VISAYAS Container Terminal (VCT), the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) operation at the Port of Iloilo, has welcomed the first arrival of Maersk’s PH6 service, expanding international shipping options for the Visayas region.
The service began at the terminal with the arrival of the vessel Maersk Bahamas, giving businesses in Panay and Western Visayas a direct link to major ports like Yantian in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
The route connects local cargo owners to markets across the Asia-Pacific, United States, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Shifting to this direct lane allows local importers and exporters to utilize the service’s transit structure to lower their overall logistics costs. By bypassing secondary domestic transshipment points, regional traders can ship goods out more efficiently.
“The addition of the PH6 service to VCT’s offerings highlights the terminal’s growing role in regional trade,” said John Largo, VCT chief executive officer. “It also reflects the trust in our capabilities as a modern gateway capable of seamlessly handling foreign container ships and providing customers with precise, reliable service.”
The Maersk PH6 service stops at the Iloilo terminal every Tuesday. The vessel operates on a fixed weekly port rotation that runs through Yantian (Shenzhen), Hong Kong, Batangas, Tagoloan (Cagayan Area), Cebu, Iloilo, and back to Yantian. This predictable schedule allows local businesses to plan their international supply chains with greater consistency.
The port facility features updated infrastructure designed to handle foreign container vessels and support regional freight traffic. Since taking over operations, the terminal has focused on upgrading its capacity to accommodate larger ships and accelerate cargo movement. These efficiency improvements help prevent delays for time-sensitive or perishable cargo moving through the port.
The terminal connects directly to the regional highway network, creating a faster transit corridor from local farms and landing sites to the sea lanes. This setup opens up better market access for Western Visayas’ main agriculture and fisheries exports. Local producers can now ship fresh seafood and agricultural goods to global consumer markets with less spoilage and lower freight expenses.
