Familiarization of pilots in vessel maneuvering at Magampura Port

Following Harbour Pilots starting familiarizing themselves with maneuvering vessels at Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port on April 28 for the first time, two more container vessels called at the port during the last two days for the familiarization of vessel maneuvering at Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port.

The mega container vessel Wan Hai 502 owned by Wan Hai Lines (Pte) Ltd., of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, having a length of 260 metres and heavily laden with containers was on its voyage from Port Kelang Malaysia to Colombo when it first stopped over at Ruhunu Magampura, while the vessels Sky Apolo having a length of 210 metres, from Madurai in India and OEL Dubai having a length of 150 metres, from the port of Kochin arrived for familiarization of vessel maneuvering at Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port respectively on April 30 and on May 1. The process is scheduled to be continued with more ships of different capacities and draughts calling at the new port during the coming months.

With the awarding of selected proposals for investors to start industries in Ruhunu Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, all cargo brought from different counties should arrive at the port as they have declared it as their designated port. With the awarding of nearly 11 new industries, to commence work at the port from next few months it will also guarantee an annual income generation for Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). Parallel to these activities, the bunkering facility will also commence operations sooner with the completion of the tank farm project at the port with the private sector being privileged initially to operate bunker facilities in port.

Following its commissioning on November 18, the Mahinda Rajapaksa Port in Ruhunu Magampura also received ISPS Certification as per the IMO recommendation and the UN Locator Code ‘LKHBA’ has also been allocated.