DP World, ATI unveil Tanza barge terminal
IN a bid to streamline cargo movement in Cavite, DP World and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) recently unveiled the Tanza Barge Terminal. This innovative facility leverages sea barging to expedite the transport of goods and raw materials between the capital and surrounding areas.
Located within the newly designated MetroCas Industrial Estates Special Economic Zone, Tanza Barge Terminal is designed to handle almost 240,000 TEUs annually. It will be managed by ATI-subsidiary Tanza Container Terminal Inc.
Bypassing road congestion, the Tanza Barge Terminal offers a sustainable alternative for cargo owners. With its comprehensive infrastructure, it’s projected to eliminate 150,000 truck trips annually.
The Tanza Barge Terminal offers a smarter and more sustainable way of transporting containers to cargoowners via barges connected to Manila South Harbor. PHOTO FROM ATI
Initially, three weekly trips will shuttle containers between Tanza Barge Terminal and Manila South Harbor (also operated by ATI), with each leg able to carry around 100 laden containers each way, with plans for future expansion of services. The barge berth has two fixed harbor cranes, with the 10-hectare yard complemented by two reach stackers and three internal transfer vehicles.
The terminal is also registered as a customs facility and warehouse under the Bureau of Customs.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, said: “Tanza Barge Terminal is a fantastic example of how DP World collaborates with its partners worldwide to enhance trade networks through smart, market-responsive solutions. As strategic partners, DP World and ATI have developed a long-term solution that addresses urgent customer needs and fosters economic development across the country.
“Apart from connecting different parts of the local supply chain ecosystem, we are confident that this innovative sea transport system will serve as a template for how domestic seaways can be transformed into economic superhighways elsewhere in the Asia Pacific and around the world.”
Eusebio Tanco, ATI President, said: “We are very pleased to offer an innovative and transformative trade solution for the Philippine supply chain. Through our partnership with DP World, Tanza Barge Terminal brings shipment faster and smarter to beneficial cargo owners, which in turn fast-tracks production cycles and, on a bigger scale, stimulates local economic activity, particularly in the industrial growth corridor of Cavite.
“This is a perfect complement to the government’s push for inclusive and sustainable growth anchored on trade facilitation and job generation initiatives in partnership with local and international stakeholders.”
Tereso Panga, director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), said: “The proclamation of MetroCas Industrial Estates as a special economic zone earlier this month was meant to catalyze sound and balanced development by generating jobs, exports and economic opportunities for its surrounding communities.
“The opening of Tanza Barge Terminal by DP World and ATI represents a vote of confidence in the new special economic zone, with an investment that will not only spur growth in the area but also bolster trade more widely around the Philippines. By establishing a direct sea link between Cavite and Manila, the new barge terminal offers a vital conduit for the efficient movement of goods, thereby boosting development within and beyond the export zone.”
Bienvenido Rubio, Bureau of Customs commissioner, said: “Tanza Container Terminal is a pivotal gateway that will enable trade and forge improved logistics services and efficient cargo movement, all while securing the integrity of global supply chains and driving economic growth. With the launch of this new facility, DP World and ATI are elevating standards for cargo processing and warehousing in the Philippines, and we look forward to their continued efforts to smoothen trade operations and reduce logistical bottlenecks in Cavite and beyond.”
DP World in the Philippines
DP World became the strategic foreign equity partner of ATI in 2006. This partnership has resulted in the modernization of the Batangas Port as a fully integrated port gateway and the continued optimization of operations at Manila South Harbor. The latest partnership in Cavite leverages DP World’s global experience in building supply chain networks and ATI’s local port operations capabilities.
DP World and ATI have also made a positive difference in the community through sustainability programs anchored on children, water, and women.
These include academic scholarships for underserved segments of society, watershed reforestation and mangrove plantation, Manila Bay rehabilitation, and women empowerment programs in partnership with government and nongovernmental organizations.