shipping

SLPA new terminal in the offing

Hiran H. Senewiratne

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) intends to build and operate a container terminal in the planned new deep-draft port being built next to Colombo's existing harbour.

Construction work on the long-delayed port is underway with dredging of the new harbour basin and rock stockpiling for the breakwater being done. The SLPA is planning to build one terminal, not necessarily the first terminal. It depends on the RFP (request for proposals), a senior official said.

The Asian Development Bank has loaned the bulk of the funds for the infrastructure work on condition that the first terminal be built and operated by the private sector.

A request for proposals (RFP) inviting private sector investors to build the first container terminal in the new port, which has been repeatedly postponed, will be made soon, its sources said.. Despite the delays in issuing the RFP, there was still enough time as work on building the new terminal must start by November 2009.

The RFP, which was issued last year and then cancelled in a controversy of selection of bidders, was originally to have been issued by August or September. The top contenders were the world's biggest container terminal operators, Port of Singapore Authority and Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings.

The project team and cabinet-appointed negotiating committee had finalised the fresh bid document for the new Colombo port which was now being examined by the attorney-general, the top government legal officer.

The shipping industry has expressed fears that the repeated delays in building the new port to handle newer and biggest ships could cause Colombo to lose business. The efficiency at the state-run container terminals was adequate although it was hampered by aging machinery like cranes which are being replaced, its sources said.

SLPA workers can do a good job. They can now do 40 container moves per hour, sources said

Container moves from ship to shore or vice versa is one measure of efficiency in container terminal operations and can depend on a number of factors like the number of cranes deployed on a ship and the way boxes are stowed onboard.

It is said that the acquisition of new equipment should improve productivity at the Jaya Container Terminal, the main transhipment facility at Colombo port.

Newly acquired tank farm to be developed

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) plans to increase storage of ship fuels at its newly acquired tank farm near Colombo port by building more tanks.

The authority is also going to replace an aging network of pipelines connecting the tank farm with the port a senior official said. The port took over the bunker fuel tanks from private operator Lanka Marine Services (LMS) on a court order last month that said the facility must be opened for use by all licensed bunker suppliers.

It is said the SLPA has signed agreements with seven of the eight bunkering license holders and that it would sign up others later.

The SLPA plans to add two more storage tanks with a capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes each to expand the facility to cater to the suppliers of bunker fuels. "Bunkering licence holders have agreed to advance money to the SLPA to help build the new tanks,"sources said.

The tank has now has a capacity of 30,000 tonnes.

Bunker suppliers have said the existing capacity is not enough to meet the needs of all suppliers in Colombo port.

"The SLPA tank farm will operate as an oil bank," sources said. "Bunker suppliers will be able to store their fuels and withdraw from the tank farm when required.," its sources said.

It is expects the new arrangement to increase the availability of ship fuels in Colombo port as well as bring down prices.

Prices are expected to come down because of more competition. So bunkering in Colombo port will increase.

Gold-laden wrecked ship to be salvaged

A gold-laden, 500-year-old Portuguese shipwreck discovered by chance off Namibia will be salvaged by the end of next week, the Ministry of Culture in Lisbon said Wednesday.

A team of archaeologists from Portugal, the United States and Zimbabwe are working to raise the wreck before October 10 - the deadline set by Namibian government officials owing to huge costs involved.

Last week, the Namibian culture ministry said the rescue operation was costing some 100,000 Namibian dollars (12,500 US dollars, 8,500 euros) per day. All that is keeping the wreck intact is an artificial sand wall created by mine workers with bulldozers to push back the sea for diamond dredging.

However, the Portuguese government said that its "fundamental interest" is "to guarantee the complete protection" of the ship and the adjacent sea-bed's remaining cargo. The ship was found in April during the diamond dredging operation.

It contained over 2,300 gold coins weighing some 21 kilograms, six bronze cannons, silver, several tonnes of copper, huge elephant tusks and a variety of weapons - all tugged out of the sand.

Experts believe more treasure will be found under its resting place when the salvage operation is complete.

The statement said the rescue work should have been finished by October 2, but recent bad weather would now delay completion until tomorrow.

"The relics will be rescued by the expected date for the end of the operations," a spokesman for the Portuguese Ministry of Culture told AFP. The abundance of objects unearthed where the ship ran aground along Namibia's notorious Skeleton coast, where hundreds of vessels were wrecked over the centuries, has amazed even hardened experts.

Under international maritime laws, a wreck and its treasures belong to the country where they were found, and the initial haul of coins is now locked in the vaults of the Bank of Namibia in Windhoek.

The government said it plans at some point to mount an exhibition of the findings and later erect a special museum in Oranjemund to house the incredible collection. AFP

Ceynor successfully meets Indian boat offer

Anuradha KODAGODA

Ceynor Foundation has successfully completed a project offered by the Indian government to manufacture multi day boats.

The project was offered to the Ceynor Foundation based on their sound track record on timely deliverance. The project to the tune of US $ one million was to manufacture 17 multi-day boats.

The project was a CSR project of the Indian government targeting the fisher community in the Batticaloa district. The Indian government wanted the project to be completed within six months, and Ceynor was able to meet the deadline.

Due to the successful completion of the project several other international orders are expected.

Under the Conversion of Public Corporations or Government Owned Business Undertaking into Public Companies Act No. 23 of 1987, the Cey-Nor Foundation Limited was incorporated as a Public Limited Liability Company.

The Company was given the mandate to take over and continue the business of the Government Owned Business Undertaking of Cey-Nor Development Foundation Limited which had begun operations in 1967 as a nonprofit organisation dedicated to enhancing the education and welfare of the domestic fishing community.

CP World Group opens office in Colombo

CP World Group with headquarters in Singapore is one of the leading cargo consolidators in the global shipping arena.

The Chairman of the CP World Group thought of opening its own office in Colombo and as a result CP World Lanka will be opened tomorrow.

CP World Lanka board of directors has appointed experienced Nilantha Kosgahakumbura as its General Manager. Kosgahakumbura said he was happy to be a part of the CP World Group as it has a relationship specialised in consolidation and multi country consolidation.

An international organisation managed by a spectrum of experienced nationalities is strived to offer the clients unsurpassed service quality while providing solutions that enhanced their business needs with over 400 staff backed by 23 own offices in 17 countries, the CP World Group comprises of management leadership with each locality of its operations by providing a network with broadest geographical coverage.

CP World Group starts with two investors with cargo consolidation experience for many years found a common objective in an unlikely place in the deserts of UAE.

The idea grew better between them and, an alliance was formed. Acting on the success of the humble beginning, CP World offices spring from the most unlikely places.

Expanding further from the deserts of UAE into Europe, the Americas, the golden triangular in Asia and the booming Indian sub continent.

The Group has the ability to connect cargo across six continents within one organisation with professional worldwide partners geared up to offer a total logistics solution.

The latest technology such as online booking, track and trace gives the advantage to clients to keep them updated on their valuable cargo.