Forklift News - PHILIPPINES PORTS GROW MATERIALS HANDLING FLEETS

PHILIPPINES -- Two major Philippines port operators have expanded their materials handling fleets ahead of an anticipated boom in cargo throughput in the region.

South Cobato Integrated Port Services Inc (SCIPSI) and Subic Bay International Terminal Corp (SBITC) have embarked on spending drives to boost their fleets.

SCIPSI, south of Manila, has purchased four heavy forklifts: two Kalmar machines of 15 tonnes and 25 tonnes capacity, an eight-tonne capacity Hyster and a 3.5-tonne capacity TCM. The company also has bought two reach stackers of 40-tonne capacity, five prime movers, two automatic spreaders, two hoppers, two clamshells, two livestock ramps and assorted stevedoring gears and cables. SCIPSI also runs nine Caterpillar and Toyota forklifts of up to three-tonne capacity.

The company would not disclose the amount spent on the new machines, but said it was bracing for a boom in cargo volume handled at the port.

SCIPSI sees the increasing tonnages of recent years continuing. There was a 10 per cent increase in containerised cargo from 113,409 TEUs in 1999 to 124,902 TEUs last year.

Meanwhile SBITC has expanded its forklift fleet with the purchase of a 30.5-tonne capacity Hitachi quay crane, three Kalmar and PPM reach stackers of 40-tonne capacity, and other heavy forklifts, including three TCM machines.

SBITC expects container volume to increase by at least 20 per cent this year. Since it began operating the Navao Supply Depot area of the Subic Bay Freeport late last year, the company has handled 10,607 TEUs of containerised cargo.

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