Tank Farm Project and Administrative Building at
Hambantota Port Site:
Foundation laying today
The foundation laying ceremony of the Tank Farm Project and
Administrative Building at Hambantota Port Site will be held with the
initiative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the participation of
Minister of Ports, Aviation, Irrigation and Water Management Chamal
Rajapaksa and Minister of Ports Development Dilan Perera today at the
Hambantota Port Project Site.
![](z_p-iii-Foundation.jpg) |
The
proposed Tank Farm Project |
Minister of Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa, following the
assumption of duties as the new Minister of Ports and Aviation, took
initiative in the implementation of Hambantota Port Development Project
to expedite its constructions according to Mahinda Chinthanaya, not only
with the objective of developing the infrastructure of the Southern
Region but also aiming for the wider economic development of the whole
country.
The total project is carried out with the supervision of the Chairman
of SLPA and the Director of Hambantota Port Development Project Dr.
Priyath B.Wickrama under the guidance and instructions of Minister of
Ports and Aviation Chamal Rajapaksa. Janaka Kurukulasuriya is the Chief
engineer of this Southern Port Development Project.
With the implementation of the work, a fully fledged Bunkering
Facility and a Tank Farm Project will be constructed at Hambantota Port
with 14 tanks with an expenditure of 76,581,774 US$. Eight tanks out of
the 14 will be utilized for bunkering while the other six will be
utilized three each for Aviation Fuel and as LPG Tanks. The 14 tanks
will offer a total capacity of 80,000m3. China Huanqiu Contracting and
Engineering Corporation works as the contractor of the project.
An Administrative Building of 15 levels including a roof top will
also be built at the site for Hambantota Port with a floor area of
75000sq ft and a height of 200ft. The building is designed by Tanya and
Suren Wickremasinghe Architects. China Harbour Engineering Co and Sino
Hydro Corporation Joint Venture is also the contractor of the Hambantota
Port Development Project. Hambantota Port Development Project that was
commenced in January 2008 is scheduled to be completed in April 2011.
The project has been implemented with a total construction cost of
360 million US$ of which 85 percent will be granted by the Ex-Im Bank of
China. The balance will be invested by SLPA.
Being a mega development project implemented in Sri Lanka, Hambantota
Port Development Project is fully supervised and inspected by the
Engineers of SLPA that enabled SLPA to save a huge cost that would have
to be spent if the project was handed over to foreign experts for
supervision and inspection.
Hambantota is the nearest point to the main shipping route that
connects East and West.
As the Port of Colombo is reaching its maximum capacity for all types
of cargo including Bulk, Break Bulk, RoRo, Oil and Gas, Container and
etc; another suitable and efficient port is in need with all facilities
to cater the increasing demand of maritime transportation and customer
services.
As a completely successful solution to the type of congestion
expected at the Port of Colombo, the biggest service and industrial port
in the country is being constructed closest to the international
maritime route in Hambantota. The region is also considered a better
geographical location with fair weather conditions and closer to deep
contours for such construction.
Hambantota has a low density of population and is considered as a
less developed area for a long time. The availability of extensive land
areas and less restrictions in the planning therefore, have enabled to
construct Hambantota Port Project as an internal port which is cost
effective rather than the off shore constructions. Due to the natural
depth along the coast line, there exist no need for a lengthier approach
channel. The land in the area also stands suitable for a number of port
related industries and services.
Hambantota Port Development Project will be constructed especially
enabling to handle 100000DWT vessels. It will have an approach channel
of 210 metres wide and 17 metres deep. The turning circle at the port
will be of a diameter of 610 metres at a depth of 17 metres. The port
will also consist of a Service Vessel Berth of 105 metres long, an Oil
Terminal Berth of 310 metres long at a 17 metres depth and a Quay Wall
(General Cargo) of 600 metres long at a 17 metres depth. The West and
East breakwaters constructed for the port are of 988 metres and 312
metres long respectively.
|