ICTSI acquires new facilities, cuts rates by 66%

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has further improved facilities at the empty container depot (ECD) of the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) to boost customer service for shipping lines calling at the MICT.

MICT’s ECD now include a 1,100-sq.m repair area, electric room, and a parts storage and administration office. It also has reefer, welding, telephone and computer outlets; tower lights; and an elevated water tank. The ECD is also equipped with a Kalmar empty stacker and side lifter.

Notwithstanding the improvements, ICTSI reduced container handling storage rates by up to 66 percent, making ICTSI’s ECD rates the most competitive in the market.

The new ECD rates are: depot storage at P14 per 20 foot container and P28 per 40 and 45 foot containers; lift on-lift off (lo-lo) charges on a per move basis at P55 for P20’ and P110 for 40’ and 45’ and hustling or inter-yard handling charge at P475 for all type of containers, to and from ECD to MICT or vice versa. The hustling charge is inclusive of lo-lo handling.

"We futher improved our facilities at the ECD and slashed our rates to give shipping lines the best value. Container yard operators outside the port area are now more expensive than MICT’s ECD rates," says Felipe C. Pacheco, MICT terminal manager.

"Aside from having a world-class ECD and reduced rates, the competitive advantage we offer to shipping lines is the adjacency of the ECD to the main terminal. This means easy assessibility to and from the main yard and container freight stations of the MICT," he adds.

Many of the shipping lines calling at the Port of Manila are currently storing empty containers in depots located in traffic-prone Navotas and Caloocan, about 10 to 15 kilometers away from the MICT. With empty container storage inside the MICT, shipping lines would no longer have to contend with the metro-wide truck ban.

All operations and movements at the ECD are fully computerized and seamlessly integrated into the MICT operations systems for faster tracking of container movements.

Aside from handling and storage, the ECD also has a repair and maintenance facility for empty containers. ICTSI tapped the services of Oklahoma-based Orient Refrigeration and Container Services, Inc. for the repair and maintenance services, pre-tipping of refrigerated containers, and other outside services required by the shipping lines.

Total land area of the ECD is 39,000 sq.m and ground slots for 1,148 TEUs or a total of 9,184 TEUs using a maximum eight-tier stacking arrangement.

The ECD is located in a reclaimed area at the Manila International Port Basin of the Manila Bay northwest of the MICT main terminal. The reclaimed area protrudes westward between the North Harbor and MICT.