Colombo South Harbour declared open
The French container ‘Pegasus’ the biggest ever vessel arrived in Colombo in the Naval history, has anchored at the harbour at 6.30 am today to mark this occasion.
The US$ 500 million project was launched in 2006 to cater for the increasing demands of services in the international shipping industry.
The massive new South Port of Colombo, located mid-way on the lucrative east-west sea route has world class facilities and with its 18-metre draft, can handle even the biggest Triple-E Class vessels carrying 18,000 containers that are already in service.
The facilities at the new port will make it the only port in South Asia with deep water terminal for the mega container ships.
The China Merchant Holdings International, which is a Chinese government owned company built the Colombo South Port on a BOT basis, and with 85% of the investment by CICT and the remaining 15% by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.
The Port Authority sources said that the new port offers numerous advantages to both the shipper and the vessel operators, and the vessels could refuel at this port and use the space/weight to carry more cargo. The new South Port is the only harbor in South Asia that can accommodate the Triple-E Class vessels and as such it could become a major transshipment hub competing with Dubai and Singapore.
The general public will be allowed to visit the Colombo South harbor from August 8 -13.
Category: Colombo South Harbour, Local, Sri lanka news
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