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Asian Terminals Inc and the Association of International Shipping Lines continue their collaboration to navigate operational challenges and ensure smooth movement of cargo amid increasing import volumes and ongoing industry shifts
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Both organizations said they remain focused on optimizing yard utilization and improving dwell times
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ATI will keep accepting ad hoc vessels for empty container evacuation at Manila South Harbor
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It will also maintain close coordination with individual lines to reduce dwell times
Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) and the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) continue their collaboration to navigate operational challenges and ensure smooth movement of cargo amid increasing import volumes and ongoing industry shifts.
Both organizations, which met recently, said they remain focused on optimizing yard utilization and improving dwell times.
In 2024, ATI’s Manila and Batangas ports handled a cumulative volume of almost 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent units, over 4% higher compared to 2023.
Through proactive engagement with stakeholders, AISL said import containers are being collected more promptly, preventing congestion and ensuring a steady cargo flow.
“The shared goal is to enhance terminal operations in response to growing trade volumes while minimizing disruptions,” the group said in a statement.
Part of the collaboration is the empty loadout shipping alliance (ELSA), an initiative between ATI and AISL members that is already on its sixth year, having started in 2019 and renewed in May last year.
ELSA enables AISL member shipping lines to load their excess empty containers onto the earliest available partner vessels on a daily basis. This gives the member lines the platform they need to evacuate empties into shortage areas, thereby freeing up terminal and yard space to ensure operational efficiencies are sustained.
ATI will also continue accepting ad hoc vessels for empty container evacuation at Manila South Harbor to assist the logistics community, and maintain close coordination with individual lines to reduce dwell times.
To support growing volumes particularly at Manila South Harbor, AISL said ATI has introduced operational improvements, including the recent arrival of two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes. Manila South Harbor’s Pier 3 redevelopment also extends the quay length to nearly 600 meters to accommodate more and bigger vessels.
READ: Asian Terminals receives 2 ship-to-shore cranes
With ATI’s port capacity set to increase further in the coming months, AISL noted the terminal is well-positioned to meet future demands.
Additionally, sustained volume growth at Batangas Container Terminal, also operated by ATI, “is evident with the deployment of new shipping services, further reinforcing ATI’s role as a key logistics hub,” AISL noted.
“These developments highlight the increasing demand for efficient logistics solutions and the importance of ATI and AISL’s continued coordination,” AISL said.
