Shipping

Bourbon offshore, France at Colombo Dockyard

To repair facility in Asian region:

Offshore Support Vessel Bourbon Thalie called in for emergency drydocking repairs due to shaft leakage during June 2009. This offshore support vessel is owned by Bourbon Offshore, one of the biggest offshore fleet owners in the world. This is the first instance the Bourbon Offshore, France has utilised repair facilities in Colombo.

OSV Bourbon Thalie in Dock No. 01 during her second docking to complete the repairs.

During this call extensive work package was executed, where the vessel had to be accommodated in drydock twice, initially for inspection and thereafter completion of the work after arrival of spare parts.

The main scope consisted of complicated trouble shooting and machining work on the controllable pitch propellers system. This required precision machining work and new blade roots were brought from makers and assembled on the hubs. This critical work was carried out under OEM supervision. All three Side Thrusters were overhauled.

Tank Gaging system was calibrated. An Antenna pedestal was fabricated and mounted on the monkey bridge. The routine drydocking related repairs were also carried out during this call.

Yard's pragmatic and flexible approach was the key to successful completion of this project meeting the owner's requirements.

The attending Superintendents Rajiv Tewani and Nicolas Receveur looked after the owners interests.

The repairs were carried out to the classification requirements of Bureau Veritas (BV). Husbanding work for this drydocking call was handled by local agents McLarens Shipping Ltd. Vessels Particulars: LOA: 64.00 Meters / Beam: 16.00 Meters / GRT: 2041.

Colombo's faster turn around time and her strategic location and service quality and flexibility in handling emergency repairs are some of the major aspects that attract many international ship owners to Sri Lanka / Colombo. The shipyard has been fine tuning her service package to meet with the offshore support vessel requirements, dedicating Dock No. 1 and 3.

In the recent past many international Offshore support vessel owners such as Tidewater International-USA, Great Offshore-India, Greatship-India, Shipping Corporation of India and SBS Marine-UK. Bourbon Offshore is the latest addition to experience the warm friendly and efficient service in Colombo.

Crucial year ahead, says SLPA chairman

The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) held a ceremony at the Chaithya premises recently to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Chairman of SLPA Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said that following a careful study into the current financial status of the SLPA partly due to the global recession, it was decided to celebrate the 30th anniversary without unnecessary expenditure in view to the prevailing situation.

He said that all who contributed towards the development of SLPA during the past 30 years are deeply remembered.

Amidst this huge global financial crisis there a crucial year ahead for us where we have launched several mega port development projects aiming at facilitating a greater portion of the overall economic development of the country, the Chairman of SLPA Priyath B. Wickrama said. The SLPA is confident that most of these projects will see their completion of relevant stages ahead the set schedules through the year to come.

The function that held offering priority to multi religious activities was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Ports Ranjith Silva, the Working Director of SLPA Prasanna Kalutharage, the Directors, Heads of Divisions, a number of Executive Officers, Union Members, Staff and employees of SLPA.

The SLPA inaugurated its biggest infrastructure development project namely the Colombo Port Expansion Project to facilitate the increasing demand for the marine traffic in the region on December 18, 2006.

Project consists of Construction of 5140m long Main Breakwater, 1090m long Secondary Breakwater, Diversion of Submarine Oil Pipe Line, Utility Services, Navigation Aids, etc. Hyundai Engineering Construction & Co Ltd and Consultant is Scott Wilson Ltd are working in a joint venture as the contractor of the project.

The project is partly funded by the Asian Development Bank under a cost value of US$ 345 million. The Asian Development bank invest 81 percent of this total cost value while the SLPA invest the balance.

At present, the construction of breakwaters each of 940 m and 300 m in length at the Hambantota Port Development Project are nearly 65 percent completed while a cofferdam enclosing the harbour basin area, facilitating excavation under dry condition is fully completed.

Excavation both soft and hard material inside the harbour basin is in progress and more than 25 percent of the total volume have already removed.

Caisson type quay wall is being constructed for both general cargo and service berths. Dredging/blasting work of the access channel is in progress while a large land area being improved behind the quay wall for the use yards.

