Total tonnage handled in Colombo Port increased

The Total tonnage handled in the Colombo Port during the first six months this year has increased to 16,746 as against figures of 14,755 in the corresponding period in 2004 reflecting an increase of 13.5%, the Ports and Aviation Ministry said.

In a bid to boost its image as the pre-eminent load center (hub) of South Asia, on the advice of Ports and Aviation Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Dileepa Wijesundara has launched a major program to enhance productivity at JCT, the flagship terminal of the Colombo port.

The Colombo Port has reported a total container throughput of 1,173,726 TEUs recording a 14.1% growth during the first half of 2005 as against 10.4% growth in the corresponding period a year ago. Transshipment container throughput which accounted for 66% of the total Colombo volume has reported an increase of 11.3%

The above container growth momentum in Colombo Port was mainly attributable to better performance at JCT. The SLPA was able to maintain a continuous higher growth rate within the first six months this year in comparison to the last year. It is all the more important when it compared with the minus growth rate in corresponding period of the year 2004.

Dry Bulk tonnage had recorded a growth of 36.8%. This is mainly due to the significant increase in bulk fertiliser, cement, clinker and gypsum imports. The Break Bulk tonnage had declined by 1.1 % mainly due to the considerable decrease in the imports of sugar.

However the Break Bulk tonnage of cement and fertiliser handled had increased. Containerised tonnage and Liquid Bulk tonnage has increased by 14.9% and 0.6 % respectively during the period under review.

A comparison of ship arrivals during the first six months in 2005 with the corresponding period last year, reflects that the conventional vessel arrivals had increased from 284 to 313 by 10.2% whilst vessels called for other purposes such as bunkering, repairs and chandelling had increased to 40 registering an increase of 21.2%

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority also has been able to exceed the last years corresponding total volume by 107,869 TEUs during the first six months in 2005. Out of this total an increase of 71.3% ( 76,876 TEUs ) was accounted by transshipment category.