Capacity for Manila port

A court case could stall the awarding of a concession for Philippines’ main domestic cargo terminal

Manila-based ICTSI looks set to win the Mindanao Container Terminal concession in the Philippines

Six groups, including DP World-controlled Asian Terminals Inc, are bidding for the 25-year Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) concession in the third attempt since 2003 to privatise the only dedicated container handling facility on the southern Philippine island.

Manila-based Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc (HCPTI) is setting the stage for its domestic and overseas expansion with the scheduled listing in March 2008 on the Philippine Stock Exchange of a new holding company.

The 10-hectare NSD Waterfront Area terminal at the Subic Freeport north of Manila is to be transformed into a general cargo facility and re-privatised in view of the impending transfer of Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC), a subisidary of International Container Terminal Services Inc, to the New Container Terminal-1.

The Port Authority of Guam (PAG) expects to award the contract for the supply of one new 50 LT ship-to-shore gantry crane for the Jose D Leon Guerrero Commercial Port by 9th October. If all goes well, the unit should be in place 18-24 months after the bid winner is named.