Shipping

Colombo South Harbour project on track

Rapid modernization to benefit shippers:

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The new South Harbour project would add value to the international shipping business.

The expected capacity growth in the Colombo Port will be an added advantage to the country, Asian Shippers' Council (ASC) Secretary General Rohan Masakorala told the Daily News Business.

ASC, Secretary General Rohan Masakorala, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, CCC Chairman Dr. Anura Ekanayake and CCC Secretary General Harin Malwatte inspecting the Colombo Port

The action taken to uplift the standard of the existing Port would benefit liner companies to do their business more effectively and efficiently through the Colombo Port. It is considered to be the best geographical location linking the East and the West and would be the ideal location to be a maritime hub, he said.

These developments should have been started ten years ago. Due to past delays on infrastructure and equipment upgrading projects, currently the port is facing some challenges. However, within the next one to two years with the new harbour adding new capacity these challenges can be overcome.

The rapid modernization is important not only to shipping lines but to shippers too, as the business of international trade is becoming highly competitive as well as speed sensitive. In the Indian subcontinent connectivity is a key factor.

For this the ideal location would be Sri Lanka, but that alone would not be sufficient as the region is becoming highly competitive.

People need to change attitudes and deliver what their customers need on time at a reasonable cost, otherwise it is going to be a challenging task to retain business, he said.

The regional governments should introduce reforms to modernize shipping laws and trade laws to facilitate fair trade in a free market model while investing in infrastructure development so that investors will have confidence not only in infrastructure but the working environment as well. This would at large create a better competitive environment and would benefit manufacturers and consumers around the world as Asia is becoming the centre of economic activity.

The modernizing of laws will suit the technological advancements and facilitate new business environment. There is a need for more market-friendly regulatory mechanisms.

Sri Lanka has tremendous potential to develop not only the containerized cargo business, but other commercial shipping operations through the development of ports such as Hambantota, Galle and Trincomalee.

The Government's focus on development of the tourism sector will also be supported by the development of the maritime tourism sector where Sri Lanka could be a regional hot-spot for luxury cruise tourism.

The ASC Secretary General was confident that if timely decisions are taken and implemented, Sri Lanka could certainly achieve targets set by the Government to become a real logistics hub which would take a lead role in maritime, aviation and knowledge related specialization as envisaged by the policy documents.

He said the Government should be encouraged by the fact that an international organization such as the ASC has anchored itself in Sri Lanka to set up the permanent secretariat in Colombo which would certainly give the necessary boost for Sri Lanka to be a leader in this sector and to represent Asia in global activities related to trade and transport.

More such institutions should come to Sri Lanka as it is a cost-effective country with a pool of talented people where quality can be maintained, Masakorala said.

Dockyard to build Passenger Launch for RDA

Colombo Dockyard PLC commenced initial work on the construction of the 100 Passenger Launch for the Road Development Authority.

This is the first project to be launched at Colombo Dockyard's newly acquired 'Kelani River Yard'.

Colombo Dockyard's expansion of facilities to the 'Kelani River Yard' for construction of small ships and for pre-processing of steel plates and pipes intended for large ship construction will most certainly ease the congestion within the main Shipyard premises and will increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the yard. The highlight of the proposed Passenger Launch is that, it is designed and shall be built complying with modern Passenger Launch building practices, which will provide a safe and comfortable platform to the users.

The Passenger Launch will be suitable for operation in the roughest weather conditions that may be encountered on the way in the Indian Ocean and will be a boost to the small fleet of Launches that are presently in operation and will certainly bring in great relief to thousands of Northern commuters during this post war era.

The Passenger Launch shall be of all steel construction with a seating capacity for 100 passengers.

The Launch will be powered by two main engines driving two propellers and will have a cruising speed of 10 knots and an endurance of 100 nautical miles.

RDA plans to deploy the Passenger Launch for transferring civilians from Kurikadduvan jetty of Punguduthivu of Jaffna peninsula to Delft island.

The distance is eight nautical miles one way. The launch will be able to operate 12 nautical miles from coast and within 50 nautical miles from a harbour.