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The Philippine Ports Authority will invite bids for a vessel traffic management system as well as a quay crane for Visayas Container Terminal in Iloilo
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The VTMS contract is being pursued as VCT handles more foreign ships
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The procurement of a quay crane, on the other hand, is part of PPA’s commitment when it bid out the port terminal management contract for Iloilo Commercial Port Complex
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will invite bids for a vessel traffic management system (VTMS) as well as a quay crane for Visayas Container Terminal (VCT) in Iloilo, according to general manager Jay Daniel Santiago.
The VTMS contract is being pursued as VCT handles more foreign ships following International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) takeover of the terminal this year, Santiago said in a recent media briefing.
ICTSI last January won the 25-year contract to operate and develop Iloilo Commercial Port Complex (ICPC), later renamed VCT. The terminal started commercial operations under ICTSI last April.
READ: PPA hands over Iloilo Commercial Port to Visayas Container Terminal
PPA earlier said that from April to August 2024, VCT experienced a 16% year-on-year increase in foreign vessel calls, and a 79% rise in foreign cargo throughput.
The VTMS in VCT will be PPA’s third, aside from those covering the ports of Manila and Batangas.
As part of PPA’s commitment when it bid out the port terminal management contract for ICPC, the ports authority will also soon bid out the procurement for a quay crane for the Iloilo terminal.
PPA assistant general manager for finance and administration Elmer Nonnatus Cadano, in an interview with PortCalls at the sidelines of the briefing, noted all projections made for ICPC were premised on the fact that there will be a quay crane “because it will really make the operations more efficient.”
Cadano noted that the quay crane procurement was supposed have been completed even before the ICPC contract was bid out in late 2023 but there was some delay as PPA first conducted a structural analysis of the port, which he noted was originally designed without a crane.
Moving forward when the volume increases, ICTSI as part of the concession can procure more quay cranes for VCT.
Just last October, VCT inaugurated two new mobile harbor cranes, enabling the terminal to handle the increasing volume of containerized, bulk, general and project cargo in Panay and Region 6. ICTSI said the introduction of these equipment class is also seen to streamline the terminal’s operation, resulting in faster turnaround times for vessels and trucks, as well as better overall port efficiency and safety.
Aside from the cranes, other ongoing developments in VCT include dredging along the terminal’s berths to increase depth capacity in preparation for the arrival of larger ships; further rehabilitation of container yard; improvement of engineering facilities; and greening and development of multipurpose and recreation spaces for employees.
ICTSI said it continues to expedite facility upgrades, IT system implementation, and deployment of other modern cargo handling equipment at VCT.
Under the contract, VCT’s operations will exclusively serve foreign vessels and cargoes. For the first five years, domestic vessels and cargoes will still be serviced until the turnover to Fort San Pedro port. Fort San Pedro will then serve as the designated domestic terminal. – Roumina Pablo
