SNPSI offers new opportunities to FAB locators with new port

MARIVELES, Bataan – Locators at the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) will soon be able to directly ship their products to Manila and outside the country with the construction of Seasia Nectar Port Services, Inc.’s (SNPSI) Mariveles Dry Bulk Terminal.

SNPSI, a joint venture company between Seasia Logistic Philippines, Inc. and Nectar Group Ltd., officially started the development of the 11.4-hectare port with a recently held groundbreaking ceremony.

SNPSI Chairman Ramon Atayde, Bataan Cong. Enrique “Tet” Garcia, Gov. Albert Raymond Garcia and Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) Chairman and Administrator Deogracias Custodio led the event, which was conducted a year after the firm completed its feasibility study on the terminal operations.

Mr. Atayde said that the planned dry bulk terminal is designed to handle shipment of coal, clinker, silica sand and other cement raw materials, steel, fertilizer and other dry bulk cargo. SNPSI will also build facilities for warehousing, stevedoring, lightering and towing of cargo.

The SNPSI chairman noted that the port would be built and operated according to the international health, safety and environmental standards of clients. “We will ensure that the facility will meet the clients’ standards and employ efficient and proper cargo handling methods to avoid any impact to the environment,” he added.

The construction of the terminal will be done in 3 phases, according to a SNPSI report. The first phase includes the development of a 5.9-hectare port facility that has a 247-meter quay with a 13.5 meters draft.

Phase 1 will accommodate two vessels of about 120 meters long, or one supramax/panama vessel, as well as handle a capacity of at least 3 million tons per year. The second and third phases will expand the bulk terminal to accommodate another two vessels or one supramax/panama vessel.

Commercial operations of the new port are set in 2016 as SNPSI said that it would need at least one year to totally develop the terminal’s facilities.