The Syrian Government recently granted Tartous International Container Terminal (TICT) the authority to handle transshipment, making TICT the first and only terminal in the country to handle transshipment.
Romeo A. Salvador, TICT chief executive officer and general manager, is confident that the terminal can easily handle the increase in activities that will be brought about by transshipment: “From day 1, we have rolled out an investment program to upgrade the facilities, equipment and manpower skills of the terminal. All these are in place, and we have excess capacity to handle transshipment.”
Nevertheless, Salvador says that TICT continues to fine-tune its operations while plowing in additional investments: “TICT continuously improves its operations particularly our systems, and the upgrade of port equipment for more accurate and faster service. We also constantly train our people to be more efficient and competent.”
As of date, TICT moves containers at 18 moves per hour per crane using two mobile harbor cranes. Productivity is projected to increase to 25 moves per hour per crane as two more quay cranes will be added by June 2009.
Salvador also cites the ideal location of Tartous: “The location of Tartous, some 260 kilometers away from Damascus, makes it the ideal gateway to Syrian trade. We also expect hinterland cargo from Iraq and Jordan to benefit from the transshipment.”
“TICT is now working to turn this transit trade into more efficient and cost-effective actions. The establishment of dry ports at the border of Syria and Iraq should add support to this trade,” Salvador continues.
TICT is a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a leading developer of international ports and terminals with a global port network spanning 11 countries in four continents. Headquartered in the Philippines, ICTSI is on its 20th year of operation, and continues to pursue container terminal opportunities around the world.
