MANILA, Philippines — Logistics giant International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is scaling up measures to reduce its carbon waste by purchasing new gantries that require less fuel.
Its flagship Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) recently received eight units of hybrid rubber-tired gantries (RTGs) that come with near-zero emission technology.
The RTGs run on a combination of lithium batteries and diesel engine, trimming emissions by as much as 70 percent compared to traditional units.
MICT estimates that its hybrid shift would cut fuel consumption by more than 761,800 liters yearly. Currently, the RTGs of MICT burn at least 644,600 liters of fuel annually.
ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonzalez said the company expects MICT to slash emissions by 1.97 kilotons as a result of deploying the new gantries. The move supports the company’s efforts to lower its carbon footprint in pursuit of sustainability goals.
“The arrival of these near-zero emission RTGs further underpins our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while enhancing operational capabilities,” Gonzalez said.
“These new RTGs will improve our productivity, lower our carbon emissions and provide better service to our customers,” he added.
The RTGs, manufactured by Japanese builder Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., rely on lithium batteries to power its motors, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
MICT is the largest operator of container-handling fleet in the Philippines, managing 18 quay cranes and 52 rubber-tired gantries. On top of fleet upgrades, the flagship unit of ICTSI is undertaking large-scale projects to expand its capacity.
These projects include the second phase construction of Berth 8 and preparatory works for Berth 9 and 10. Once built in 2027, Berth 8 will add 200,000 TEUs in yard capacity for MICT and the expansion can facilitate larger vessels of up to 18,000 TEUs.
ICTSI is spending for capacity and fleet improvements of the MICT to support its role as one of the country’s premier gateways for international trade.
ICTSI, owned by Enrique Razon Jr., is one of the largest port operators globally in the 50,000 to 3.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit per year range. The company boasts a portfolio of projects in six continents.