Bruneian box terminal sees 7% increase in box volumes

Brunei Darussalam's Muara Container Terminal (MCT) handled 7% more box volumes at in the first quarter (Q1) compared to a year ago, said terminal operator New Muara Container Terminal Services Sdn. Bhd. (NMCTS) on Friday.

The terminal handled 20,109 TEU in Q1 2010 compared to 18,878 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) in 2009, NMCTS revealed as it celebrated its first anniversary of operations at the terminal.

NMCTS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Philippine-based port operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) took over operations at MCT from the Brunei Ports Department in May 2009 and intends to lease the facility until May 2013.

"ICTSI's entry into Brunei is not only a model of a successful public-private sector partnership but also a testimony to the cooperation between two peoples, Bruneians and Filipinos working together towards a common objective," said Jose Manuel M. de Jesus, ICTSI vice president for business development and NMCTS managing director.

"We are glad to be Brunei's private sector partner of choice, and are committed to making the MCT a key port in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area," added Rico T. Cruz, NMCTS general manager.

The MCT has a terminal area of five hectares, a 12 meter controlling depth, 250 meter berth equipped with two quay cranes, a 72,500 square meter (m²) container yard with a reefer facility of 145 reefer points, a 5,000 m² container freight station, and a four-lane gate and gatehouse.

The terminal, estimated to handle an annual capacity of 220,000 TEUs, is located at the estuary of the Brunei River, 20 kilometers from the Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan.