Jaye Terminal receives largest-ever container vessel to Colombo

24 January 2013 02:27 am Views - 5048

Making yet another significant landmark in the container handling saga of Sri Lanka, the state-owned Jaye Container Terminal (JCT) has received the 11,660 TEU capacity container carrier- ‘MV MSC LUCIANA’, operated by Genevabased Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). MV MSC LUCIANA makes history as the largest-ever container vessel thus far called over at the port of Colombo.

Plaques were exchanged between the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) upper echelons 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 officials of the SLPA and MSC.

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 1500 moves per vessel.

Commenting at the ceremony, SLPA Chairman Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama said, “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 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 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 the largest triple E class vessels and Sri Lanka will be the only port in South Asia to handle large vessels,” he further said.