DP World and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) have announced the opening of Tanza Barge Terminal in Cavite to facilitate smoother and faster transport for goods and raw materials to and from the capital via sea barging.
Located within the newly designated MetroCas Industrial Estates Special Economic Zone, Tanza Barge Terminal is designed to handle almost 240,000 TEUs annually and will be managed by ATI-subsidiary Tanza Container Terminal Incorporated.
In the face of ongoing road congestion issues, Tanza Barge Terminal offers cargo owners a more efficient and sustainable alternative to trucking. With its container yard, causeway, berth, jetty, breakwater and deck facilities, the barge terminal is projected to save around 150,000 truck trips yearly.
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 x 40ft laden containers each way, with plans for future expansion of services. The barge berth has two fixed harbor cranes, with the 4-hectare yard complemented by two reach stackers and four internal transfer vehicles.
The terminal is also registered as a Customs Facility and Warehouse under the Philippines’ Bureau of Customs.
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said: “Tanza Barge Terminal is a fantastic example of how DP World collaborates with its partners across the world 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 Asia Pacific and around the world.”
Eusebio Tanco, President, ATI, 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, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said: “The proclamation of MetroCas Industrial Estates as a special economic zone earlier this month was meant to catalyse 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, Commissioner, Bureau of Customs, said: “Tanza Barge Terminal’s accreditation as a Customs Facility and Warehouse is testament to its adherence to international best practices for the import and storage of finished goods and raw materials. 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 modernisation of the Batangas Port as a full integrated port gateway and the continued optimisation of operations at Manila South Harbor. The latest partnership in Cavite leverages DP World’s experience in building supply chain networks globally and ATI’s local port operations capabilities.
DP World and ATI have also been making 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 non-governmental organisations.
