(ICTSI photo)
Global port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) is nearing the completion of pier upgrades at its premier domestic cargo terminal as it prepares for the long-term growth of trade between Manila and the rest of the archipelago.
ICTSI, through Northport, is making steady progress on the structural strengthening of Pier 14 at the terminal as part of its three-year upgrade program.
Northport completed structural works on the second and third 42.5-meter segments of the pier ahead of schedule, according to the company.
This improvement work aims to reinforce the wharf of Terminal 1 as part of a broader effort to enhance its structural integrity and seismic resilience.
By the end of February, wharf-strengthening works on Pier 14 had moved to the fourth and final 52.5-meter segment.
Northport is now working on resurfacing the remaining deck area, repairing above-deck damage, and upgrading the existing fender system to support safer vessel berthing.
“These activities are being carried out in parallel to minimize disruptions to ongoing operations,” it said.
The company will then move to additional structural works, with the completion of the remaining phases of the terminal upgrade program set for next year.
The end goal of the program is to support “long-term domestic trade growth while maintaining safe and reliable operations.”
At the heart of ICTSI’s domestic operations, Northport primarily handles domestic trade at the Port of Manila through passenger transport, inter-island shipping, and container-handling services.
For the year, the company is raising its capital expenditures by 14 percent to $740 million from last year’s allocation of $650.44 million.
Part of this funding will go to ongoing developments at the Manila International Container Terminal and Manila North Harbour Port Inc., as well as the Mindanao Container Terminal and South Luzon Container Terminal.
Despite uncertainties in global trade, ICTSI reported that its profits reached $1.05 billion in 2025, up 23 percent from $849.80 million the previous year.