Sri Lanka's Colombo struggles with capacity, expansion plans underway

SRI Lanka's port of Colombo is developing its feeder berth and upgrading handling equipment to cope with increasing throughput from last year's 19 per cent increase of 4.1 million TEU, to forecasted 22 per cent growth year on year.


According to the Sri Lanka Port Authority chairman Priyath Wickrema, a replacement programme of six super-post panamax gantry cranes, 15 RTGs and 50 yard tractors at its feeder berth of about 200 metres length will help to support growth of 10 to 12 per cent at the port.


The private terminal operator, South Asia Gateway Terminal, at Colombo reached throughput of 1.97 million during its financial year 2010/11 but fears it may struggle to pass with its existing capacity. "But we are doing our best with more efficient equipment and yard handling systems," said SAGT chief executive officer Ervin Haaze.


A further berth will be available at the South Harbour in 2012 of 400 metre length, said the SLPA chief in a report from London's Containerisation International.


A build, operator transfer agreement with SLPA for a terminal at the Colombo South Harbour is expected to reach first phase of development at 600 metres by mid 2013, said Aitken Spence Shipping chief Parakrama Dissanayke, partnered with China Merchant in a terminal development expected to reach full operational capacity of 2.4 million TEU per annum.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)