ICTSI acquires rubber-tired gantries for $10.7M

MANILA, Philippines - International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has acquired eight brand-new, rubber-tired gantries (RTG) as part of its move to fully operationalize the new Berth 6 at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

The eight RTGs cost about $10.7 million and will be delivered starting June next year to the MICT, which is the flagship operation of the Razon-led port operator.

The new RTG brings the terminal’s RTG fleet from 37 to 45, the largest RTG in the country and among the largest in other ICTSI-operated terminals around the world.

Along with the startup of Berth 6, this acquisition will expand MICT’s current annual capacity of 1.9 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to 2.5 million TEUs.

The vaunted latest technology employed by the new Kalmar RTGs will boost port efficiency, said ICTSI.

“They are configured to provide one over five high stacking and six containers plus roadway wide. Precise container handling is enhanced through the latest Siemens Sinamics technology in which container sway is controlled through an automatic electronic system.”

These RTGs also promise to be at least 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the current fleet.

Meanwhile, an order has been placed for two new ZPMC super post-Panamax quay cranes, also for the new Berth 6.

"These cranes, capable of lifting containers on 18-container wide vessels, will enter service in 2012 and share many of the high technology features incorporated into the RTG design," ICTSI said.

The global port operator earlier reported a net income of $61.1 million in the first half of 2011, or 47 percent higher than the $41.6 million in the same period last year.

Its consolidated revenues for January to June stood at $319.1 million, or 29 percent higher than the $246.9 million reported in 2010.

ICTSI handled consolidated volume of 2.48 million TEUs in the first half of the year, 24 percent higher than the 2.01 million TEUs handled in the same period last year.

For the full year, ICTSI's capital expenditure was $356 million---to finance new projects in Argentina, Mexico and Columbia and for civil works, systems improvement, and purchase of major cargo handling equipment at its terminal operations in Manila, Brazil and Ecuador.

The Manila, Philippines-based ICTSI is a leading port management company involved in the operations and development of 22 marine terminals and port projects in 17 countries worldwide.