Olongapo SubicBay BatangGapo Newscenter

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Use Subic terminal, North and Central Luzon Philippine businesses urged

Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) recently urged importers and exporters in Northern and Central Luzon to use the newly opened container terminal at the Subic Bay Freeport.

“We are inviting businesses and industries in the area to use the Subic container port. The strategic location of Subic to your manufacturing plants means a significant decrease in transport costs and faster delivery time of cargo,” said SBMA senior deputy administrator for operations Atty. Ferdinand Hernandez during the North Luzon Area Business Conference at the Grand Palazzo Royale in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The conference, organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce Industry (PCCI), gathered national government officials for trade, transportation, agriculture, infrastructure and human resources and over 300 businessmen in the region for a two-day meet to discuss how the region’s economic stakeholders could raise global competitiveness in Northern Philippines.

“Also, our new container handling facility in Subic complements the Philippine government’s over-all infrastructure development plan for the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, especially the requirements of seaborne trade in Northern and Central Luzon,” he added.

SBITC, a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and operator of Subic’s New Container Terminal-1 (NCT-1), and the SBMA have been jointly marketing the Subic Bay Freeport as the prime trade link in Northern Philippines. Subic’s proximity to the economic zones of Northern and Central Luzon makes it the ideal international trading gateway in the region.

“With our strategic location, world class port infrastructure, competitive port tariffs, and the expertise of an international port operator, Subic is ready and positioned to serve industrial locators in the region. Thanks to the newly opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, trucking transit times and fees are significantly reduced with Subic as gateway. Unlike other ports located in metropolitan areas in Luzon, Subic is traffic jam-free and has no truck ban,” Hernandez added.

The Subic container terminal, located at the Freeport’s Cubi Point, was developed through funding provided by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation. SBITC holds the 25-year concession for the operations of the port.

The terminal has an area of 13.16 hectares and an annual capacity of 300,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units). The berth is a 280-meter wharf with a controlling depth of 13 meters, and is equipped with two post-Panamax quay cranes.

The terminal design ensures optimal terminal operations and utilization of container handling equipment and facilities especially terminal space. Over 80 reefer stations are installed in the container yard, while the gate has six truck lanes for the smooth flow of trucks coming in and going out of the terminal.

“SBITC is investing to further improve terminal operations and to construct other support facilities. Additional container handling equipment will be purchased as the throughput of the terminal increases in the coming years. We have already invested in human resources training and development and a terminal operating system for gates and container yard management. Plans are underway to fully computerize operations,” Aurelio Garcia, SBITC general manager, said.

“SBITC will continue to focus its resources in developing, acquiring and implementing technology and best practices that will sustain efficacy of terminal operations. We are committed to provide services at par with the world’s leading container terminals,” he added.

Currently, SBITC’s shipping line clients include American President Lines, Wan Hai Lines and Tasman Orient.

SBITC, established by ICTSI in 2000, is the exclusive international container terminal operator at the Subic Bay Freeport. It had operated the freeport’s NSD Terminal for seven years before transferring container handling operations to the NCT-1 last May.

ICTSI is a leading developer of international ports and terminals with a global port network spanning 11 countries in four continents. ICTSI is on its 20th year of operation, and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world. (PNA)

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