ICTSI’s Misamis unit expands handling capacity

International Container Terminal Services Inc.’s (ICTSI) facility in Misamis Oriental has expanded its container loading and unloading capacity after recently receiving two hybrid rubber tired gantries (RTG).

In a statement on Thursday, the Razon-owned port operator said that the Mindanao Container Terminal’s (MCT) RTG fleet increased to six units with the delivery of the additional Mitsui hybrid yard equipment.

The equipment runs on lithium-ion batteries and a smaller diesel engine unlike the conventional RTGs that rely fully on fossil fuel. This means that MCT is slated for better yard productivity and overall terminal efficiency without having to worry over too much carbon footprint.

“The hybrid RTGs make our operations more efficient and at the same time more environment friendly because of the reduced emissions, allowing us to hit both our productivity and sustainability targets. We’re also commissioning additional equipment to meet expanding capacity requirements,” MCT general manager Aurelio Garcia said.

The Mindanao container facility will receive a new side lifter this year.

It also ordered a mobile harbor crane, which will arrive by the first half of next year, to boost its vessel-handling capability.

These initiatives came after the 100-meter berth extension and installation of dolphin mooring and inland bollards about two years ago as the facility aims to meet the increasing “volume and service demand as the global economy slowly begins to recover from the impact of the pandemic.”

New software

Meanwhile, ICTSI sees 50-percent savings in annual support fees after making changes with its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

It has teamed up with Rimini Street Inc. for its software support services, including financials, treasury, asset tracking, equipment maintenance and repair.

ICSTI chief information officer Brian Hibbert said their current platform “has become a constraint, rather than an enabler for our business, with more and more initiatives that would drive efficiency and digital transformation either blocked, expensive, or requiring third-party add-on solutions.”

“Working with Rimini Street not only delivers that spend reduction, but with their exceptional support, we can turn our internal focus on preparing for that change and going to market for our future ERP needs,” he added.

Last year, ICTSI saw its profits grow by 321 percent to $428.57 million on the back of higher operating income.