The Batangas International Port or locally known as the Batangas Pier in Philippines said that Batangas Container Terminal (BCT), managed by listed Asian Terminals Inc.(ATI), has continuously stepped up its role as international trade facilitator in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and has effectively helped decongest Metro Manila roads.
Early in November, BCT achieved a new operations milestone as it broke through the 200,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) cargo volume mark for the first time in a single year since its start-up in 2010.
With this achievement and still a month to go before 2018 ends, BCT already surpassed its full-year cargo throughput of over 197,000 teus in 2017. Equally important,this meant reducing over 100,000 truck trips along Metro Manila roads, with more consignees routing containerized cargoes via south Luzon’s preferred international gateway port.
BCT’s 200,000th teu cargo was delivered over the weekend by MV Balthasar Schulte, operated by Sealand – a Maersk Company (formerly MCC Transport). Sealand – a Maersk Company operates three weekly services via BCT, which directly connect Calabarzon shippers to Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and other key regional and global markets.
BCT’s cargoes have substantially grown over the past three years as more shippers patronize Batangas Port. BCT is strategically located near Calabarzon’s major manufacturing zones and is seamlessly connected to modern road infrastructure,thus, delivering greater advantages to the supply-chain.
In preparation for future growth, massive expansion projects at BCT are nearing completion. By year-end, BCT will take delivery of two additional quay cranes and four more rubber-tired gantry cranes along with other operations-critical equipment in line with its investment commitment with the Philippine Ports Authority. This effectively increases BCT’s capacity to over 450,000 teus by 2019, in support of Calabarzon’s growing industries.