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Port's North Access Channel open soon

by Manjula Fernando

The North Access Channel of the Colombo Port which had been closed since 1996 following the abortive terrorist attack will be opened for vessel movement in November this year.

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority commenced upgrading this access channel in December 2001 with a view to open it for vessel movement and ease the current congestion in cargo handling. The depth of the channel has now been increased from 11 metres to 13 metres to permit movement of main liners through the North Channel.

A senior official of the Ports Authority said yesterday opening of another access channel will assure increased efficiency in vessel movement and enhanced customer satisfaction.

The Rs.1.3 billion project to increase its depth was implemented by the SLPA so as to permit at least half of the larger vessels reaching the Port daily to move through the North channel.

He said close to 30 ships call at the Port everyday and over 3500 vessels have called last year of which 2691 were large container carriers.

Meanwhile the container throughput of the Colombo Port in September has increased by 24.9 per cent against the corresponding period the previous year. The Transshipment figure has also increased by 25.7 per cent.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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