An isolated control area has been created at the Manila International Container Terminal for dangerous or hazardous cargoes.

The area has been designed by International Container Terminal Services to control and regulate the movement of dangerous cargo from the terminal to other areas outside the security-compliant port zone.

Apart from quarantining dangerous cargoes within the port area, the new facility provides a safer working environment for forklift operators handling hazardous materials such as chemicals and inflammables.

The new 10,500-square metre area of open and closed storage warehouses can accommodate 500 full container loads of dangerous cargo stacked four rows at two tiers per block.

The facility is complete with a safety and emergency response equipment including a three-tonne forklift and reach stacker. Its operations are computer-based providing fast, efficient and real time cargo monitoring.

Construction of the new hazardous cargo handling facility is part of ICTSI's expansion and development projects in the Philippines and abroad. The company recently received a loan grant of P1billion (USD20 million) from the United Coconut Planters Bank.

ICTSI operates container ports in Brazil and in Poland, as well as four ports throughout the Philippines.