News Content
Colombo expects 10pc more box volume in 2016, but fears ability to cope
COLOMBO expects a 10 per cent year-on-year rise in box volume in 2016 mostly from transshipment cargo, says Colombo International Container Terminals manager Tissa Wickramasinghe.
"Colombo is mainly a transshipment hub with 80 per cent of throughput coming from transshipment," Mr Wickramasinghe told delegates at the TOC Asia conference held as part of the Singapore Maritime Week 2016.
"In 2013-14, Colombo port's throughput grew by 15 per cent. In 2014-15 volumes were up by six per cent and this year we expect a 10 per cent increase," he said. In 2015, the port moved around 5.1 million TEU.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is currently looking to grow its container handling volumes by developing the East Terminal, which is scheduled to come on stream by April 2017.
According to Asian Development Bank, which supported the port upgrade project with a US$300 million loan, made a bold projection that Colombo port will handle 10 million TEU by 2020.
Mr Wickramasinghe raised concerns over the increasing size of containerships, as big as 18,000 TEU that would put pressure on port infrastructure.
"From the terminal operator perspective, there is a huge impact from these megaships. Every shipping line wants the same weekly berthing window during the week, and that is the biggest worry on our part," he said.
While capable of handling 18,000-TEU ships, providing berthing slots for them has now emerged a growing problem.
"Colombo is mainly a transshipment hub with 80 per cent of throughput coming from transshipment," Mr Wickramasinghe told delegates at the TOC Asia conference held as part of the Singapore Maritime Week 2016.
"In 2013-14, Colombo port's throughput grew by 15 per cent. In 2014-15 volumes were up by six per cent and this year we expect a 10 per cent increase," he said. In 2015, the port moved around 5.1 million TEU.
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is currently looking to grow its container handling volumes by developing the East Terminal, which is scheduled to come on stream by April 2017.
According to Asian Development Bank, which supported the port upgrade project with a US$300 million loan, made a bold projection that Colombo port will handle 10 million TEU by 2020.
Mr Wickramasinghe raised concerns over the increasing size of containerships, as big as 18,000 TEU that would put pressure on port infrastructure.
"From the terminal operator perspective, there is a huge impact from these megaships. Every shipping line wants the same weekly berthing window during the week, and that is the biggest worry on our part," he said.
While capable of handling 18,000-TEU ships, providing berthing slots for them has now emerged a growing problem.
Latest News
- For the first time, tianjin Port realized the whole process of dock operati...
- From January to August, piracy incidents in Asia increased by 38%!The situa...
- Quasi-conference TSA closes as role redundant in mega merger world
- Singapore says TPP, born again as CPTPP, is now headed for adoption
- Antwerp posts 5th record year with boxes up 4.3pc to 10 million TEU
- Savannah lifts record 4 million TEU in '17 as it deepens port
