"What kind of bulk carrier we are hosting in Cebu is just like big pump boats," Riveral said.

Another problem Riveral has raised was the congestion of berthing area at the CIP.

He suggested that the port should have an element of "infrastructural flexibility" that can allow it to expand anytime the need arises.

Tan said that the depth or draft at the CIP at present is only eight meters when the ideal is 12 meters to allow cargo vessels from more countries to easily enter the area.

The dredging project was supposed to start in 2012 but this was delayed because of the additional requirements.

Earlier in 2013, the CPA conducted a steel sheet piling at the port in preparation for the dredging of the CIP as well as the domestic ports from Pier 1 to Pier 3 after it got the loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines.

The dredging project will extend up to the seawaters off the South Road Properties. /BRP (FREEMAN)