Saravanan's Blog

Mindanao International Container Terminal Services Inc. (MICTSI), a subsidiary of International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has secured a 25-year extension to operate and manage the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT).   The extension, awarded by the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority, allows MICTSI to continue managing the MCT until 2058.   Located within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, the MCT serves as a key gateway for trade in southern Philippines.   To enhance the terminal’s capacity and efficiency, MICTSI plans to invest more than US$100 million in infrastructure upgrades. The investment includes a 300-meter berth extension and the acquisition of new equipment to handle the expected growth in cargo volumes. These enhancements are projected to significantly boost the terminal’s annual capacity from its present 350,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).    The new berth will enable the shipping industry to deploy large...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) on 18 December announced executive-level personnel changes effective March 31 and April 1, 2025, and made nominations for Members of the Board to be proposed at the 100th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders scheduled on June 27, 2025. MHI also announced the appointment of current Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Eisaku Ito, as President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective April 1, 2025. He succeeds Seiji Izumisawa, who will take on the role of Chairman of the Board after six years as MHI's top executive. These appointments were approved at a meeting of MHI's Board of Directors held in Tokyo today. Mr. Ito will assume the role of President & CEO after serving as Executive Vice President, CTO, and Head of the Technology Strategy Office since April 2020, his latest position in a career that spans over 30 years at MHI. In a previous role, Mr. Ito promoted the development of a wide range of our company's technologies and...

Contecon Guayaquil S.A. (CGSA), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) Ecuadorian business unit, received the inaugural call of  Kota Eagle,  the largest and most modern container ship of Pacific International Lines (PIL). This marks a significant development for Ecuador’s foreign trade and confirms Guayaquil as a strategic port on global shipping routes.   The  Kota Eagle  features low environmental impact technology, operating entirely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) – one of the cleanest fuels on the planet. The technology highlights PIL’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Measuring 335 meters long with a capacity of 14,000 TEUs, the vessel is a prime example of innovation in sustainable shipping.   “We are proud to welcome the  Kota Eagle  to our terminal. This event reflects the confidence of important shipping companies such as PIL in our operational capacity, consolidating Guayaquil as an essential port for ...

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended that the US State Department adds Sri Lanka to a special watchlist for "severe violations of religious freedom" in its latest report.  The report states that in recent years, the Sri Lankan government has implemented discriminatory policies against religious minorities, and societal actors have increased violent attacks against religious minorities across the country. The findings of the report are based on a visit by the USCIRF delegation who travelled to Sri Lanka in October 2023 to assess religious freedom. This update in the report arises from their observations of the current precarious religious freedom conditions in Sri Lanka. Key observations from USCIRF’s trip include: religiously motivated land disputes, registration challenges, and the use of discriminatory legislation to target and detain religious minorities. The commission previously noted that the Sr...