Subic Bay International Terminals (SBITC), International Container Terminal Services, Inc.’s (ICTSI) operation in Zambales, recently welcomed the arrival of a new service expanding the Port of Subic’s connectivity to South China and Vietnam. The South China Vietnam Philippines (SVP) service made its inaugural call at the Port of Subic on June 9 with the arrival of the Danum 175, a 1,200-TEU boxship operated by Emirates Shipping Line (ESL). A new player in the Philippine market, ESL operates the SVP service, together with ASEAN Sea Line (ASL) and Pacific International Line (PIL). The feeder service makes weekly calls to Subic and caters to the growing trade requirements of South China and Vietnam. It also facilitates the free trade agreement between the Philippines and other Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership members including Vietnam, which faces a growing demand for agriculture and manufacturing exports. “The service offers a good opportunity to Northern and Central Luzon traders, who can leverage the increased connectivity to markets in Vietnam and China,” remarked Henry Dungca, SBITC terminal manager. The SVP service rotation goes from the Chinese ports of Shekou, Nansha then Xiamen to Manila North then Subic, back to Xiamen, Shekou, Nansha, then Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and back to Shekou. With the addition of the SVP service and ESL, SBITC now caters to more than a dozen weekly services and major shipping lines. In 2007, under the Subic Port Development Project, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) awarded ICTSI subsidiary Subic Bay International Terminal Corp. (SBITC) the concession for the New Container Terminal (NCT) 1, with commercial operations starting 2008. In 2011, under the Subic Port Project’s second phase, SBMA awarded ICTSI Subic, Inc. the concession to operate NCT 2. Increasing volumes at the Subic Bay Freeport enabled ICTSI to streamline and interface the operations of NCT 1 and 2. The merged operations are ready to serve an improving local economy in Central and Northern Luzon regions, alongside with its continued support to facilitate the box market of Metro Manila.