JCT heralds first 10,000 TEU container vessel

The state-owned Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) received a 10,000 TEU class Container Carrier, APL Chongqing, operated by APL, the container shipping arm of the Singapore-based global transportation and logistics group, Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), on Monday.

Christened in early December this year, APL Chongqing and APL Gwangyang, were the first two new-builds to be received by APL from ship builder, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea, among an order of 32 similar or larger vessels ordered.

When Sri Lanka opened its door to welcome foreign investment in 1992, Trident Shipping Agencies (forerunner of APL Lanka) was the first foreign-local joint venture shipping agency company to receive Board of Investment (BOI) approval. It has been registered in the annals of container shipping history in Sri Lanka that Colombo began container operations with APL, as far back as 1973 on a very small scale.

The first vessel President Tyler was berthed at QEQ in December 1973 and brought nine laden import containers.

APL arrived at a decision in early 2009 to exclusively patronize SLPA terminals. Their decision, according to them, was based on the productivity and efficiency gains achieved at JCT, combined with the customer oriented outlook of the SLPA management.

SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama said The APL Chongqing call at Jaye Container Terminal brings great significance for it is the largest ever container vessel to visit Colombo.

This heralds how the container shipping will be like in the coming future with economies of scale becoming the major concern in ship building. "I am glad to say that Colombo will be ready to handle any mega vessel to be built in the future. Last Friday we inaugurated the construction of Colombo South Terminal.