The Colombo Port East Container Terminal (ECT) faces delays until July, attributed to inter-terminal truck system issues transferring 30,000 containers. Shipping lines worry about costs and time wastage. Talks with the minister and SLPA are ongoing to solve problems. ECT needs Straddle carriers and Prime Movers for operation, with concerns about timely commissioning.
The delayed expansion of the Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) at the Port of Colombo has led to increased costs and the need for new gantry cranes. Originally estimated at Rs 5 billion, the project now is projected to cost Rs 10 billion. The terminal’s extension aims to modernize and expand, with an anchorage increase.
Several new storage locations for containers have been established at the Colombo Port, resulting in a reduction in container overloading on shipments. Sri Lanka Customs reported that 472 containers were cleared from the port’s main yard, with a total of 547 containers cleared overall. This rapid clearance has helped alleviate the congestion.
The Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed a revised plan to acquire towing vessels to aid in operations at the Colombo Port due to the progress on the new terminal. This move anticipates completion by the year-end, prompting the hire of two tugboats to assist the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
The Colombo Dockyard successfully repaired the Singapore-flagged container ship Lobivia, damaged in the Gulf of Aden, without needing a dry dock. Extensive repairs included hatch covers, accommodation areas, boom on cargo crane, cabin doors, electrical wiring, cargo holds, fuel tanks, pipelines, and railings. The completion ensures the ship’s integrity and compliance with maritime safety standards.
Colombo’s strategic location makes it an important transit point for shipping companies. It provides convenient connectivity to the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia, serving as a crucial port for vessels traversing these regions. Despite the increase in ship calls and transshipment volumes, the port encountered challenges in handling rising demands.
SAGT, the first PPP container terminal in Sri Lanka, celebrates the arrival of the largest-ever vessel at the Port of Colombo. Since 1999, SAGT has established Colombo as a premier transshipment point for global trade to South Asia, offering world-class service, advanced technology, and dedicated workforce to the international shipping community.
