Shipping

SLPA commences bunkering operations

Hiran H. SENEWIRATNE

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said yesterday that it had started bunkering operations in Colombo Port through a newly established subsidiary, its sources said.

The JCT Ltd. Oil Bank, a fully owned subsidiary company of the SLPA received its first parcel of bunker fuel oil for storage this week. Therefore, bunkering business have become one of the lucrative business, due to the on going demand that call to the Colombo Port.

JCT Oil Bank took over the oil tank farm owned by Lanka Marine Services (LMS), a unit of the John Keells Holdings (JKH) group, on a court order earlier this month.

A port statement said the JCT Ltd. Oil Bank has entered into agreements with seven of the eight bunker licence holders for the use of the oil bank.

LMS had earlier held an effective monopoly on ship fuel sales in Colombo port as it owned the only onshore storage facility. But the court recently ruled that JKH had acquired illegal benefits when it bought LMS in a privatisation exercise that the court said was flawed. It ordered LMS to return the tanks to the port and to pay back taxes.

The JCT Ltd. Oil Bank, a fully owned subsidiary company of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) which took over the Lanka Marine Services Oil Facility at Bloemendhal received its first parcel of Bunker Fuel Oil for storage. Todate the JCT Ltd.

Oil Bank has entered into agreements with seven of the eight Bunker Licence Holders for the utilisation of the Oil Bank. Within a very short period of 16 days since Lanka Marine Services vacated the premises in keeping with the recent order of the Supreme Court and within three days of signing of the agreements with the various Bunker Licence Holders the JCT Ltd.

Oil Bank has been able to accommodate their request to allocate space within the tanks to store Bunker Fuel Oils. To coincide with this momentous and auspicious day, the employees of the Oil Bank organized inter religious functions at the facility to invoke the blessings of the deities for the smooth and efficient functioning of the Oil Bank.

Minister of Port, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management, Chamal Rajapaksha, Actg. Chairman of Sri Lanka Ports Authority Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama, Managing Director of SLPA Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, CEO of JCT Ltd. Mr W.G. Samaratunga, Harbour Master Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, Senior Dy. Harbour Master Capt. A. Hewavitharana also participated for the functions.

CASA trainees to cater shipping needs

CASA Training Course for ships' agency personnel was held recently.

The course, through the years, has been specifically designed for middle management personnel in Ship Agency houses to be trained and enthused to work with "best practices" in their field of activity. The end goal is that Sri Lankan Ships' Agents will be able to deliver the "best service standards" to the International Ship Owners / Ship Management Communities.

This being the 15th Training Course, since 1995, CASA & CINEC together, have now released to the Industry nearly 700 well trained management personnel in the Shipping Industry who have achieved the competence to deliver world class agency service to their Principals.

CASA continues to strive to serve its Membership in encouraging trained personnel to market their knowledge and skills in shipping towards attracting more traffic to the Port of Colombo, thus contributing to growth in volume and in our economy.

With the construction of the South Harbour Project and Hambantota Port Project which is well ahead of schedule, CASA has identified the need to have more personnel trained in the shipping agency sector and has taken steps towards supporting agency companies with suitable candidates.

We are also proud that some of the candidates who have passed out from this Academy are holding management positions in reputed shipping agencies in Sri Lanka and have also been able to gain employment overseas in management level positions. CINEC and CASA should be proud of these candidates and I am sure this is an inspiration for future candidates who intend pursuing their career in their respective academic fields.

LHI wins Silver for Export of Knowledge at NCE awards

Lanka Hydraulic Institute (LHI) takes home the "National Exporter of the Year" Silver Award for 2007, in the Export of Business and Professionals Services category at the 16th Annual National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka Award ceremony held at Colombo Hilton recently. The NCE Export Award ceremony which is held annually is where all local exporters of the country are acknowledged for their contribution to the economy through their export superiority.

LHI majors in the Export of Knowledge through Consultancy services in Coastal Engineering, Water Resources and Urban Water related designs and studies.

A Sri Lankan Company working internationally, LHI has worked on projects ranging from Algeria to South Korea with projects in Eritrea, UAE, Bhutan, Brunei, and India and also on many projects in the Maldives. Armed with a team of expert Engineers whose experience encompass coastal, urban water and water resource engineering, LHI strives to achieve its vision of becoming a leading and preferred water environment laboratory and consultant in the Asian region and beyond.

LHI has also undertaken local projects such as Colombo South Harbour, Hambantota Sea Port Development, Hikkaduwa Fisheries Harbor, and the Norochcholai Project on which the company is currently working on.

The testing and studies required for projects are carried out in LHI's own state-of-the-art flume and model basin located in the Company premises in Katubedda. Equipped with IP cameras, the client

gains easy visual access to the laboratory to check on the progress of the project, from anywhere in the world. Other IT facilities such as, virtual joint work spaces within the Company's intranet also makes LHI an easy to work with organization.

Port work floats in H'tota seas

Gunapala RANASINGHE

Ports and Shipping Minister Chamal Rajapaksa informed the shipping community that the work in the first stage of the newest port in Sri Lanka at Hambanthota is expected to complete in the year 2010. He noted that already, 30% of the task has seen completion.

Congratulating Ariyaseela Wickramanayake for spearheading the success of Master Divers over 30 eventful years, the Minister revealed that the enthusiasm of Wickramanayake helped to expedite the work at Hambanthota Port significantly.

Minister expressed confidence that with the developments, shipping community could expect to be benefited by way of catering larger ships of the world.