Tuesday, 20 September 2011 19:39
VG Cabuag / Reporter
PORT operator
International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) said it has
submitted “a lot of bids” to operate or manage several other port
projects all over the world, including facilities in Africa, South Asia
and Latin America.
ICTSI executive vice
president Edgardo Abesamis said the company, which is fast becoming one
of the world’s top port operators, submitted its intent in port projects
overseas and these are in the various stages of development.
To
expand its international operations, Abesamis said ICTSI is looking at
either responding to bid invitations from various authorities or making a
pitch to governments to develop a new port.
“We
are just replying to several bid invitations from various port
operators around the world and we don’t know when it will be awarded to
us or to another company that we are competing with,” Abesamis told
reporters.
“We
are just waiting for the decision of the port authorities on whether
ICTSI will emerge as the winning bidder,” Abesamis said.
Abesamis
said it had placed a bid to operate a Bangladesh port five years ago
but the port authorities there have yet to decide on the tenders. ICTSI
also joined a bid to operate port in Costa Rica, but the contract was
given to Maersk.
“It’s
hard to say if we will bag a new port contract this year because we
just respond to bid invitation by various governments,” he said.
Earlier this year, ICTSI dispatched a team to Africa to study the possibility of expanding its operations in that continent.
ICTSI
has established ICTSI Africa (Pty) Ltd. for this purpose. Its
subsidiary will be registered in Cape Town, South Africa with developing
and managing port terminal assets in the African region being its main
purpose.
“But right now the team that we have dispatched has nothing in particular to report to us yet,” he said.
The
company is currently expanding its flagship port, the Manila
International Container Terminal, and is allotting around $110 million
to construct Berth 6 and to purchase new cargo handling equipment.
ICTSI
is looking at operating the new berth within the first quarter of next
year as the company is awaiting delivery of two quay cranes worth about
$2.5 million each as well as six rubber-tired gantries worth $1.2
million and other principal cargo-handling equipment worth about $1
million.
ICTSI is involved in the operations and development of 22 marine terminals and port projects in 17 countries worldwide.
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