Jaye Container Terminal heralds first 11,000 TEU container vessel
Making a yet another significant landmark in the container handling
saga of Sri Lanka, the State-owned Jaye Container Terminal (JCT)
received an 11,660 TEU capacity Container Carrier, “MV MSC LUCIANA”,
operated by the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). “MV
MSC LUCIANA” which made a history as the largest ever container vessel
thus far called over at the port of Colombo yesterday.
In celebration of this historic event to JCT, SLPA and to Sri Lanka
at large, a plaque exchange ceremony was held on board the vessel “MV
MSC LUCIANA” on her maiden voyage at JCT/SLPA, on January 23, 2013.
Plaques were exchanged between SLPA upper echelon comprising
Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, Managing Director, Capt. Nihal
Keppetipola, and the Master of the Vessel Capt. Kojicic Veselin in the
presence of MSC top brass including Managing Director, Rohan de. Silva,
General Manager (Operations and Logistics), Shamal Perera and other
senior SLPA and MSC officials.
MSC, in a very bold move switched over to the state-run Jaya
Container Terminal (JCT) operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA)
in December, 2009 expecting to carry out more than 1,500 moves per
vessel. And MSC has been able to achieve this average throughout the
years following.
MSC brings import cargoes from the Eastern Seaboard of US to Colombo
and delivers local exports and transshipment cargo from the Indian sub
continent to the Far East.
MSC is the world’s second-largest container shipping line, providing
an unparalleled service network via dedicated offices throughout the
world and remains a truly independent and private company able to
respond quickly to market changes and implement long term plans.
With a streamlined management structure via Geneva, MSC has become a
leading customer-focused, cost effective global transport solution
provider for many a shipper worldwide.
Commenting at the ceremony, SLPA Chairman, Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama
said “The MSC LUCIANA’s call at Jaye Container Terminal brings us 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. More often than not, the pursuit of economies of scale in
liner shipping has been cited as the major reason behind carrier’s
motivation to form strategic alliances, engage in mergers and
acquisitions and to increase vessel capacity by building larger vessels.
When the Panama’s new locks are inaugurated in 2014, channels will allow
transit of bigger vessels, removing another impediment against mega ship
building.”
“I am glad to say that Colombo will be ready to handle any mega
vessel on the order book. With the construction of Colombo South Harbour,
the first stage of which is to be completed in 2013, we will have the
capacity to entertain largest triple E class vessels and Sri Lanka will
be the only port in South Asia to handle large vessels.” he further
said.
Managing Director of SLPA, Capt. Nihal Keppetipola expressing his
views at the ceremony said “Today is a historic day for SLPA. The MSC,
one of our oldest and loyal container shipping business partners has
made the SLPA achieve another accolade. Today we have demonstrated to
the shipping community that we have the ability to handle an 11,000 TEU
class vessel, the largest ever to have called thus far at Colombo. MSC
has always been with us in crests and in troughs of our business and I
am confident that they will continue to be with us in the future.”
He added , “We need to be the change that we wish to see in the
world. Let me attribute our ambitious development projects and our
determination to change the organizational culture to our vision to be
the Logistics excellence in the Silk Route”. Capt. Keppetipola praised
the current Port Chairman as a leader par excellence by saying “Real
leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations.”
Capt. Keppetipola highly appreciated the role of Rohan de Silva, the
Managing Director of MSC Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, as a man who lives upto his
dreams quoting “Never let your memories be greater than your dreams”.
“Under our wing, we are confident that MSC will thrive and grow from
strength to strength in the future. Your success indeed is the SLPA’s
success too. That means you our customer are our most valuable asset and
I take this opportunity to wish MSC and their local agent Messrs. MSC
Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. All the Best.” he further said
The vessel operates under Cheetah service with port rotation of
Durban, Port Louis, Colombo, Singapore, Far East, Singapore, Durban and
Europe. |