ATI to bid for Subic Naval Supply Depot project

Port operator Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) is planning to go ahead with Harbour Centre Port Terminals Inc.'s bid for Subic's Naval Supply Depot (NSD) project.

The company purchased the Request for Proposal (bidding by Swiss challenge) for the development, operations and management of the NSD, Boton, Alava, River and Bravo Wharfs,' ATI corporate secretary Rodolfo Corvite Jr. said.

HCPTI had earlier submitted an unsolicited offer to manage NSD and already signed a 25-year joint venture agreement with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) for the operation of the facility last month. SBMA kept the door open for other interested parties.

The company intends to make a counteroffer on or before April 4, the deadline of bid submission under the Swiss challenge.

In 2008, ATI and HCPTI battled for the right to operate the Mindanao Container Terminal. The contract was later awarded to a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc.

ATI and HCPTI then fought over the North Harbor. HCPTI bagged the contract after ATI failed to submit the necessary documents.

In another development, ATI said it was allocating P1.2- billion in capital expenditures this year to improve operations.

Earlier, the South Harbor operator ordered two new ship-to-shore cranes, manufactured by Liebherr. Operational next year, the cranes are capable of twin lifts of up to 60 tons.

In 2009, ATI posted a 36.6 percent growth in net income to P1.162 billion from P851 million in 2008.

For the same period in review, total revenues grew 6.4 percent to P4.212 billion from P3.959 billion due to higher port tariff and cargo volume.

Revenues from port operations also increased 3.6 percent to P3.695 billion from P3.568 billion. The 12 percent vessel-related cargo-handling rate hike approved last year by the Philippine Ports Authority resulted in a 2.9 percent growth in South Harbor revenues.

Non-port operation revenues jumped 32.4 percent to P517.6 million from P391 million. (PNA)