A total of an overall progress of about 35 percent has been achieved in the construction process of the Hambantota Port Project. Meanwhile under the constructions of Phase I of the Rehabilitation of the Port of Galle a Yacht Marina - Berthing facilities for 20 Yachts (15m long and 3m draft), a Yacht berthing facility at the South Breakwater for 30 Yachts, a services and repair facility with a workshop, a duty free shop, cafe and club house with WI-FI facilities, a launderette and a building for Shower and Toilet facilities will be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 125 million.

Under the constructions of Phase II additional berthing facilities for 30 Yachts, a 300m berth of 9m draft for passenger vessels, a yacht lifting facility and a car park and a dry berthing facility will be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs. 3,175 million.

In addition the yachts berthing facility will be extended to accommodate more yachts with anticipated increase of yacht traffic by the enhancement of facilities for yachts in phase I. Improvement at the beginning of northern side of the Chinese Pier to accommodate lifting facility for yachts will also be carried out at the phase II of the project.

To form the southeastern link in the developing chain of coastal harbours in the country and to provide more convenient and cost effective access to and from the southeastern region for goods and cargo originating on the west coast SLPA implemented the Oluvil Port Project on July 01, 2008.

The project comprises the construction of a Commercial harbour and a basin for the fishing crafts and it covers a land area of 60ha in the first stage and 105ha in the second stage.

The harbour basin would cover an area of 16ha of the sea and would spread 1.2km along the coast line.

Dealer network in strategic locations:

Serendib Logistics strengthens sea and air cargo business

Serendib Logistics Worldwide Ltd, a leading local courier company is strengthening its sea and air cargo business by appointing a dealer network in strategic locations in the country, its Managing Director Niluka Welikala said.

Welikala said that appointing a dealer network in strategic locations including Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomale, Hambanthota and other locations, will help people in the outstations to send and receive personal cargo through the service at a low cost. The personal cargo will increase in volumes in the future with the high economic growth in the country.

Serendib Logistics unique location system matches packages with rooms, effectively organizing the packing and transportation of a home, she said. Therefore, to ensure the safety of its cargo it has coloured cards, hung on doors at the destination home to match the like-coloured stickers on cartons, educating the staff ensure the shipment and storage of personal effects, which is handled professionally and carefully, she said.

Sri Lanka will become a hub in the region with the development of several ports including Hambanthota, Trincomalle and the Colombo South harbour. They expect the sea and air cargo to increase manifold as they have all warehouse and storage facilities in Sri Lanka, she said.

The company offers a full range of services to help families settle in their new homes. And the services don't end there, she said. A Serendib specialist is always at hand to offer continued, ongoing support to individuals and families when they confront new challenges and settle down in Three new homes. Welikala said.

She said that one of the reasons for appointing the dealer network in strategic locations in the country was that with the development of the tourist industry with the end of the war there will be much score to increase personal cargo. The company owns and operates state-of-the-art facilities and equipment across the globe, which ensures the secure handling of personal belongings especially sea cargo. It uses the highest quality and environmentally friendly packing materials, she said.

Colombo Dockyard celebrates 35th anniversary

Colombo Dockyard PLC, established in 1974 as a government shipyard has transformed into an engineering giant in the region servicing the needs of wide spectrum of local and international clients.

Colombo Dockyard celebrated its 35th anniversary on August 1, under the stewardship of MD, CEO Mangala Yapa and Chairman S. Tatebe. The organisation which had started off solely as ship repair facility to service State owned vessels, with a initial capital of Rs. 200,000.00 in the early 1970s have grown to be a versatile ship repairer, shipbuilder, offshore and heavy engineering entity, currently generating an annual revenue of over US $ 100 million.

Operating in joint collaboration with Onomichi Dockyard Co. Ltd this medium sized shipyard has managed to create a global brand name for "Colombo Dockyard" by providing a superior quality service at one of the most geographically strategic repair + building locations.

The repair sector handles more than 200 vessels annually, servicing a multitude of international clients, with varying vessel types from sophisticated tankers, dredgers, container carriers, offshore support vessels to general cargo vessels.

The shipbuilding sector has been actively focusing on specialised work boats. The shipyard's order book stands full with two 250 passenger vessels and four multipurpose support vessels lined up for delivery until the end of year 2010.

The members of the Ceylon Association of Ships’ Agents at the 43rd Annual General Meeting in Colombo recently.