Says equipment has improved productivity:
CASA commends Ports Authority
For logistics support:
Ravi LADDUWAHETTY
Ceylon Association of Ships' Agents (CASA) Chairman Nimal Ranchigoda
last week commended the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) for all the
logistics support given in terms of infrastructure at the Colombo Port.
His comments came in his address to the CASA membership at the 45th
Annual General Meeting at the Hilton Colombo last Wednesday.
"We thank the SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath Wickrema and his team of
officials for meeting the CASA Executive Committee in addressing issues
related to the membership. All issues highlighted in my speech last year
has been duly addressed by them and solutions were found and
satisfactory conditions are now prevalent," he said.
"The procurement of new equipment to JCT was online and this was a
very important requirement as the equipment at JCT was getting on in
years. The CASA membership was eagerly awaiting the arrival of this
equipment and today I am very happy that we have three new gantry cranes
and six rubber tyred gantries which arrived and were installed,
commissioned and commenced operations first week June 2011," he said.
The arrival of the new equipment has improved the productivity levels
at JCT and we are very thankful to the SLPA. Subsequently it was noted
that the productivity levels at JCT could see a much greater improvement
if the SLPA were to increase the number of trailers operating at JCT but
we understood that this was not possible without the SLPA investing in
new equipment here as well. Our membership noted that there was not
enough Trailers in operation per gantry crane," he said.
"At the last Joint CASA Executive Committee/SLPA meeting we were
advised by Dr Wickrema that they had 50 terminal tractors ready for
shipment and SLPA were waiting for the Attorney General's green light
that the purchase agreement was in order.
But I understand from Dr. Wickrema now it all under control and the
terminal tractors should arrive in Colombo in September, he said. Three
more new gantry cranes are expected to arrive in September along with 12
rubber tired gantries for yard operations and a further 12 RTG's are
expected to arrive in December 2011.
He also appreciated SLPA projects. New Full Container Load (FCL) yard
for the stacking of all Local Import Containers will completely ease the
yard congestion at Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) enabling quick dispatch
of vessels at JCT, he said.
The widening of the road inside the Port to accommodate six lanes of
traffic will obviously ease the traffic congestion inside the Port.
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