ICTSI’s MICT back to normal levels; Caution needed to stop a repeat of late March and early April levels
Operational levels at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) have returned to normal levels due to the efforts of many port stakeholders.
Overall terminal utilization is now under 67 percent and reefer utilization at under 65 percent, with cargo pullouts during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) peaking last week. The pullouts last week do not include numerous containers of unclaimed cargo, carefully transferred to other yards and facilitated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). Moreover, all incoming ships are able to dock as scheduled, with no waiting time.
Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, said: “Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our frontline employees and many port stakeholders, the terminal has been able to pull off this feat. Efforts should continue, however, to ensure that we have no repeat of the dangerously low level of pullouts we experienced at the end of March and in early April. The statistics have proven that government implemented exemptions for cargo and penalties for overstayers worked and that these, along with the efforts of importers, have avoided the unmanageable consequences we would have had if we did not respond as we did. With the continued ECQ, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must remember that there remains a significant amount of unclaimed cargo from well before March 2020, and we must ensure a free flow of cargo to facilitate the transport of critical food, medical supplies and basic necessities.”
Gonzalez pointed out that instrumental to return to normalcy were the outstanding collaboration and cooperation of government including the Inter-Agency Task Force, Department of Transportation especially the PPA, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Finance including BOC. He also cited the immediate response of all other port stakeholders such as the shipping lines, consignees, truckers, brokers and forwarders.
The Manila International Container Terminal
About International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI)
Headquartered and established in 1988 in Manila, Philippines, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is in the business of port development, management and operations. As an independent business with no shipping, logistics or consignee-related interests, ICTSI works and transacts transparently with any stakeholder in the port community. ICTSI’s portfolio of terminals and projects spans developed and emerging market economies in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ICTSI has received global acclaim for its public-private partnerships with governments divesting of their port assets to the private sector. (www.ictsi.com)