PPA assigns specific berths for vessels calling at Manila ports | SubicNewsLink

06 November 2014

PPA assigns specific berths for vessels calling at Manila ports

Vessels calling at the ports of Manila will be temporarily assigned to specific berths to maximize port utilization this month, according to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

In a memorandum circular (MC) dated November 3, 2014, PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana informed terminal operators in the Manila about the temporary arrangement in the assignment of berths for vessels calling at the port of Manila.

“All ad hoc vessels calling at the Port of Manila including those presently on queue shall be berthed at South Harbor or Subic Bay Freeport. Meanwhile, A dual-caller vessel shall be directed by PPA to berth at South Harbor or at the Manila International Container Terminal upon its arrival at pilot boarding station,” Sta. Ana said.

According to the MC, ad hoc vessels refer to vessels designated or arranged to call at the port of Manila for a specific purpose and not on a regular basis whole a dual-caller vessel refers to a vessel whose ports of loading or unloading are both South Harbor and MICT.

The temporary arrangement in the assignment of berths will be valid until November 30 and will coincide with the shipping peak season due to the yearend holidays.

“This measure will reduce the number of vessels waiting at anchorage. It will also prevent double calls of vessels because instead of calling at two ports, operators will only call now at only one port,” the PPA said, explaining the consequence of the MC.

Despite the lifting of the Manila Truck ban, yard utilization went up from 80 to 90 percent as of October 31 due to the recent holiday, according to PPA. However, empty yard utilization declined from 90 to 70 percent.

The Cabinet Cluster on Port Congestion is targeting to reach the 80 percent yard utilization level for the ports of Manila. This translates to approximately 64,800 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) inside the ports to have enough room for optimum terminal efficiency and productivity. (Kris Bayos, Manila Bulletin)

PHOTO: A container ship docks at the New Container Terminal of the Subic Bay Freeport, now assigned as a port extension of Manila.


http://www.mb.com.ph/ppa-assigns-specific-berths-for-vessels-calling-at-manila-ports/

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