TICT becomes Syria’s first transshipment port

Romeo A. Salvador, TICT chief executive officer and general manager, is confident that the terminal can easily handle the expected increase in activities. “From day 1 we rolled out an investment programme to upgrade the facilities, equipment and manpower skills of the terminal. All these are in place and we have excess capacity to handle transshipment,” he said.

Salvador added that TICT continues to fine tunes and improves its operations and is continuing to invest in the upgrade of port equipment for more accurate and faster service. Currently TICT achieves 18 container moves per hour/crane using two mobile harbor cranes but productivity is projected to increase to 25 moves per hour/crane with the addition of two more quay cranes in June this year.

“The location of Tartous, some 260 kilometers away from Damascus, makes it the ideal gateway to Syrian trade. We also expect hinterland cargo from Iraq and Jordan to benefit from the transshipment, with the establishment of dry ports at the border of Syria and Iraq adding support to this trade,” Salvador continued.