The Philippines: Korea-based shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries has recently completed the ‘APL Bahrain’ at its facility at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales.  

International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) serviced the ‘APL Bahrain’, the largest vessel to dock in the Philippines, on the vessel’s maiden voyage when it called at two of ICTSI’s Philippine terminals:  the New Container Terminal-1 (NCT-1) in Subic Bay Freeport, and the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT).

MICT can accommodate four to six containerships at one time at its 1,300-metre straight wharf.

ICTSI is further improving MICT’s capacity and facilities with the ongoing Berth 6 project, which will expand the MICT to a further 14 hectares, 375 metres of berth, and additional equipment of three QCs. Eight RTGs were recently delivered for the project.

NCT-1 is an alternative port to the Port of Manila serving trade in the northern and central regions of the island of Luzon especially industrial locators in Subic.  It is also being primed as an alternative hub for transshipment in Southeast Asia.     

Singapore-based American President Lines (APL) deployed the 4,330TEU capacity vessel. The 259.8-metre ‘APL Bahrain’s’ next port of call is Hong Kong.