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International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is acquiring equipment and implementing systems for Manila International Container Terminal as part of its commitment to decarbonize and contribute to global efforts in addressing climate change
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83% of MICT’s RTG cranes are already hybrid, while eight near-zero emission RTGs will arrive in December
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Eight electronic prime movers are also being procured for next year
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Systems such as “truck manifesting,” text message notifications, and e-wallet options help reduce truck stay inside the terminal and lessen carbon emissions
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In 2023, ICTSI reduced direct greenhouse gas emissions by 3%, and indirect GHG emissions by 7%
International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is acquiring equipment and implementing systems for its flagship, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), as part of its commitment to decarbonize and contribute to global efforts in addressing climate change.
Currently, 83% of MICT’s rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes are already hybrid, and eight near-zero emission RTGs are scheduled to arrive in December, according to MICT information technology systems and services director Reynaldo Mark Cruz, Jr. in a presentation during the recent Abante Logistics Forum hosted by United Portusers Confederation of the Philippines, Inc.
In addition, ICTSI is acquiring their first eight electronic prime movers by next year. Cruz said they are now finalizing the locations and infrastructure for the charging stations inside MICT.
Three new ship-to-shore cranes that will be deployed at MICT’s Berth 8 will also be run remotely from inside an office instead of high up in the crane’s cabin, Cruz said.
The expansion of MICT’s capacity through Berth 8, which is expected to be completed by 2027 and add an extra 200,000-twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) yard capacity, will allow the terminal to serve larger vessels of up to 18,000 TEU-capacity.
Cruz said this will reduce the number of vessel calls contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.
Even as ICTSI is able to expand its yard capacity, Cruz noted there are “very limited options in road expansion to accommodate the forecasted growth” in container volumes.
To address this, Cruz said ICTSI is focusing on “massively reducing the transaction times of the gates.”
To effectively increase gate throughput, ICTSI last year implemented the “truck manifesting” feature of its Terminal Appointment Booking System. Truck manifesting allows the advance submission of booking details, truck plate numbers and driver information, simplifying the standard kiosk transaction of truck drivers upon arrival at the terminal.
Cruz said with the implementation of truck manifesting, the average gate transaction time of trucks declined to around 48 seconds from one minute and 10 seconds previously.
“Just by shortening the gate transaction time by 20 seconds per truck times 2,500 trucks per day, we have added an extra 30% of gate capacity. At the same time, faster gate transactions mean shorter stay at the terminal and much less carbon emissions from the trucks,” Cruz said.
ICTSI has also developed a system that will send truck drivers a text message once the holding of their containers subject to Bureau of Customs examination has been lifted, eliminating any reason for the trucks to stay inside the terminal longer.
Moreover, ICTSI’s online payment system, Advance Customer Transaction System (ACTS), now has an e-wallet feature that can be loaded and used to auto-debit storage or reefer charges for import-loaded containers. Cruz noted that when a truck carrying an import container goes to the exit gate but discovers that the storage has expired, the driver has no choice but to back up and find temporary parking space in the terminal until settlement of additional storage payment.
He said the auto-debit feature enables trucks to exit without any interruption.
GHG reduction targets
Meanwhile, ICTSI is on track to achieving its target of reducing its direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 26% per container move by 2030 using 2021 as baseline, Cruz said.
READ: ICTSI targets 26% cut in GHG emissions by 2030
In 2023, ICTSI cur direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3%, and indirect GHG emissions by 7%.
Of the 32 terminals it operates in 19 countries, five have already achieved carbon neutrality: Contecon Guayaquil in Ecuador, Contecon Manzanillo in Mexico, Rio Brasil Terminal and Tecon Suape both in Brazil, and TecPlata in Argentina.
ICTSI earlier said it commits to net zero emissions for Scopes 1 (direct emissions) and 2 (indirect emissions) by 2050 as part of its decarbonization strategy.
Further, ICTSI is working toward accounting for the full greenhouse gas emissions footprint of the entire value chain, including Scope 3 emissions. An inventory is expected to be established by 2025, followed by a review of relevant targets.
The targets are part of ICTSI’s Climate Change Action Initiative launched in July 2023. The initiative will develop a comprehensive roadmap for ICTSI to align its business strategy with the goals of the United Nations Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted by 196 parties at the UN Climate Change Conference on December 12, 2015 and entered into force on November 4, 2016. – Roumina Pablo
