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News
SMEC
Secures
Key
Role
in
Manila
North
Harbour
Port
Upgrade
October 24, 2025
SMEC has been engaged by International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), one of the Philippines’ leading port operators and the largest shareholder in Manila North Harbour Port Inc. (MNHPI), to provide expert contract administration and site supervision services for the repair and upgrade of Manila North Harbour Port (Northport)— the Philippines’ largest domestic cargo and passenger gateway.

Manila North Harbour Port, along with Manila South Harbor which handles international cargo, and the Manila International Container Terminal which specialises in containerised cargo, make up the tri-port complex of Port of Manila.  Together, these facilities handle a substantial share of the country’s imports and exports—ranging from essential goods to key commodities—while supporting millions of jobs across logistics, shipping, and commerce, firmly establishing the port as a cornerstone of national growth and connectivity.

 

With domestic cargo and passenger demand continuing to rise, the upgrade of Northport’s Piers 14 and 16 (including the Marine Slipway) is critical to ensuring the port’s ongoing safe, reliable, and efficient operations.

 

The Manila North Harbour Port repair and upgrade project is planned for completion by mid-2028.

 

Strengthening Critical Port Operations

SMEC will manage construction delivery, providing engineering expertise to ensure safety, quality, and continuity of terminal operations throughout the project.  As Northport is one of the Philippines’ busiest marine terminals, this role is vital to maintaining minimal disruption to the port’s commercial operations.

 

SMEC brings extensive experience in asset management and supervision of similarly complex marine works across Asia and the Pacific with projects such as the Tuas Fingers 3 in Singapore, which involved land reclamation and caisson wall construction to enable future container operations; and the Port Lae Tidal Basin (Phase 2) in Papua New Guinea, which involved dredging and wharf expansion to boost port capacity.

 

Container ship sailing across the ocean

 

Location

Manila, Philippines

Client

International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)

Date

2025 – ongoing

Expertise
Ports & Maritime

 

This is SMEC’s first engagement with ICTSI. As a key client in our Ports and Maritime portfolio, we are proud to contribute to the safe and timely execution of this project, which directly supports Northport’s operational continuity and long-term asset resilience.
— Ramkrishna Darji, Regional Director, Ports & Maritime – Asia

Advancing Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

The upgrade of Northport’s ageing infrastructure is part of a wider multi-phase port modernisation program committed to positioning the Philippines as a world-class leader in efficient, resilient, and sustainable maritime logistics.

ICTSI’s choice to modernise existing port facilities over building new ones reflects a strong commitment to sustainable asset management and long-term value, and will deliver a range of long-term benefits:

  • Lifecycle efficiency: Extends asset life at a lower cost than new construction.
  • Climate resilience: Strengthens infrastructure against sea-level rise and extreme weather.
  • High ROI: industry benchmarking suggests resilient infrastructure can yield a benefit of 4:1 on upgrade costs.
  • Environmental protection: Minimises disruption to surrounding marine habitats and has a lower carbon footprint than new construction.
  • Operational continuity: Modernised assets deliver more reliable and cost-effective port operations.
  • Safety: Reduced risks for workers and port users through improved structural integrity and safety standards.
This project reflects our ability to deliver trusted, expert supervision in high-pressure environments where safety, time, and operational continuity are key. We’re proud to be supporting ICTSI on such a critical piece of national infrastructure.
— Ricardo Acosta JR, Ports & Maritime Manager – Philippines

The Manila North Harbour Port upgrade reflects a shared commitment between ICTSI and SMEC to deliver resilient, sustainable infrastructure that supports the Philippines’ growing domestic trade demands. By extending the life of critical assets and minimising environmental impact, the project ensures Northport remains a reliable and efficient link in the country’s logistics network. As works progress toward expected completion in 2028, SMEC is proud to play a key role in safeguarding operational continuity and contributing to the long-term success of one of the nation’s most vital transport hubs.

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